This year marks the twentieth year of PwC's phenomenal sponsorship of underage international rugby in Ireland. As part of the celebrations, we've been digging through the archives to find out where the players from 20 years ago are today.
While a melting pot of talent at the age grade in recent years has seen the likes of Sam Prendergast, Gus McCarthy and Diarmuid Mangan all fast-tracked to international stardom, the 2005 team certainly wasn't without their stars.
Unlike recent U20s success, they finished fifth in the table, but the 2005 Ireland U21s (changed to U20s in 2006) were arguably one of the most talent-laden underage Irish teams ever, producing some of the biggest names in Irish rugby.
In our latest 'Where Are They Now' piece, we take a look back at every player who was named to play throughout the tournament, with some having carved out phenomenal careers in rugby and others choosing entirely different paths.
This 2005 Ireland U21s - Where Are They Now?
Forwards
Robert Quinn (Munster)
UCC's Quinn didn't carve a career in professional rugby, but instead completed a BA in Economics and Politics as well as an MBS in Business Economics before joining Bank of Ireland.
Having worked his way through the ranks there, Quinn now works as a director at the bank.
John Andress (Ulster)
Despite earning just a single Ireland A cap in 2009, Andress enjoyed an extremely successful career across Ireland and the UK, playing for; Exeter, Harlequins, Worcester Warriors, Muster and Connacht.
Unfortunately, after joining Munster ahead of the 2016/17 season the prop hung up his boots that December. However, he did come back out of retirement later that month to provide temporary injury cover for Connacht where he played five times.
He now works as an IRFU-registered sports agent at Izzat Sports.
Michael Diffley (Connacht)
Having been an early member of the Connacht Academy, Diffley is still involved in rugby in the province today - coaching Creggs RFC to a Connacht Junior League 1A final in 2023.
Joseph Merrigan (Connacht)
Merrigan followed an interesting path, first playing professionally for Connacht between 2005 and 2009, before swapping codes and joining Rugby League side Hull FC in England for their 2010 season.
Merrigan is now back in Galway working for the city's council as an accountant.
Stuart Philpot (Saracens)
Philpot started his career in Saracens before moving to Ulster. After spending three years at the Northern province, Philpot returned to England to play a final season with Nottingham before hanging up the boots in 2011.
Philpot now has a fascinating career as a Physical Training Instructor with the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.
24 February 2006; Stuart Philpot, Ireland U21, in action against Rhys Shellard, Wales U21. Under 21 International 2005-2006, Ireland U21 v Wales U21, Dubarry Park, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
Lewis Stevenson (Ulster)
Despite initially leaving Ulster in 2007 having not earned a senior cap, Stevenson went on to enjoy a hugely successful career in the sport, earning caps with Exeter, Harlequins, Ulster (again), Exeter (again) and Connacht before hanging up his boots in 2017.
After retirement Stevenson began a career in coaching, first getting involved with Instonians RFC before joining Bangor RFC as a player-coach in 2017.
Ryan Caldwell (Ulster)
Like so many on this list, Dungannon man Caldwell enjoyed a long professional career in the sport that saw him spend six years at Ulster earning eighty caps before moving to England for a further three-year stint with Bath and a year-long stint with Exeter.
While Caldwell faced difficulties including drug use after his career was cut short in 2014 through injury, the twice-capped Irish international now runs Inner Evolution which offers group and corporate mindfulness and breathwork sessions as well as monthly retreats.
14 December 2007; Ryan Caldwell, Ulster. Heineken Cup, Pool 2, Round 4, Ulster v Ospreys, Ravenhill, Belfast. Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
Mark Melbourne (Munster)
An alumnus of Rockwell College, Melbourne joined Garryowen upon his graduation from the famed secondary school. He was signed to the Munster Academy in the 2003/04 season and made his senior debut in April of 2004.
Having been released from Munster in 2009, Melbourne continued to line it out with Garryowen. He now works as a Chartered Physiotherapist and has a degree in civil engineering from LIT.
Trevor Richardson (Connacht)
Trevor Richardson moved from Leitrim in Connacht to Australia's East Coast to both play rugby and travel for a year in 2007. Like so many Irish, Richardson took a shine to life Down Under and is still living there today working as an estate agent in Sydney.
