By Ciarán Ó Flaithearta

The 2023 Six Nations gets underway this weekend in what is also a World Cup year, so there will be plenty of focus tomorrow and Sunday on the Millennium Stadium, Twickenham, and the Stadio Olimpico.

The weekend action gets underway this evening, however, when the U-20 Six Nations campaign gets underway, and the Irish squad named for the game sees two Connacht players in the starting XV, and another two on the bench.

John Devine of Corinthians has been named as inside centre, while Hugh Gavin of Galwegians has been named on the wing. Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians) and Harry West (Buccaneers) have both been named on the bench.

The 19-year-old Salthill native began playing rugby in Crowley Park at the age of six and from there on his love for the sport grew. He played the age group above his own for the first couple of years under coaches Mickey Sherlock, Gerry Lowry, and Gary Gilanders along with his father and former club captain, Barry Gavin, whom he credits for his success and that of his teammates.

“That coaching panel was really good for the club with so many of us going up and playing with the seniors and even playing provincial, it’s a real credit to the coaches.”

Gavin impressed at the underage level, earning himself a spot in the Connacht development squads before going to the next step representing the province in the U-17 squad when they played against Munster.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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