Campbell Classon helps Ireland Club XV to victory over Portugal in Lisbon

Campbell Classon was part of the Ireland Club XV’s well-earned 20-17 win over Portugal ‘A’ in Lisbon on Friday night. 

Having fallen behind to an opportunist Jose do Carmo Camara score, busy back rowers Coghlan and Jack Kelleher hit back with unconverted efforts after 24 and 28 minutes respectively, to give the visitors a 10-7 half-time lead.

The wet and windy conditions proved tricky at times, but slick handling created the best try of the lot for winger Craig Adams, before replacement Bobby Sheehan, younger brother of Leinster and Ireland star Dan, barged over from a 56th-minute maul.

Hooker Sheehan was one of 22 new caps for the Ireland Club international team on the night, as some of the most consistent performers in this season’s Energia All-Ireland League got to test themselves against international opposition.

Captain Nuno Sousa Guedes and scrum half Pedro Lucas were part of Portugal’s 2023 Rugby World Cup squad, and the hosts whittled the margin down to three points in the end, with Francisco Galveias and Alfredo Almeira both crossing late on.

Still, with limited preparation time together, it was an assured performance from Skehan’s charges, particularly between the start of the second quarter and the hour mark. Captain Harrison Brewer led the team well, and was presented with the trophy afterwards.

IRELAND CLUB XV: Adam La Grue (Terenure College); Craig Adams (Terenure College), George Pringle (Ballynahinch), Peter Sylvester (Terenure College), Cathal Eddy (Lansdowne); Conor Kelly (Clontarf), Michael Moloney (UCD); Campbell Classon (Terenure College), Dylan Donnellan (Clontarf), Conor Bartley (Young Munster), Harrison Brewer (Terenure College) (capt), Fionn Gilbert (Clontarf), Jack Kelleher (Cork Constitution), Luke Clohessy (Terenure College), Jordan Coghlan (Terenure College).

Replacements used: Bobby Sheehan (UCD) for Donnellan, Alan Kennedy (Young Munster) for Kelleher, Bradley Luney (Ballynahinch) for Clohessy, Rhys O’Donnell (Instonians) for Moloney, Mark Best (Ballynahinch) for Sylvester (all 51 mins), David Begley (Young Munster) for Classon, Cronan Gleeson (Old Wesley) for Bartley, Conor Hayes (St. Mary’s College) for Eddy (all 58), Aran Egan (Terenure College) for Kelly, Diarmuid McCormack (Dublin University) for Coghlan (both 67), Coghlan for Brewer (74).

Referee: Keane Davison (IRFU)