The annual Under-20 Rugby World Cup kicks off in France on Wednesday, May 30th, with Ireland pooled with South Africa, France, and Georgia. And if you're wondering where to watch the Irish under-20s at the World Cup, then read on...
Where to Watch the Irish Under 20s?
The competition is live on eir Sport.
Ireland's opening game against France is on eir Sport 2 on Wednesday, May 30th from 7.50pm. The second group game against South Africa is live on the same channel from 3.20pm on Sunday, June 3rd while the final clash with Georgia is live on eir Sport 2 from 5.20pm on Thursday, June 7th.
Alternatively, the games are being streamed live on the World Rugby website.
And who might play against France?
We know exactly who plays:
IRELAND U-20: Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster); Tom Roche (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tommy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster), Peter Sylvester (UCC/Munster), Dan Hurley (Young Munster/Munster); Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Hugh O'Sullivan (Clontarf/Leinster); James French (UCC/Munster), Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen/Munster), Jack Aungier (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Matthew Dalton (Malone/Ulster), Jack Dunne (Dublin University/Leinster), Joe Dunleavy (Malone/Ulster), Matthew Agnew (Ballymena/Ulster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary's College/Leinster) (capt).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan (Dublin University/Leinster), Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster), Joe Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster), Charlie Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Aaron Hall (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Jonny Stewart (Queen's University/Ulster), Conor Dean (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster).
What's Ireland's record in the competition?
Not great: the furthest we've been was to the final in 2016...where we were battered by England. But a couple of members of that Irish squad have already made an impact at senior level, with Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Jacob Stockdale vital to Ireland's 2018 Grand Slammers.
Who are the favourites?
New Zealand, unsurprisingly, are the even-money favourites followed by South Africa (3/1) and England (10/3). Then come France and Australia, with Ireland a long shot at 66/1. Their outsider status is confirmed by the spread for the French game: it's a yawning 17 points.
So, a reminder of where to watch the Irish Under 20s - the games are live on eir Sport and are streaming live on World Rugby's website.
