Tipperary’s Brian Gleeson and Irish Under 20 rugby team advance to world championship semi-finals

Tipperary’s Brian Gleeson and the Irish Under 20 rugby team have advanced to the semi-finals of the World Championships in South Africa.

Loughmore’s Gleeson was to have captained the team in today’s scheduled game against Australia, but torrential rain resulted in the game in Cape Town being cancelled.

World Rugby subsequently confirmed that it would count as a draw, with both teams receiving two points.

That outcome ensures that Ireland finish top of the pool on 11 points and receive direct passage to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals are scheduled to take place next Sunday at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, with New Zealand and England (both on 10 points) currently topping the other pools, and one of the pool runners-up also qualifying for the last four.