Irish Rugby's Best Emerging Talents

Size=everything

So I have decided to compile a list of the most promising players in the countrie's acadamies and sub academies for people who rarely get to see the underage teams.



Nevin Spence (ULSTER) -
I am sure many posters here saw this player in action for the Under 20s in the World Cup before his unfortunate injury and saw what an excellent player he was. Extremely powerful, good pace and a nice step.

Peter O'Mahony (MUNSTER) -
An excellent 8 who is a grafter and a natural born leader. Great with ball in hand and excellent in support play.

Jack McGrath (LEINSTER) -
A prop with unlimited potential. Has held his own against ex England props at just 18 and at the same age destroyed scrums for fun in the AIL top division. An excellent prospect.

Ciaran Ruddock (LEINSTER) -
The Welsh rugby union tried everything in their power to hold onto him for good reason. Ruddock is considered to be one of the most promising emerging talents in the country right now. An excellent, skillful second row who the IRFU are very lucky to have on their books.

Ian McKinley (LEINSTER) -
There has been a certain buzz about McKinley since jct level when Blackrock College were so impressed with him that they offered him everything to try and get him to join their ranks. At 18 he has already started for Leinster, an incredible outhalf with an incredible boot and brilliant distribution skills.

Noel Reid (LEINSTER) -
I have been talking about him a bit as of late but for good reason. He has been seriously impressive this year. An incredibly skillful outhalf who is equally competent at 12. His distribution, kicking, handling is unbelievable and he can put it in some serious hits. I have no doubt that Reid will be the natural replacement for D'arcy in a few years time.

Ian Nagle (MUNSTER) -
Has been playing some excellent stuff for Munster so far and looks to be improving constantly. If he can bulk up considerably (I believe hes only 15.5 stone at 6'7) then I have no doubt in a few years Nagle will be putting his hand up as an excellent solution to the problem of replacing POC and DOC.

Andrew Conway (LEINSTER) -
Another Full back to add to our growing list but a serious talent. A deadly threat with ball in hand and has excellent handling. His step is probably one of the best steps I have seen at that level and he has a huge future ahead of him.

Brendan Macken (LEINSTER) -
He has only just left school and already he has excelled in pre season games with the Leinster first team. This lad is without doubt at his age the biggest prospect in Northern Hemisphere rugby right now. He has been tipped to have the potential to be as good as O'Driscoll was in his prime and having seen him play I don't doubt this.

Dave Kearney (LEINSTER) -
We will probably be seeing him a lot this season but for those who don't know he is considered to have the potential to be even better than his brother.


Notable mentions also go out to Dominic Ryan (LEINSTER) and Scott Deasy (MUNSTER)

Spore

so the Irish team is destined to be an international Leinster team in five / seven years time

wixfjord

Spore wrote: »

so the Irish team is destined to be an international Leinster team in five / seven years time

When I opened this thread I was thinking :rolleyes: here we go again another Leinster's academy is better than Munsters thread, but in fairness to Size=everything thats not what it is. Hes a Leinster fan so would know more of the younger players. Please lets not go down the road that the Pick your Ireland 15 thread has gone with this. What about Kyle Tonetti and Eoin (Eugene?) Sheridan op?

chupacabra

Paddy McAllister, prop (Ulster)
Currently playing loosehead, i think this guy should be switching to tight head in the near future, good scrummaging and decent in the loose, he made a big difference in the games he played for Ballynahinch last year.

Ian Madigan, 10, 12, 15 (Leinster)
He is best suited to the 10 shirt but wont get near it with McKinley around. Might be a bit small for a 12 with the way things are going in that position at the moment, but in my opinion he is a better prospect than Kearney is.

Kevin Kidney, 10 (Munster)
Son of Declan, being touted as quite the player for his age. Ive only seen him play once and he was above average but not spectacular, keep an eye out tho.

Tiernan O'Halloran, center (Connacht)
This lad is probably the most promising player in the Connacht academy at the moment, saw him play for Roscrea last year and he looked dangerous. Scored some tries that day too.

Connor Murray, Scrum half, (Munster)
In my opinion, the best scrum half in ireland in his age grade. Very much in the mould of O'Leary/Phillips he's a tall but quick SH with beautiful hands and a good pass.

Johnny Shiels, center (Ulster)
On the fringes of the Ulster squad at the moment, had a decent enough pre-season, he looks like a good combination with Cave.

Brian O'Hara, back row (Munster)
Started the majority of the U-20 games this year, this guy is a serious work horse who is built for the modern 7 position.

Danny Barnes, center (Munster)
He may not be the future of irish rugby at center, but he is from my Town so he deserves a mention, fair play to you Danny.

When I opened this thread I was thinking here we go again another Leinster's academy is better than Munsters thread, but in fairness to Size=everything thats not what it is. Hes a Leinster fan so would know more of the younger players. Please lets not go down the road that the Pick your Ireland 15 thread has gone with this. What about Kyle Tonetti and Eoin (Eugene?) Sheridan op?