Brett McNamee (Northampton)
Just weeks after Ireland's U21 2005 Six Nations campaign, Brett McNamee was promoted to Northampton's senior playing squad and stayed there until 2008. As of 2023, he was the head coach of Herts Rugby in Hertfordshire and was working as a PE teacher.
Oisin Hennessy (Ulster)
A Monaghan native, Hennessy spent just a single year in the professional ranks at Ulster, moving on at the end of the 2005/06 season.
He is now the managing director of Homecare Medical Equipment in Monaghan, who provide medical equipment to domestic customers.
Stephen Ferris (Ulster)
An Ireland great. Ferris earned 35 Irish caps, appeared 106 times for Ulster and was a member of the 2009 British and Irish Lions touring squads. One of the most successful talents to emerge from this side.
As well as being a mainstay of RTÉ and Premier Sport's rugby coverage, Ferris is also a business development executive at All Sports Ireland.
28 November 2010; Stephen Ferris, Ireland, goes over to score his side's first try. Autumn International, Ireland v Argentina, Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
Chris Henry (Ulster)
A 2014 Six Nations winner, Henry enjoyed a successful career with both Ulster and Ireland, amassing 184 provincial caps and 24 international caps in a twelve-year career.
Having hung his boots up in 2018, he now works as an Orthopaedic Sales Manager at PEI Surgical who manufacture medical equipment.
27 September 2015; Chris Henry, Ireland. 2015 Rugby World Cup, Pool D, Ireland v Romania, Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London, England. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
Anthony Kavanagh (Munster)
Garryowen man Kavanagh represented his country at both U19 and U21 level. Following the 2005 U21s campaign, Kavanagh would represent Munster in the Celtic League lining out alongside the likes of Anthony Foley.
By the time 2007 rolled around Kavanagh was playing with Garryowen in the AIL, where he played a part in ending their 13-year wait for silverware. He now works as a Director of Brokerage at Irish Life.
Eamonn Bracken (Connacht)
A Tullamore native Bracken joined the Connacht academy in 2005, and also played for the Buccaneers in the AIL. It is unknown what he does today.
Backs
Mark Kettyle (Ulster)
The Belfast Harlequins man represented the Ireland U21s in both the 2005 Six Nations and World Championship and also appeared for the Ulster 'A' team that same season.
He now works as a quantity surveyor at Drumbeg Cottages Management and is listed as a director of the company since 2016.
Ross McCarron (Leinster)
Having earned both a Leinster development contract, and then a permanent contract from Michael Cheika, McCarron surprisingly opted to not renew his contract in 2008 and instead returned to college to complete his degree
For McCarron, that decision seems to have worked, with the Gonzaga man now working for Salesforce as a Manager of Sales Development.
4 November 2006; Ross McCarron, Leinster. Magners League, Leinster v Newport Gwent Dragons, Donnybrook, Dublin. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
Daniel Riordan (Connacht)
Riordan joined the Connacht Rugby Academy after finishing secondary school in the province and would go on to earn 37 senior caps for the province. He then signed a short-term contract with Munster in 2009 before moving to Dublin club Belvedere in 2009.
Riordan is still involved in the Dublin rugby scene today, coaching the Monkstown RFC senior squad who play in Division 2c of the AIL.
Stephen Grissing (Leinster)
A holder of a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UCD, Grissing spent one year as a professional player with Leinster during the 2006/07 season.
Tipped as a school's hotshot, Grissing continued to play rugby with St. Mary's in Dublin. He now works as a director, and investment strategist at Davy.
Paul McKenzie (Ulster)
Another Belfast Harlequins man, McKenzie now works as a coach and has spent the last ten years working with TOWARD Ltd. who provide executive coaching, team coaching and leadership development programmes to senior leaders and teams.
23 June 2004; Paul McKenzie, Ireland. IRB Under 21 World Rugby Championship, Semi-Final, Ireland v Australia, Hughenden, Glasgow, Scotland. Picture credit; Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
Greg Stafford (Leinster)
A Landsdowne man, Stafford made several appearances for the Leinster 'A' side. After working a number of jobs across the financial services industry, he is now a Director of Operations at Uniphar Medtech.
Andrew Trimble (Ulster)
Andrew Trimble needs little introduction. While he played at centre for the 2005 U21 Six Nations, the Ballymena man would go on to be a mainstay of both the Irish and Ulster wing, amassing an impressive 70 caps in green and 229 for Ulster.
