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The pitch at the Athlone Sports Stadium was heavily waterlogged. Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart/INPHO

Ireland rugby U20s qualify for World Championship semi-finals after final pool game cancelled

Willie Faloon’s team were due to play Australia at 1pm Irish time today.

THE IRELAND RUGBY U20s have advanced to the semi-finals at the World U20 Championships in South Africa after their final pool match was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

Willie Faloon’s side were due to play Australia at 1pm Irish time at the Athlone Sports Stadium in Cape Town today.

Yet heavy rainfall and strong winds saw kick-off initially delayed, with Ireland warming up in the car park in an effort to preserve the playing surface.

the-team-warm-up-in-the-car-park-due-to-the-weather The Ireland team warmed up in the car park due to the weather. Steve Haag Sports / Darren Stewart/INPHO Steve Haag Sports / Darren Stewart/INPHO / Darren Stewart/INPHO

The game did not kick-off as scheduled and shortly after the fixture was due to start, it was confirmed the match would be unable to go ahead in the interest of player safety.

As a result, both teams have been awarded two match points, meaning Ireland will top Pool B with 11 points and have qualified for the semi-finals. However today’s cancelled match robs Ireland of the opportunity to advance as top seeds.

Ireland were heading into today’s game knowing their destiny was in their own hands, with top spot in the pool and a place in the semi-finals guaranteed once they avoided defeat.

Ireland are now into the knock-out stages having played just two pool games.

Faloon’s team opened their championship with a comfortable 55-15 defeat of Italy, before Finn Treacy’s late try secured a dramatic 22-16 win over Georgia.

The semi-finals are to be played on Sunday, with the pairings to be confirmed later today.

There are two more games scheduled for the Athlone Stadium today, with France due to play Wales before hosts South Africa take on England.

Games at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch today were unaffected.

Written by Ciarán Kennedy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jul 9th 2024, 2:35 PM

    Not the kind of pool game that was anticipated then!

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Jul 9th 2024, 4:26 PM

    @Jack Hayes: the new sport of, water rugby.

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    Mute S Suilleabhain
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    Jul 9th 2024, 5:17 PM

    @Brian Keelty: is this a sort of wet t shirt concept for hot rugby players? Asking for a friend

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    Mute Spanner
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    Jul 9th 2024, 3:13 PM

    Must have been really bad to have a rugby match cancelled.

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    Mute Jack Dermody
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    Jul 9th 2024, 3:39 PM

    @Spanner: Water logged pitch…

    Danger of players drowning from rucks or collapsed scrums..

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    Mute S Suilleabhain
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    Jul 9th 2024, 4:20 PM

    @Jack Dermody: not pointless displays of egoism you get the whole time in football. Shame on Ronaldo for not coming up and showing a bit of love to that player that hit the post #POR

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jul 9th 2024, 2:15 PM

    Fair decision.

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    Mute S Suilleabhain
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    Jul 9th 2024, 4:19 PM

    Athlone stadium.. rained out with actual Athlone rain :p

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    Mute S Suilleabhain
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    Jul 9th 2024, 4:18 PM

    Yessssss only cos it’s class to see it rain logged if it wasn’t rugby we could go see. I know for others it’s insufferably long now the season and in particular the UK prem now. Would love a nice rugby friendly on a rainy summer day
    Otherwise, is Faloon still as much of a ride as ever? Darren Cave is

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