[Tox56]

Fair enough, he's a year ahead of Conan in the academy, so he should get his chance soon.

Obviously impossible to know what will happen but I'm going on the general assumption that surely not all these backrowers will "make" it with Leinster.

Having said that, the whole trio were very impressive.

[GerM]

If Connacht were to look at one of the back row players, I think that Jordi Murphy would be the likely one. He's a good player but I'm not sure he's of the required standard to break into the Leinster senior set up. Got a few appearances this year which were fairly uneventful. He'll be 22 and finished his stint in the academy at the end of this season so could well be available in 12 months.

[profitius]

Originally Posted by porterbelly

Peter Reilly, Leinster and Ireland u20 prop will be joining our academy

Good move for him.

If I was Elwood I'd be keeping an eye out for Moore, Furlong and Hagan in Leinster. I think one of them will have to move (maybe get loaned out) to get the experience.

Elwood should also be keeping an eye out for Munster hookers, Leinster backrows and back 3 players and Ulster centers in the next few seasons.

[ormond lad]

Tralee's Ultan Dillane has been signed to academy according to the tralee website
http://traleerugby.com/

[Amazotheamazing]

Originally Posted by ormond lad

Tralee's Ultan Dillane has been signed to academy according to the tralee website
http://traleerugby.com/

Think we've discussed him here before, he's a decent athlete too, isn't he?

[ormond lad]

Originally Posted by Amazotheamazing

Think we've discussed him here before, he's a decent athlete too, isn't he?

Yeah, competed in munster/irish under age finals in shot/hammer

[its_phil]

Originally Posted by profitius

Good move for him.

If I was Elwood I'd be keeping an eye out for Moore, Furlong and Hagan in Leinster. I think one of them will have to move (maybe get loaned out) to get the experience.

Elwood should also be keeping an eye out for Munster hookers, Leinster backrows and back 3 players and Ulster centers in the next few seasons.

There's an abundance coming through of back 3 players from Connacht, so it's not an area that needs specific focus

[d-gal]

Originally Posted by ormond lad

Tralee's Ultan Dillane has been signed to academy according to the tralee website
http://traleerugby.com/

What position does he play?

Delighted Peter Reilly signed, very good player with loads of potential

[Hagz]

Originally Posted by d-gal

What position does he play?

Delighted Peter Reilly signed, very good player with loads of potential

Second Row. He was starting alongside Thornbury for the Irish u-19s. Ahead of McCarthy, who's pretty highly rated among Munster fans, but that might not mean anything.

[ormond lad]

Originally Posted by d-gal

What position does he play?

Delighted Peter Reilly signed, very good player with loads of potential

2nd row but has played a bit at 6. prob would see him as a 2nd row

[emmet02]

Is Reilly going to NUIG so?

Surely the boys at Connacht Branch need to be getting in touch with NUIG about getting some sports scholarship type impetus to get some young guys across?

We always talk about "X should go here etc", but people rarely consider the fact that the teams are not instantly interchangeable.

What if your employer came to you in the morning and asked you to move to Greece? What if it was great for your career, but you were 19, never lived away from home etc?

Obviously that's an extreme enough example, but the point stands. These guys are growing up as well as growing into a professional organisation. The decisions are less black and white than "he'll get 180% the gametime at Connacht". Make the move as attractive as possible outside rugby, and you will see promising youth flocking to you.

Leinster Academy provides an education, Connacht should try pair up with NUIG to get something similar going if they haven't already. (Isn't this one of the reasons Mick Kearney turned up in Connacht this season too? )

[City boy turned country]

Hi guys,

anyone know when the dates of the pre season friendlies will be announced?

Haven't been able to get to games last season due to family commitments and want to start getting back to the games starting with pre season.

[fatguy2k1]

Originally Posted by City boy turned country

Hi guys,

anyone know when the dates of the pre season friendlies will be announced?

Haven't been able to get to games last season due to family commitments and want to start getting back to the games starting with pre season.

pre-season games are both away this year to quins and exiter. don't think the dates have offically been announced yet but mid august would be a good guess

[liam12989]

Anyone know where Stewart Maguire is gone too?

And i see Rodney Ah You in most of pre season picks, says this is his last chance now.....


whens academy contracts being announced heard about reilly prop from leinster and a 2nd row from munster....

[porterbelly]

Peter Reilly and Ultan Dillane are the Munster and Leinster academy players joining.

Stewart Maguire has been released