Andrew Browne has made Ireland’s first hard call of the World Rugby Junior World Championship, naming tighthead Sami Bishti as captain for Saturday’s Pool C opener against England in Tbilisi.
Ireland Rugby confirmed the match-day 23 on Thursday, with the game set for Avchala Stadium at 12.30pm Irish time. The fixture is live on Premier Sports and RugbyPass TV, and follows the broader England-Ireland Pool C build-up already sharpened by both sides’ recent age-grade rivalry.
The Ireland U20s team for Saturday’s World Rugby Junior World Championship opener against England. pic.twitter.com/sIEDoutdCX
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 25, 2026
Bishti Leads A Leinster-Heavy Pack
Bishti starts at tighthead alongside Max Doyle and Rian Handley, with Donnacha McGuire and Dylan McNeice in the second row. Josh Neill, Ben Blaney and Diarmaid O’Connell complete a back row that gives Browne a direct, breakdown-heavy base for the tournament opener.
The backline carries a Munster hinge, with Christopher Barrett and Charlie O’Shea paired at scrum-half and fly-half. Noah Byrne, Charlie Molony and Daniel Ryan form the back three, while James O’Leary and Rob Carney start in midfield.
Why The Opener Matters
World Rugby’s latest tournament preview underlined the expanded 16-team format and the brutal five-day turnaround facing squads in Georgia. That makes Browne’s selection more than a team sheet: it is an early statement on control, set-piece trust and how Ireland intend to manage the pool.
England arrive with their own title ambitions, but Ireland have put their leadership question beyond doubt. Bishti’s first task is clear: make the opener a platform, not a scramble.
