For years the Ireland U20s lagged behind the wealth of talent, and the sheer size of the youngsters, from France, England, South Africa, and New Zealand - bar a couple of outlier years.
During the 2010s, they gradually began to make up the ground, and by 2019 had a seat at the table, as they won their first ever U20s Grand Slam (they won an U21s Slam in 2007). It was also their first Championship since 2010, and the first of three in five years.
While their have been Ireland U20s/U21s squads with more top-tier talent - notably 2007 and 2016 - we would argue that none have been as deep as 2019.
Here we have taken a look back at a Noel McNamara coached squad that has had a big influence on the current state of Irish rugby; one that features four senior internationals, and a slew of key provincial players.
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2019 Ireland U20s - Where Are They Now
Josh Wycherley - Loose Head Prop
The first member of a dominant front-row was Munster's Josh Wycherley.
The 24-year-old Bantry man has amassed an impressive 57 Munster caps, with plenty of Champions Cup experience, and he also represented Emerging Ireland on their 2022 tour to South Africa.
Dylan Tierney-Martin - Hooker
The Connacht man was one of the stars of this year's crop.
Along with his pin-point line out accuracy, he chipped in with four tries, and endeared himself to supporters with his passionate celebrations.
He's become a mainstay in Connacht squads over the past two seasons - putting serious pressure on Dave Heffernan for that starting spot - but with the depth at international level, he will have to pray for injuries to get a look in.
8 March 2019; Dylan Tierney-Martin of Ireland is tackled by Louis Carbonel of France during the U20s Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at Irish Independent Park in Cork. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Thomas Clarkson - Tight Head Prop
Clarkson was seen as a serious talent following his performances in an impressive scrummaging unit.
He may not have progressed as much as he would have liked in the mean time, but this could be a break out season for him after making his first Champions Cup start for Leinster in their win over Sale in December.
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Charlie Ryan - Lock
A natural born leader - he was vice-captain for the Six Nations and took over as captain from an injured David Hawkshaw at the World Championships later that year - the former Blackrock College man helped lay the foundation for the Grand Slam, along with his fellow tight-fivers.
He went onto the Leinster Academy before being offered a senior contract by Leo Cullen.
Unfortunately, he was forced to retire in January 2023. In his own words he "biologically didn't have the knees to play rugby".
Upon retiring, he went on to work with his family's transport business.
Niall Murray - Lock
Ireland's line out was excellent in this Championship, and it was in no small part to Murray.
As a fairly light second row for one who stands at 6ft 7in, it allows him to be lifted with ease, and he has since become one of the leading line out stealers in Europe.
Despite the stacked depth of this squad, not many are currently first-choice for their club teams, but Murray is one of them.
22 February 2019; Niall Murray of Ireland takes the ball in a lineout during the U20s Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at Stadio Centro d'Italia in Rieti, Italy. Photo by Daniele Resini/Sportsfile
Martin Moloney - Blindside Flanker
An underrated figure of this side, Moloney has gone on to earn himself a senior contract at Leinster in the incredibly competitive position of back row.
He had been featuring regularly for his province before suffering a series of long term injuries.
A dogged, albeit hotheaded, number 6.
Scott Penny - Openside Flanker
The St. Michael's College man came into this tournament with a big reputation from his school days and had all ready started four times for Leinster by the time the first game against England came around.
He duly delivered on the hype and demonstrated the eye for the try line he has become known for.
Due to the amount of talent at Leinster, his starts have been sporadic this season, and he may want to look at a move before he falls further down the international pecking order.
15 March 2019; Scott Penny of Ireland in action against Tomi Lewis of Wales during the U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at Zip World Stadium in Colwyn Bay, Wales. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
John Hodnett - Number Eight
Hodnett looked like a David Wallace regen at times during Ireland's run.
He is currently one of the form players in Ireland and was unlucky not to receive a call-up to Andy Farrell's 2024 Six Nations squad.
Craig Casey - Scrum-Half
Along with Tierney-Martin, Casey was particularly eye-catching in 2019 with his love of a snipe and the best pass we had seen since Peter Stringer.
He has firmly taken over from Conor Murray as first-choice at Munster, and with 14, has the most Ireland caps of any starter in this side.
Harry Byrne/Ben Healy - Out-Half
We've had to go for two here given that they shared a lot of the load.
Byrne started the first three games, but injury meant Healy was tasked with bringing it home against France and Wales.
