From 2007 to 2024, the Ireland U20s teams have provided Irish rugby fans with that unique dopamine rush of seeing the next generation of young talent come through, watching them play with abandon, and unburdened by the pressures of senior rugby.
Which guys will make it? Who will be the first to break into their provincial 23 or an Irish senior squad? Who has Lions potential?
Over the years we have seen hordes of gifted ballers, showcasing wide ranging skillsets against the best U20s teams from around the world.
Ahead of this month's World Rugby U20s Championship, here's a look at the fifteen who shone above the rest.
Loosehead Prop - Andrew Porter
This was a tight-call between himself and Cian Healy.
Both players were part of high-achieving U20s squads. Healy and his men won Ireland's first U20s/U21s Six Nations, in 2007, while Porter reached Ireland's first ever U20s World Championship final, in 2016.
Size matters, so Porter gets the nod at loosey, while he also benefits from playing two seasons at that age group.
A large man at senior level, in his earlier days he had an even greater advantage over opponents.
25 June 2016; A dejected Andrew Porter of Ireland after the World Rugby U-20 Championships Final match between Ireland and England at AJ Bell Stadium in Salford, England. Photo by Matt McNulty/Sportsfile
Hooker - Dylan Tierney-Martin
Heading into the 2019 U20s Six Nations, there were young men with bigger reps than the Connacht hooker - Scott Penny and Harry Byrne, to name two - but Martin proved immediately that he was at their level of performance.
He scored two tries in an opening win over England, and finished as Ireland's top try scorer, with five in total, as Ireland took home the Grand Slam.
His darts were also excellent, and he displayed his passionate, O'Mahony-esque character throughout the tournament.
The 23-year-old now has 16 appearances for Connacht, including four starts and European game time, and also played for Emerging Ireland in their September/October tour to South Africa.
He is part of a cohort of talented young Irish hookers, alongside Tom Stewart, Diarmuid Barron, and John McKee [Ireland's 2nd choice hooker in 2019], who find themselves stuck behind the world class duo of Rónan Kelleher and Dan Sheehan.
Tighthead Prop - Tadhg Furlong
Furlong played two years of U20s rugby [2011 & 2012], missing only the 2012 Six Nations.
Like other members of the 2012 side, he came of age in their opening game of the 2012 u20s World Championship against the hosts South Africa, who were heavy favourites and the eventual winners of the tournament.
Lining up in the scrum opposite Steven Kitschoff, Furlong was more than a match for the young prodigy, who was already a Super Rugby starter in a great Stormers side.
When all is said and done, Furlong will be in the conversation for the best tighthead prop to ever play the game.
Lock - Iain Henderson
Henderson's displays of pace and natural, raw strength for the U20s were breathtaking at times, and he produced the types of plays that really excite fans for the future, like only a young and athletic specimen can.
Like Furlong, he also played U20s in 2011 and 2012 before showing the world his capabilities in the summer of 2012.
He quickly transitioned into the Ulster senior side before becoming one the four Lions test players from that great U20s squad.
25 February 2011; Iain Henderson, Ireland. U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship, Ireland v Scotland, Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness, Scotland. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
Lock - James Ryan
Ryan captained one of Ireland's best U20s sides, with four members from the squad featuring in this XV, and five who were named in the senior squad for the 2023 Six Nations.
The St. Michael's College second row was a schools star, and lived up to his billing in 2016, despite the U20s disappointing in that year's Six Nations, with a third place finish.
They turned their form around in stunning fashion for that year's World Championship; recording a historic win over the Baby Blacks in the group stages, before losing in the final to England.
Ryan then famously made appearances for a Munster development side and the senior Irish team, before making his Leinster debut.
Blindside Flanker - David Pollock
There was serious competition for this spot, with Dan Leavy and last year's Player of the Six Nations James Culhane also in the running, but we've opted for the Ulster man given the achievements of his 2007 side and his leadership qualities.
Despite competing in what was an U21s Six Nations - the last one before it became U20s - the Ireland U20s achieved their first U21/U20 Six Nations title and Grand Slam.
It is arguably the most talented U20s side we have produced with Keith Earls, Sean O'Brien, Cian Healy, Ian Keatley, Felix Jones, Darren Cave, and Tommy O'Donnell, all playing starring roles.
Unfortunately there was no U21s or U20s World Championship that year, and Pollock's career would be cut short through injury in 2010.
However, he did manage to amass 45 Ulster caps and captained them in the Heineken Cup.
