The IRFU have confirmed that Mike Ruddock has stepped down as head coach of the Ireland U20 rugby team.

The Welshman has been in charge of the underage side since 2010 and took Ireland to a fourth place finish at the last Junior World Cup in Auckland. 

Players like Paddy Jackson, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Marty Moore, Iain Henderson, Kieran Marmion and Jordi Murphy have also graduated from the U20s to the Ireland senior squad during his tenure.

"It has been difficult trying to juggle the ever increasing demands of the age grade programme whilst coaching Lansdowne FC in the Ulster Bank League and now it's time to concentrate on trying to add another UBL title to the one we won in 2013," he explained.