The Irish U20 men’s teams begin their 2026 U20 Six Nations campaign on Saturday evening with a demanding opening assignment against France in Perpignan – and fans will be able to watch the match live on free TV.
The match will take place at the Stade Aimé Giral, kicking off at 8pm Irish time, and will be shown live on the RTÉ news channel (Sky 517) as well as streaming on RTÉ Player, ensuring easy access for fans across Ireland.
Byrne handed starting role in final three
Head coach Andrew Browne named a young but well-balanced team for the day, led by right prop Sami Bishti, with one of the standout selections being Noah Byrne at the back.
Byrne, a former Dublin minor footballer, continues his impressive sporting career by starting in the Irish trio alongside Derry Moloney and Daniel Ryan. Comfortable under the high ball and composed in broken play, Byrne’s transition from Gaelic football to elite rugby has made him stand out as one of the team’s most intriguing prospects. His ability to read space and counter-attack could be key against a typically athletic French backline.
In midfield, Johnny O’Sullivan partners James O’Leary, while Christopher Barrett and Tom Wood partner at half-back, tasked with guiding Ireland up the field in what should be a high-paced contest.
Strong UCD influence in the pack
The Irish pack features a strong Leinster core, with UCD well represented. Bishti captains the team from right back, alongside Max Doyle and Rian Handley in the front row. Dylan McNeice and Donnacha McGuire form the second-row duo, while the back row of Josh Neill, Billy Hayes and Diarmaid O’Connell offer a blend of physicality and mobility.
Browne also named a well-balanced bench, with impact options available at both forwards and backs if the game breaks open in the final quarter.
Ireland U20:
15. Noah Byrne (University of Dublin/Leinster)
14. Derry Moloney (RFC/Leinster from Blackrock College)
13. Johnny O’Sullivan (University of Dublin/Leinster)
12. James O’Leary (UCC/Munster)
11. Daniel Ryan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Christopher Barrett (UCC/Munster)
1. Max Doyle (UCD RFC/Leinster)
2. Rian Handley (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3. Sami Bishti (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
4. Dylan McNeice (UCD RFC/Leinster)
5. Donnacha McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
6. Josh Neill (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
7. Billy Hayes (Garryowen FC/Munster)
8. Diarmaid O’Connell (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connaught)
Substitutes:
16. Dunn Maguire (UCD RFC/Leinster)
17. Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
18. Blake McClean (Instonians RFC/Ulster)
19. Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster)
20. Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC/Leinster)
21. Fergus Callington (Durham University/IQ Rugby)
22. Charlie O’Shea (UCC RFC/Munster)
23. Ethan Black (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster).
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