The Fascinating Journeys Of The 2012 Ireland's U20 Rugby Team

2012 Ireland U20s squad produced many Lions. Luke Fitzgerald went straight from school to play for the Irish and Leinster senior teams. The team was second in the Six Nations and fifth at the Junior World Championships.

The 2012 Ireland U20s team was guided by Mike Ruddock. Paddy Jackson, JJ Hanrahan, Cathal Marsh and Jack Carty were the outhalves. They won the warm-up matches against a Leinster Development XV and an Ulster Ravens side. The tournament began on February 3 and they won 11-6 against Wales. They beat France, Italy, Scotland and England. Iain Henderson, Jack Conan and Tadhg Beirne started at lock and number eight respectively. Daniel Qualter, a Connacht man who retired in 2020, started ahead of Beirn.

The squad for the 2012 World Championships was named in May. It included players who would go on to have fine careers. Luke McGrath, Luke Marmion, Chris Farrell, Barry Daly, Niall Scannell and Alan O'Connor were in the squad. Barry was not offered a place in Leinster’s Academy. He was one of the fastest players in Ireland and finished as Leins” top try scorer with 13 in their double winning season of 2017/18. After his early retirement in 2019 he will play for Munster. The pack had familiar names like Niell Scanell, Alan o'Conner and Niels Furlong.

Ireland's U20 team won the Junior World Championships in South Africa in 2012. They beat South African team with players like Steven Kitshoff, Pieter Steph Du Toit, Jan Serfontein, Iain Henderson, and JJ Hanrahan. Ireland finished second in their group and lost to England in the play-off. They finished the tournament with a win over France. The team is now a successful rugby team. It is too early to judge players at that age. For example, Tadhg Furlong is a world-class prop and Steven kitshoff is the best loosehead in rugby.