Flying Limerick teenager captains Ireland U-18 Sevens team

A LIMERICK teenager will captain Ireland in this weekend's Rugby Europe Under-18 Men's Sevens Championship in Panevezys, Lithuania.

Adare’s Ronan Quinn, a key member of Glenstal Abbey’s history-making Munster Schools Senior Cup winning side from this season, will skipper the Irish side in the tournament which doubles up as the European qualifying event for the Youth Olympic Games, which take place in Buenos Aires this October.

Flying winger Quinn is the only returning player in the 12-strong Ireland U-18 Sevens squad from their successful campaign in Heidelberg last September.

Ireland begin their group games against Sweden at 8.44am Irish time this Saturday, May 5.

Ronan Quinn has played his under-age club rugby with Garryowen from age ten. Prior to that he played with TISA Titans in Baku.

Quinn is a Munster U-17 and U-18 Academy Player for the past two years, and was he was part of the Glenstal Abbey team who made history by winning this year’s Munster Schools Senior Cup for the first time in 79 years.

He attended fifth and sixth class at Scoil Naomh Iosaf in Adare, after the family returned back from in Baku, Azerbaijan.

A talented sporting all-rounder, Ronan Quinn played soccer for Adare, Kilcornan and AK United in the Limerick Desmond Schoolboy League as well Limerick FC in the District League.

Quinn also featured for the Limerick Desmond Schoolboy League in two Kennedy Cup tournaments at UL before going to England for soccer trials where he had offers to sign for a number of Premiership clubs. 

While at Limerick FC, he lined out for the Republic of Ireland U15 squad.

Ronan Quinn’s father Billy is a cousin of former Republic of Ireland, Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland striker Niall Quinn.

A total of 16 teams will compete at this weekend’s Sevens tournament in Lithuania, spread across four pools. Ireland are drawn in Pool A along with Italy, Russia and Sweden.

Rugby Europe will stream the Rugby Europe Under-18 Men's Sevens Championship games live from Panevezys this weekend at www.rugbyeurope.tv

Ireland U-18s Men’s Sevens Fixtures

Day 1 – Saturday, May 5

Pool D

Ireland U-18s v Sweden U-18s, Aukstaitijos Sporto Komplekse, 10.44am local time/8.44am Irish time

Ireland U-18s v Russia U-18s, Aukstaitijos Sporto Komplekse, 2.24pm local time/12.24pm Irish time

Ireland U-18s v Italy U-18s, Aukstaitijos Sporto Komplekse, 5.42pm local time/3.42pm Irish time

Day 2 – Sunday, May 6

Play-Offs