16 March 2007; Ireland captain David Pollock lifts the trophy while being held aloft by his team-mates after victory against Italy. Italy v Ireland, U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship, Santa Colomba Stadium, Benevento, Italy. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
Openside Flanker - Alex Kendellen
Captain Kendellen was the definition of leading from the front in the COVID Six Nations Championship in the summer or 2021.
With the teams in a bubble and all games played at Cardiff Arms Park, Kendellen showed off his rather complete backrow skillset of carrying, breakdown work, and handling.
His success carried over to Munster for the 2021/22 season, culminating in a try scoring performance in their epic Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to Toulouse.
He has, however, found it more difficult to come by starting minutes this season with the form of John Hodnett.
🎥 Alex Kendellen was in fine form for the @IrishRugby U20s throughout the @SixNationsRugby, check out his stats & highlights ⤵️#SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/HZBBE7WLsn
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) July 19, 2021
Number Eight - Max Deegan
Nothing much needs to be said other than the fact that the Leinster number eight was awarded 2016 u20s World Player of the Year, after beating off competition from Harry Mallinder in a public vote.
He remains one the best ball handling and ball carrying backrowers on the island, and is slowly working his way back to the top after two years of cruel injury luck.
Scrumhalf- Nathan Doak
Another position where competition was fierce. Both Conor Murray and Craig Casey had outstanding U20s careers in 2008/2009 and 2019, respectively.
Doak wins out for his all-round game which was on show in 2021, as he made the Cardiff Arms Park his playground.
Like a ginger petit-general he kicked brilliantly - both at the base of the ruck and at goal - displayed a superb running game, and started at outhalf against France.
His early caps or Ulster came with man-of-the-match displays in the URC, and he is currently in the process of taking the starting 9 jersey from John Cooney.
Outhalf - Sam Prendergast
Prendergast is in the midst of is second tournament for the Ireland U20s as their standout player, having played wonderfully in the 2022 Six Nations Summer Series, while he is currently wowing the likes of Sonny Bill Williams in the ongoing 2023 U20s Six Nations.
He is a walking highlight reel that plays with a confident and flashy swagger. He attacks the line well, kicks and passes beautifully, and most importantly he can nail clutch kicks.
Sam Prendergast!
Remember that name my friends 🔥 https://t.co/g5MtaqVakp— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) February 4, 2023
Left Wing - Jacob Stockdale
Another star from the 2016 side, Stockdale's size, pace, and finishing ability saw him excel at u20s level, and within two years he was winning a senior Grand Slam and a Six Nations Player of the Tournament award.
He made his senior Ireland debut alongside his U20s teammates, James Ryan and Andrew Porter, against the USA in the summer of 2017.
His form has dropped off significantly from 2018, but at 26, time is on his side and a World Cup spot is not out of reach.
Inside Centre - JJ Hanrahan
This is cheating slightly, given that JJ's best outings for the U20s - the ones which saw him nominated for the 2012 U20s World Player of the Year - were at outhalf.
He played in both 2011 and 2012, mainly at 12, but when Paddy Jackson was unavailable for the 2012 World Championships, the Munster man stepped in at 10 and gave us one of the great tournament showings from an U20s player.
Chips over the top, crossfield kicks, drop-goals, everything he tried seemed to come off during that summer in South Africa.
He is currently at the Dragons, and an 18 point performance earlier in the season saw the Welsh outfit take a fine scalp against Munster, after being let go by his home province.
Outside Centre - Garry Ringrose
Another Blackrock College schools star who backed it up his reputation at U20s, and another U20s World Player of the year nominee.
The 13 as excelled at every level he has played at, and can rightly be looked at now as one of the form players in world rugby.
Right Wing - Andrew Conway
The Blackrock College winger was one of the best ever schools players and had an immediate impact for the u20s, scoring nine tries during their victorious 2010 Six Nations campaign and the 2010 U20s World Championship [which we think is the record for most tries for the Ireland U20s].
He has struggled badly with injury this season, but should be back in time to stake his claim for a spot in Andy Farrell's World Cup squad.
12 March 2010; Andrew Conway, Ireland, in action against Scott Williams and Ben John, Wales. U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship, Ireland v Wales, Dubarry Park, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
Fullback - Jordan Larmour
Whether on the wing or at fullback, Larmour was unplayable at times during the 2017 U20s Six Nations, as Ireland finished in a rather disappointing fourth place.
He was a supreme talent at that age group, and he remains one of the most entertaining players in Ireland.
17 March 2017; Jordan Larmour of Ireland is tackled by Dominic Morris of England during the RBS U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and England at Donnybrook Stadium in Donnybrook, Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
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