Looking After No. 1

Noonan’s ready for battle…

e’s long been tipped for the top, with Rugby Rising last year naming the local Greystones player Harry Noonan One For The Future.

And now that future would appear to have arrived, as the 19-year-old player has been called up for Ireland’s Under 20s Six Nations squad.

It’s been a long, steady climb for Noonan, who started at Greystones Rugby Club when he was just six years of age, going on to represent them through those early years, before moving to Wicklow RFC for their U18s Old Wesley Rugby Club, where he made the direct jump to Senior Rugby.

“I found the jump from juniors to seniors alright,” Noonan told Rugby Rising last year. “Playing U19s Leinster rugby in the front row really helped me, and conditioned my body to play against bigger people.”

Which will no doubt come in handy when it comes to the Six Nations.

Not that the lad is about to take much time off to celebrate. Training with the Leinster sub Academy four times a week, Noonan explains, “It’s like a full-time job. I’m up at 5 in the morning to get a bus to Donnybrook, where I gym and do pitch sessions. We are constantly monitored with GPS systems, so the coaches know that we are averaging 25km a week…”

Bejiggers. Newcastle-reared but born in Australia (no wonder he’s so good with those scrums), Noonan would also qualify to represent the Wallabies at senior level. “I definitely would play in Australia,” he says. “It’s my birth country. I have been contacted to play Queen’s University, but my priorities are here in Ireland.”

Especially now that the lad has been called up to represent his adopted home.

Whatever the outcome, do us proud, young Harry. Otherwise, it’s a Sealink to Sydney…

Catch brother Howard Noonan in action today here. Pics courtesy of Rugby Rising.