International Junior Rugby League

Wales u16s complete double over Ireland

by
europeanrl
27/05/2026

Wales u16s in action vs Ireland 2026 Four Nations (Photo : ERL)

Wales u16s complete double over Ireland

Author : European Rugby League

Wales u16s complete double over Ireland

Wales defeated Ireland in the U16s and Students Four Nations tournaments, in a doubleheader held at the Westmanstown Sports Complex, Dublin.

Wales u17s in action vs Ireland 2026 Four Nations (Photo : ERL)

Their U16s extended their unbeaten run to ten matches with a 64-20 win, the Students triumphing 50-0.

There was nothing between the sides for the opening half hour of the U16s clash, skipper Charley Eatly – who finished with four touchdowns – and hooker Zac Nottingham crossed early.

Jack Parrott converting both to give the visitors an early 12-0 lead; Paddy White, winger Noah Walsh and Max Cooney reply for Ireland, Joseph Clarke converting two to put them 16-12 in front.

Leighton Clarke and Rhys Anthony replied for Wales, but Ireland were only 22-20 adrift when Callum McDonald went over before the break.

The second half was one-way traffic, second rower Eatly superb, while Frazer Redman, Jacob Maund, Scott Hewitt and Nottingham again also went over.

Wales U16s head coach, Tom Marsh, said: “There was some high-quality rugby on display from both teams.

Ireland built momentum well in the first half, in the second, we started to play more to our game plan and completed our sets much better.

“It was also really encouraging to see the continued development of the game in Ireland, with 12 Irish-born players included in their squad.”

Wales students were dominant throughout, skipper, centre Mason Phillips leading the way with four successive touchdowns as the visitors built a 24-0 half time lead.

Wales posted another five tries, including one each from debutants Olly Darlington and Kian Lloyd in the second forty.

“Preventing a never-say-die Ireland from scoring was a great achievement in warm conditions in Dublin,” noted Wales students head coach, Clive Griffiths.

“We now turn our attention to Scotland at Merthyr on Sunday, 7 June. We’re not going to underestimate them as they always give us a competitive match.”

Ireland pathways coach, Wayne Kerr, noted: “It was a tough day for the lads. We had a few out there that hadn’t played league before and it was the team’s first hit out together.

We started well and completed high which was a goal for the team.

“The biggest positive was that the lads never gave up and kept competing for the full 80 minutes, that’s something to bring forward for the rest of the tournament.”

U16s FOUR NATIONS

IRELAND 20

TRIES : White (7), Walsh (11), Cooney (18), McDonald (32)
GOALS : Clarke 2

Aaron Rothwell, Laoch Leonard, Callum McDonald, Joseph Clarke, Noah Walsh, Charlie Ross, Paddy Burrow, Oscar Bradley, Max Cooney, Conor Meadows, Kian Roberts, Rus McNamara, Paddy White

Subs: Finley Byrne, Oskaras Vitkauskas, Harvey English, Emjay Leslie, James Clarke, Cole Sheridan, Nathan Melia

WALES 64

TRIES : Eatly (3, 36, 45, 62), Nottingham (4, 67), Clarke (22), Anthony (26), Redman (42), Maund (58), Hewitt (65)
GOALS : Parrott 10

Scott Hewitt, Rhys Anthony, Leighton Clarke, Max Phillips, Jocab Maund, Jack Parrott, Kelyn Jude-Hobbs, Danny Jones, Zac Nottingham, Cyrus Owen-Green, Mason Lewis, Charlie Eatly, Rhys Wood,

Subs: Jack Field, Frazer Redman, Ellis McGregor, Charlie Noakes, Will Mordecai, Alfie Davies

TRIES : Eatly (3, 36, 45, 62), Nottingham (4, 67), Clarke (22), Anthony (26), Redman (42), Maund (58), Hewitt (65)
GOALS : Parrott 10

STUDENT FOUR NATIONS

IRELAND 0

TRIES :
GOALS :

Byron Carolen, Matt Cahill, Ethan Carrick, Sam Kearney, Matt McClure, Ryan Hogg (c), Conor Coleman, Oisin Carroll, Kyle Barrett, Alex Duff, Mannie Akpan, Leo Talbot, Caleb Owen, Subs: Theo Pollard, Kyle Stacey, Richie Whelan, Raymond Ford, Ethan White, Gareth McGinty

WALES 50

TRIES : Phillips 4, Jones, Moore, Darlington, Lloyd, Groves
GOALS : Hawkes 6, Phillips 1

Lewis Ingram, Lewis Howells, Mason Phillips (c), Kian Lloyd, Dylan Morgan, Thomas Moore, Llewellyn Hawkes, Alex Green, George Groves, Jacob Purcell, Scott Simons, Alex Thorpe, Kavan Phillips

Subs: Jarrad Hughes, Olly Darlington, Leo Jones, Alex Naylor, Rhys Nicholls, Mason Apsee, Finlay Northrop