Byrne's senior career got off to a rapid start, earning many plaudits for his early performances with Leinster. He was duly rewarded with Ireland call-ups and caps, but further, constant injuries slowed his progression down considerably.
Towards the end of last season and throughout the current one, he has had a consistent run of games, and an injury to his brother Ross paved the way for a call-up to the Six Nations squad.
Ben Healy did not break through as quickly at senior level, but once he did he was an ever present figure in Munster's match day squads.
He has since taken advantage of his Scottish heritage by declaring for Ireland's rivals and signing for Edinburgh.
It has so far proven to be an excellent decision, as it allowed him to accelerate his international prospects and gave him the chance to play in a World Cup, which included a 27-point haul against Romania.
There are some who blame his move on the lack of international attention he received from Andy Farrell, in favour of Harry Byrne and Ciarán Frawley, but their frustrations are futile and misguided, as it was Healy's decision and his alone.
Jonathan Wren - Left Wing
Wren was a slight figure on the wing, but played above himself, and was a constant threat with space and ball-in-hand.
After the U20s a place in the Munster Academy awaited him, and he made his debut in that famous Covid win away to Wasps.
This would be his only appearance for Munster's first team, and he was forced to retire early for medical reasons in the summer of 2022.
David Hawkshaw - Inside Centre
Hawkshaw captained the side, but was unavailable for the trip to the World Championships in the summer of 2019.
Nonetheless, a Leinster contract came calling for the talented youngster, and he made a positive impact in his sparse game time with the province.
He knew he was capable of more and made the brave but prudent call to move out west to Connacht, where he has thrived ever since.
Liam Turner - Outside Centre
Turner's Leinster career began slowly, due to competition for places and an injury which kept him out of the entire 2021/22 season.
In many ways he was a forgotten man, but found his groove last year and singled himself out as a highly-skilled and clever centre, with excellent decision making and execution of the basics.
He was instrumental off the bench in Leinster's epic last-gap win over Connacht earlier in the season.
15 March 2019; Ireland players celebrate with the cup after the U20s Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at Zip World Stadium in Colwyn Bay, Wales. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Angus Kernohan - Right Wing
Conor Phillips started the first two games of the tournament, before Kernohan came back in after returning to full fitness.
The Ulster man was in his second year of U20s and the most accomplished of any of the squad, with 11 Ulster caps in the 2018/2019 season before lining out for the U20s.
He was unsuccessful at his province, but has carved out a career for himself at Ealing Trailfinders in the RFU Championship, where he as been since 2020.
Jake Flannery - Fullback
While he shone at 15 in his underage days, his senior aim has been to forge a career in his preferred position at out-half.
Stuck behind Joey Carbery, Jack Crowley, and Ben Healy at Munster, he made what seemed like a sure thing move up to Ulster.
However, his first season only saw him play four games for his new team, with Nathan Doak and Mike Lowry often used as out-half cover.
He has backed himself to make it by signing a new contract, and while he has been rewarded with more minutes this season, they have been too irregular, particularly for a 10 looking for continuity.
To rub salt into wounds, Joey Carbery will be departing Munster, meaning Flannery would have been better off staying put in the first place.
Fingers crossed he is allowed more minutes to put pressure on Billy Burns, as he has looked sharp in his limited game time.
The Others
When looking at the rest of the squad - those who received less minutes and were mainly used as subs - you get a sense of just how deep this group was.
Ryan Baird - the most successful with 15 senior Ireland caps - was a schools star and poised to shine in the tournament. He was injured for the first three games, however, and head coach Noel McNamara, rightfully, did not want to break up the Ryan/Murray axis. Baird would seal is place in the starting line up for the World Championships.
Five others are all currently on senior Leinster contracts: Cormac Foley also started two games in the 2019 tournament and is arguably the current third-choice at Leinster; Michael Milne has represented Emerging Ireland and is seen as one of the best up-and-coming loose heads in the country; Brian Deeney also toured with Emerging Ireland; John McKee has racked up an eye-catching 23 appearances for Leinster; Rob Russell has established himself as one of his province's most potent URC try scorers with 13 in 25 games.
From Ulster, David McCann is now first-choice openside and toured with Emerging Ireland as well, and Stewart Moore, while not featuring in the 2019 Six Nations, shone in the World Championships that year and is a key member of the senior Ulster squad.
The World Championship squad featured a raw Tom Ahern, who has been one of the stand out players in Europe so far this season.
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