Offaly man selected for World U20 Rugby Championships opener
Ireland face a tough battle with Georgia in Italy
AN Offaly man has taken a giant step forward in rugby by being selected for Ireland's World U20 Championship opener.
Paidi Farrell, a former underage player with Tullamore Rugby Club, has been selected on the wing for Sunday's opener against Georgia in Pool C – two of his brothers are playing with Tullamore while another is with Sydney Irish in Australia..
The game takes place at 5pm Irish time in Calvisano. They follow up with Italy on Friday, July 4 in Viadana and New Zealand back in Calvisano on Wednesday, July 9.
From Mountlucas, between Daingean and Edenderry, it is Farrell's first start in a tournament game.
Ireland come into the World Cup on the back of a difficult Six Nations campaign, losing four of their five games and finishing bottom.
Now playing with Old Wesley, Farrell has made a very positive impact in recent weeks and scored nine tries in thirteen games for them this season.
SEE STORY ON TULLAMORE RUGBY PLAYER'S GAA TRANSFER TO LOUTH: Long serving Offaly GAA dual stalwart transfers to Louth club
Ireland will be fully aware of the threat posed by Georgia and it took a last gasp try to secure a 22-16 win over them in the 2024 pool stages.
The Irish team is:
15. Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster)
14. Paidi Farrell (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
13. Ciarán Mangan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
12. Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
11. Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
10. Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster)
9. Clark Logan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
1. Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
2. Henry Walker (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
3. Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
4. Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
5. Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
6. Michael Foy (UCC RFC/Munster)
7. Éanna McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) (capt)
8. Luke Murphy (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
Replacements:
16. Mikey Yarr (UCD RFC/Leinster)
17. Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
18. Tom McAllister (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
19. Conor Kennelly (Highfield RFC/Munster)
20. Bobby Power (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
21. Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
22. Sam Wisniewski (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
23. Daniel Green (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)