Luke McGrath
The Leinster scrum-half has long been seen as a potential senior international and captained the U20 side last season. With his province, six appearances so far have included just one start, meaning the 21-year-old has some way to go in terms of solidifying a place in Matt O’Connor’s first team plans. McGrath’s pacy play at 9 should see him do exactly that in 2014.
While the former St. Michael’s student still has plenty of developing to do, the raw elements are there to make a wonderful scrum-half. With a crisp passing game, threatening sniping ability and smart tactical appreciation, McGrath has the goods to replace Eoin Reddan as Leinster’s front-foot, attacking scrum-half.
Rory Scholes
The Ulster flyer made his mark on the international scene with a standout Junior World Championship last year, excelling on the wing and at fullback for Mike Ruddock’s men. Scholes was comfortably amongst the most promising players at that tournament, so it will be interesting to see if he can turn that potential into top-level ability.
The 20-year-old is already quite a rounded player; he’s quick, evasive and powerful, while his kicking and handling skills are both of a high quality. Playing on the wing, he offers something different by popping up elsewhere in open play, and with an intelligence underpinning everything he does, Scholes looks set for a bright future.
Kieran Marmion
Already a firmly established starter at Connacht, the Welsh native is a man for whom Ireland caps look an inevitability rather than a possibility. Still only 21-years-old and in his second full season of professional rugby, Marmion is a player of immense potential. The fact that he already plays with such maturity bodes well for the future.
The Ireland Youths, U19 and U20 international is an intelligent, confident player. His actions are almost always decisive and he is comfortable in directing forwards around the pitch in phase play. At just under 6ft and around 85kg, Marmion is not the biggest scrum-half, but he is rarely found wanting physically. The Connacht man looks certain to become a senior international in 2014.
Dan Leavy
The flanker made four impressive appearances for the Ireland U20s at last summer’s Junior World Championship, and is eligible for this year’s version of the tournament in New Zealand. A Leinster Schools Senior Cup-winning captain with St. Michael’s in 2012, the 19-year-old is a complete back row player. Physically, Leavy is also showing signs of real promise.
At 6ft 3ins and already over 102kg, the Dublin man has an ideal frame for putting another few kilogrammes onto. His skill set is superb at this early stage, with good handling ability, excellent breakdown skills and strong defensive understanding. Alongside Jack O’Donoghue, Leavy will be integral to Ireland’s fortunes at the JWC this year. His competitive debut for Leinster may not be far off either.
James Cronin
Like Marmion, Cronin is a man who has already featured prominently for his province, and one for whom greater things almost certainly await in 2014. The Cork man began the current season having previously made only two substitute appearances for Munster, but his swift rise saw him start the Heineken Cup match away to Perpignan in December.
Five starts this during this campaign have been just reward for his quiet determination to become the province’s first-choice loosehead prop. The key to Cronin’s success on the pitch has been the marriage of an aggressive, abrasive edge to technically strong carrying and low tackling. Although Ireland are fully stocked at loosehead right now, the 23-year-old may be the next international in that position.
Which young Irish players do you think will light up 2014? Leave a comment below with your picks.