The season following Trimble's U21 foray he claimed a Celtic League (now URC) with Ulster. He also won a Six Nations with Ireland in 2014 as well as two triple crowns in 2006 and 2007.
As well as regular media work, Trimble is also a director of athlete performance at Teamworks and a co-founder of Kairos Sport Tech.
25 February 2005; Andrew Trimble, Ireland U21, in action Matt Cornwell, England U21. U21 Rugby Championship, Ireland U21 v England U21, Donnybrook, Dublin. Picture credit; David Maher / SPORTSFILE
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster)
What's to be said? Sexton went on to become a world player of the year and claim everything but a World Cup for club and country. He's one of, if not the greatest ever player to don the Irish jersey.
Today, aside from his gig coaching the next generation of Irish outhalfs, Sexton works as the Ardagh Group's Chief of Staff.
4 June 2006; Jonathan Sexton, Ireland U21. Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. Picture credit; Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
Gareth Steenson (Ulster)
The Dungannon man would captain Ireland in the U21s World Championship later that year before signing with the Rotherham Titans in 2006. He then spent a season at the Cornish Pirates before settling at the Exeter Chiefs in 2008. There he would earn an astonishing 290 caps over twelve years.
During his time in Exeter, Steenson claimed the 2016 Premiership golden boot and won the 2017 English Premiership. He is now the assistant coach of Plymouth.
Cillian Willis (Leinster)
A product of Blackrock College, Willis spent two years at Leinster between 2006 and 2008 but only managed eight caps in the two year period. He then enjoyed stints in Ulster and Connacht between 2008 and 2011 before returning to Leinster and earning another six caps. Willis then made the move across the Irish Sea to Sale Sharks where he finished out his career.
He is now a director at Virtue Integrated Care, an Elder Care management and operating group.
Tommy Bowe (Ulster)
The Monaghan native was twice a British and Irish Lion, earned 69 Irish caps and claimed two Six Nations including one Grand Slam during a decorated fifteen year career.
Bowe kickstarted his career with Ulster, winning the Celtic League with the province in 2006, before making the move to Welsh side Ospreys where he won another two leagues.
After four years in Wales, Bowe returned to his native Ulster where he would spend another six years and add 77 caps to the 99 he'd already earned.
Today, he has a podcast with Donncha O'Callaghan and hosts Ireland AM.
25 February 2005; Tommy Bowe, Ireland U21, in action against Ryan Davis, England U21. U21 Rugby Championship, Ireland U21 v England U21, Donnybrook, Dublin. Picture credit; David Maher / SPORTSFILE
David O'Leary (Munster)
Since starring for the U21s in 2005 O'Leary has worked across a number of businesses, including for Australian airline Qantas and for the VHI. He is now back in Cork, working as a Global FP&A Lead for ingredients at Pepsi Co.
Barry Keeshan (Munster)
While not quite achieving the sporting feats that a young Jonathan Sexton would achieve, Keeshan was honoured by the Lord Mayor of Cork in 2017 for becoming the all-time record points scorer in the history of the AIL with Dolphin RFC.
He now works as a Funds Senior Manager with Alter Domus.
Denis Hurley (Munster)
Hurley enjoyed a strong decade-long career with Munster between 2006 and 2016, earning 167 caps for his native province. He also earned one senior cap for Ireland in 2009 in a clash with the United States.
The former fullback is now responsible for the commercial operations of the family business Nessa Loves Weddings.
19 October 2013; Denis Hurley, Munster. Heineken Cup 2013/14, Pool 6, Round 2, Munster v Gloucester, Thomond Park, Limerick. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
Paul Marshall (Ulster)
The Methodi man signed a senior contract with Ulster in 2006, playing for the province over 200 times before his retirement in 2018.
He still in the works in the sport today, with Marshall currently a Player Development Manager with Rugby Players Ireland.
Tom Gleeson (Munster)
Gleeson would spend four years in the professional ranks at Munster between 2006 and 2012, before going to the RCSI to study medicine.
After spending six years working within the HSE, Gleeson left the national health service and became a GP in July of last year.
Kieran Geraghty (London Irish)
A London Irish man, Geraghty played for the Ireland U21s as an exile. It is unknown exactly what he does today.
SEE ALSO: Rankings Show Difference For Ireland's Chicago Reunion With New Zealand
