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

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The post Wales u16s complete double over Ireland appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : European Rugby League

U16 four nations fixtures confirmed

Wales begin their defence of the U16s Four Nations with a trip to Dubin on Saturday 23 May.

All the matches are paired with the Student Four Nations tournament.

“Our Wales U16s team have been working hard and will be aiming to retain their fourth consecutive title,” said Wales RL performance director, Clive Griffiths.

“We will be looking to maximise home advantage with two home games in this year’s competition and we look forward to welcoming big crowds to the games.”

The second round of games take place on Saturday 6 June as England welcome Ireland to Halton Farnworth Hornets while Scotland make the long trip to Merthyr Tydfil the following day.

England Lions programme manager, Alan Davidson, noted: “We will once again take part in the U16s competition with the England Lions team which means that no scholarship or academy players will be eligible for the side.

Giving those young men outside of the professional game the opportunity to showcase their talents and represent their country.”

The action concludes on Saturday 20 June as Ireland visit Hawick to face Scotland, and Wales welcome England to The Gnoll in Neath for what has previously been the deciding game.

“We’re very pleased that our Pathways Programme has again produced more Ireland based players competing than ever before in our U16’s squad, all are looking forward to impressing,” said IRL chair Jim Reynolds.

Barry McGuffog, Scotland RL operations director, added: “The number of Scotland-based players at U16s continues to grow year on year, we’re hoping to progress that into some form of domestic fixtures in 2026.”

England, Scotland and Wales also combining to stage U17s matches, although these will be considered friendlies and not part of a formal competition, making their clashes tripleheaders.

Pairing the competitions also highlights the youth international pathway in place which, from 2027, will also include the biennial U18s Four Nations games.

2026 U16 Four Nations Fixtures

Scotland v England – Hawick RFC – Saturday 16 May, 11am

Ireland v Wales – Garda Westmanstown RFC, Saturday 23 May, 1pm

England v Ireland – Halton Farnworth Hornets, Saturday 6 June, 11am

Wales v Scotland – Merthyr RFC, Sunday 7 June, 12pm

Scotland v Ireland – Hawick RFC, Saturday 20 June, 12.30pm

Wales v England – The Gnoll, Saturday 20 June, 11am

2026 U17 Friendly Fixtures

Scotland v England – Hawick RFC – Saturday 16 May, 1pm

Wales v Scotland – Merthyr RFC, Sunday 7 June, 2.30pm

Wales v England – The Gnoll, Saturday 20 June, 2.30pm

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