Leinster's academy prop Sam Bishti has been confirmed as captain for Ireland Under-20s in the 2026 Six Nations Championship, after head coach Andrew Browne named a 29-player squad for the early rounds of the tournament.
Bishti, who has been playing for UCD in the Energia All-Ireland League this season, skippered Blackrock College to Leinster Schools Senior Cup success last year, and will lead the Ireland U20s as they bid to recover from last year’s calamitous championship, where they finished bottom of the table with just one win.
Just four of that 2025 squad remain in place this year, with Leinster trio Donnacha McGuire, Charlie Molony and Derry Moloney, as well as Munster’s Tom Wood – son of former Ireland captain Keith - playing a second year of U20s.
Browne has also included recent Leinster academy back row Josh Neill in his squad.
The highly-rated teenager (below, right) only linked up with the province’s academy this month following his arrival from his native South Africa, and the Irish-qualified flanker scored two tries in Saturday’s 29-10 warm-up win against Italy in Dublin.
Ireland get their Championship campaign under way in France before returning home to Virgin Media Park in Cork to face Italy on Friday, 13 February.
Browne’s side then travel to Bath to face England on Friday, 20 February, before welcoming Wales and Scotland to Cork for back-to-back home fixtures to finish the campaign on Saturday, 7 March and Sunday, 15 March respectively.
"We have been working hard together as an extended squad for a number of months and it’s an exciting time for these young players, who have the honour of representing the wider group in the Six Nations," head coach Browne said.
"We, as coaches, have pushed the players over the last number of months and I have been impressed by their work-rate, commitment, and application. Now our focus turns to performance and the opening game against France, which we know will be a big challenge first up."
Forwards: Tyrese Abolarin (Queen’s University/Ulster), Sami Bishti (UCD/Leinster)(captain), Ben Blaney (Terenure/Leinster), Jonathan Byrne (Garryowen/Munster) Max Doyle (UCD/Leinster), Joe Finn (Garryowen/Munster), Christian Foley (Young Munster/Munster), Rian Handley (Old Wesley/Leinster), Bill Hayes (Garryowen/Munster), Alex Lautsou (Shannon/Munster), Duinn Maguire (UCD/Leinster), Blake McClean (Instonians/Ulster), Donnacha McGuire (UCD/Leinster), Dylan McNeice (UCD/Leinster) Josh Neill (Old Wesley/Leinster), Diarmaid O’Connell (Corinthians/Connacht), Sean Walsh (MU Barnhall/Leinster)
Backs: Christopher Barrett (UCC/Munster), Ethan Black (Old Wesley/Leinster), Noah Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster), Luke Fogarty (MU Barnhall/Leinster), Derry Moloney (Blackrock College/Leinster), Charlie Molony (UCD/Leinster), James O’Dwyer (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Charlie O’Shea (UCC/Munster), Johnny O’Sullivan (Dublin University/Leinster), Daniel Ryan (Corinthians/Connacht), Harry Waters (Blackrock College/Leinster), Tom Wood (Garryowen/Munster).