I wouldnt worry. You would have to be a fool not to see that the Leinster academy is one of the best in the Northern Heimisphere of late.

siltirocker

chupacabra wrote: »

Tiernan O'Halloran, center (Connacht)
This lad is probably the most promising player in the Connacht academy at the moment, saw him play for Roscrea last year and he looked dangerous. Scored some tries that day too.



.

+1 best underage player i've seen with my own eyes since Luke Fitzgerald.

kev_s88

Dominic Ryan...absolute beast...

NickNolte

Going to throw my hat into the ring - Tiernan O'Halloran and Brendan Macken FTW

siltirocker

NickNolte wrote: »

Going to throw my hat into the ring - Tiernan O'Halloran and Brendan Macken FTW

Embaressed i didn't also +1 Macken myself when i was speaking about O'Halloran.

These two FTW without doubt!

stephen_n

Seems like we have some healthy prospects coming through in every position except 10

andrewdcs

Think 10 is ok actually. From above, there is a buzz about McKinley (10)... consensus generally that he's got more strings to his bow than Sexton, just needs a season or two, will hopefully get a reasonable run in the ML.

Size=everything

andrewdcs wrote: »

Think 10 is ok actually. From above, there is a buzz about McKinley (10)... consensus generally that he's got more strings to his bow than Sexton, just needs a season or two, will hopefully get a reasonable run in the ML.

Noel Reid as well, future for 10 is looking very healthy in my eyes

Size=everything

wixfjord wrote: »

What about Kyle Tonetti and Eoin (Eugene?) Sheridan op?

I think Tonetti and Sheridan are very good players however I don't class them as the best emerging talent. I only really listed the players who in my eyes are the top 10.

danthefan

Why is Reid not in the Leinster academy?

Size=everything

danthefan wrote: »

Why is Reid not in the Leinster academy?

Hes in the sub academy and it is highly likey will be offered a contract by the end of the season.

nerophis

who's going to come through for province to nail a starting place this season? Probably necessary to see this given the likely mass retirement after the world cup

nosco

I really hope one of these 10's you speak of comes good.

When was the last time Ireland had a proper, all round top quality 10?

I don't mean a 10 who can kick his goals, or control the game with his boot. I mean a world class 10 who has a change of pace and good hands, along with the rest. Sexton, again is not the answer. Fingers crossed cos if we can unearth one we really could have a world class back line in years to come.

irishbucsfan

nosco wrote: »

I don't mean a 10 who can kick his goals, or control the game with his boot. I mean a world class 10 who has a change of pace and good hands, along with the rest. Sexton, again is not the answer. Fingers crossed cos if we can unearth one we really could have a world class back line in years to come.

A change of pace and good hands is exactly what Sexton has, as well as a quality boot. I would say that he is the closest thing to world class we can ask for coming through right now. Apart from his discipline which he has to work on, and is a big worry (can't be having a ten whose missing for ten minutes every other game)

stephen_n

andrewdcs wrote: »

Think 10 is ok actually. From above, there is a buzz about McKinley (10)... consensus generally that he's got more strings to his bow than Sexton, just needs a season or two, will hopefully get a reasonable run in the ML.

Missed McKinley when I was reading through the first time!

wixfjord

Size=everything wrote: »

Noel Reid as well, future for 10 is looking very healthy in my eyes

By any chance are you or are you related to Noel Reid?:pac:

nosco

As much as i'd like to see it, being a leinster and irish fan, i really don't and can never see sexton being world class.

He by no means has the turn of pace and handling ability i alluded to above. I am talking about a truly talented 10 who can make things happen with the ball in hand, which as I said we haven't had for as long as I can remember. Again, this is not sexton.

Real FM

Slightly off topic, but a player who people had big hopes for - Royce Burke-Flynn has just moved to a club in Italy.

Would love to see a 10 come through that's at this age gropu but I don't think we really need to worry because Sexton is still very young.

anonymous_joe

Real FM wrote: »

Slightly off topic, but a player who people had big hopes for - Royce Burke-Flynn has just moved to a club in Italy.

Would love to see a 10 come through that's at this age gropu but I don't think we really need to worry because Sexton is still very young.

Is that definite?

Size=everything

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Is that definite?

Yeah hes moved to Treviso

Size=everything

wixfjord wrote: »

By any chance are you or are you related to Noel Reid?:pac:

ha no but in all the under 20s games I watched thus far this season hes been the one whose impressed me the most

FridaysWell

Does anyone think that any of the fly halves mentioned above will be a 'centre' type fly half, as in much like Dan Carter, a strong runner, excellent tackler? And still excellent at passing, kicking etc.?

A friend of mine was playing for a Leinster squad while in school at fly half, brilliant player, had it all, but Leinster dropped him after he moved to a grinds school. Shame.

Hyperbullet

FridaysWell wrote: »

Does anyone think that any of the fly halves mentioned above will be a 'centre' type fly half, as in much like Dan Carter, a strong runner, excellent tackler? And still excellent at passing, kicking etc.?

