Ian Keatley pushing U20s' drive for further Six Nations success

Ireland may be chasing a third Under-20s Six Nations Grand Slam in a row, but it wasn't long ago that silverware was a rarity.

Prior to the breakthrough slam in 2019, Ireland had only ever been crowned Under-20s Six Nations champions twice, with their one and only Grand Slam coming back in 2007.

The link between the current flock of youngsters and that 2007 side is Ian Keatley.

The former Munster and Ireland out-half has joined Richie Murphy's coaching ticket this year following Mark Sexton's promotion at Connacht.

Since retiring from playing in 2021, the Dublin native has taken on several coaching gigs, working at schools level with Glenstal Abbey and at club level with UL Bohemian in Division 2A of the Energia All-Ireland League, a role he's had to move on from since joining Munster full-time last summer as a "provincial talent coach".

"I always thought I wanted to be a good coach," he tells RTÉ Sport.

"Even as a player or even as a number 10, you're kind of a coach on the pitch anyway. I always thought I had a good way about myself, I was always trying to help other players."

If the current group can match Keatley's team from 2007, they'll be doing well.

The out-half is one of several full Ireland internationals to emerge from that Grand Slam-winning side, which also included Cian Healy, Jamie Hagan, Tommy O'Donnell, Felix Jones, Keith Earls and Darren Cave, while Luke Fitzgerald and Sean O'Brien missed out on the campaign due to injury.

It may feel like yesterday to Keatley, but he says the current set-up is a much different environment compared to 17 years ago.

"I said it to one of the players, Hugo McLaughlin. I said, 'sure I won an U20s Grand slam', and he said, 'yeah, back in the Stone Age'. I think he still thinks it was