U20 Six Nations Championship:<\/p>\n
France U20s 50<\/p>\n
Ireland U20s 21<\/p>\n
IT WAS a frustrating start to the U20s Six Nations Championship for Ireland at Stade Aime Giral in Perpignan this evening as Andrew Browne\u2019s charges fell to a comprehensive defeat at the hands of defending champions France.<\/p>\n
Following an excellent catch off a crossfield kick on 12 minutes, French winger Melvyn Rates offloaded to Adrien Drault, who proceeded to dot down for an unconverted breakthrough try.<\/p>\n
Ireland immediately responded when Josh Neill (originally from South Africa, but now part of the Leinster Academy) charged down a box kick by France\u2019s Nolhann Couillaud before passing to scrum-half Christopher Barrett for a simple finish over the line.<\/p>\n
A successful conversion from Barrett\u2019s half-back partner Tom Wood edged Ireland in front, but the hosts subsequently flexed their muscles either side of the first-quarter mark. Ruben Pargade and Romeo Bonnard Martin both touched down beyond the whitewash in advance of Ireland\u2019s No 8 Diarmaid O\u2019Connell being sent to the sin-bin, and the French sealed a bonus point when Rates and replacement scrum-half Antoine Latrasse combined superbly for the latter to score an eye-catching try.<\/p>\n
Ireland take the lead in France \u2013 a brilliant block down by Josh Neill opens the door for Christopher Barrett. <\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcfaRT\u00c9 News channel \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) February 7, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Ireland looked set to end the opening period on a high when Neill powered over at the end of a lengthy spell of attacking pressure, but there was enough time on the clock for France to grab a fifth try through loosehead prop Matheo Frisach.<\/p>\n This left Ireland 31-14 adrift at the interval, but after Frisach had a second score retrospectively ruled out on the resumption, the visitors gave themselves a fighting chance when Munster prospect Barrett seized upon a loose ball in the 49th minute and raced over for his second try of the night.<\/p>\n Christopher Barrett has his second try of the night as Ireland reduce the deficit to 10 points in France.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa RT\u00c9 News channel
\ud83d\udda5\ufe0fhttps:\/\/t.co\/58N1nTXdAZ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/0LnrnAx285<\/a><\/p>\n
\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/58N1nTXdAZ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gPnFVDDy6W<\/a><\/p>\n