A friend of mine was playing for a Leinster squad while in school at fly half, brilliant player, had it all, but Leinster dropped him after he moved to a grinds school. Shame.

Why did that happen? Sounds ridiculous to cut off a player due to them changing schools

Size=everything

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Why did that happen? Sounds ridiculous to cut off a player due to them changing schools

Because grind schools don't play rugby and at that age he would of been on the Leinster school's team which picks players based on form playing for their school. You can hardly justify picking one player over another when they're not even playing rugby.

anonymous_joe

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Why did that happen? Sounds ridiculous to cut off a player due to them changing schools

As far as I know the Institute doesn't compete in the S's. Would be the most likely answer.

The thing about schools rugby is that while we all know it's too influential, etc, it's still bloody influential. If you go to one of Rock, Michaels, Clongowes, Belvo, Marys, etc, the chances of you fulfilling your talent are higher than if you go elsewhere. Rightly or wrongly that's the case.

Hyperbullet

anonymous_joe wrote: »

As far as I know the Institute doesn't compete in the S's. Would be the most likely answer.

The thing about schools rugby is that while we all know it's too influential, etc, it's still bloody influential. If you go to one of Rock, Michaels, Clongowes, Belvo, Marys, etc, the chances of you fulfilling your talent are higher than if you go elsewhere. Rightly or wrongly that's the case.

Thanks for the info. Being honest i'm not into schools rugby really, and I didnt realise that it has that much influence.

FridaysWell

Yep, thats right he moved to the Institute Joe. No rugby.

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Why did that happen? Sounds ridiculous to cut off a player due to them changing schools

He only plays club rugby now, and being honest, at that age level, club rugby is hardly recognised. Any representitive teams made up of club youth players are run by coaches who pick their own clubs players. Thats the way the system works, it's just a shame. I'd say he will try make it at college or U21s but I suppose he has lost out on high-quality (or exposure) games/training with Leinster.

anonymous_joe

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Being honest i'm not into schools rugby really, and I didnt realise that it has that much influence.

They've got fantastic coaches, great facilities and a very visible competition. Hence the club underage game being totally ignored by the general public and producing less players.

A solid chunk of the Irish team has gone through one of the rugby schools. Especially Ulster, Leinster and Corkonian or Limerick players. Though the schools matter less in Munster than the other two.

FridaysWell wrote: »

Yep, thats right he moved to the Institute Joe. No rugby.



He only plays club rugby now, and being honest, at that age level, club rugby is hardly recognised. Any representitive teams made up of club youth players are run by coaches who pick their own clubs players. Thats the way the system works, it's just a shame. I'd say he will try make it at college or U21s but I suppose he has lost out on high-quality (or exposure) games/training with Leinster.

Fairly safe assumption, heh. A few lads have made it via club rugby though in fairness. Shaggy mar shampla, or Niall Ronan even. They're both from Boyne (or whatever that club's called) aren;t they?

FridaysWell

anonymous_joe wrote: »

They've got fantastic coaches, great facilities and a very visible competition. Hence the club underage game being totally ignored by the general public and producing less players.

A solid chunk of the Irish team has gone through one of the rugby schools. Especially Ulster, Leinster and Corkonian or Limerick players. Though the schools matter less in Munster than the other two.


Fairly safe assumption, heh. A few lads have made it via club rugby though in fairness. Shaggy mar shampla, or Niall Ronan even. They're both from Boyne (or whatever that club's called) aren;t they?

Yep thats right Shaggy was at Boyne. I could be wrong but I think he is still registered there. Not sure. . .

Thats correct, schools do have the best coaches, facilities etc. I think the schools system here is great one of the best in the world, and the majority, if not all, future players will come through that system.

It has to be said though, to create an even bigger player pool, the club system needs to rejuvinated or expanded or at least taken a little more seriously by the Union. There are some excellent players around who get no look at at all because of the club they play at or the fact that the competition they play in is ran Mickey-Mouse style, and when they move up to higher age grades they are left behind even though they may be better players then those on the first team, just because they played no schools.

Also, forgive my rant here, but the IRFU need to step up bringing rugby to non-playing schools. This would create an even bigger pool of players for future squads. (Depth??) I'll give you an example. At my school we used to have an excellent ruggy team. Won a few competitions and was progressing well. Then along came a very GAA minded principle, and board members. Stop the rugby they say, as now we have less players for our Gaelic teams, etc. Rugby stops. Some of the coaches that where there moved on and coached some very high level teams here and are quite famous today. School won't acknowledge this. Despite always boasting to have 'some of the best sport facilities of any school in South Dublin' they tell us that they have 'no space' for a rugby pitch. Excuse me, BULL****!!
We asked them many times to start it up again, petitioned for it, answer was always an angry 'No, now feck off'. Right now, there is a guy in my year that played for Ireland U18s and is on the Leinster youths, 3 chaps on Leinster teams, and another 4 of us that were on Leinster development teams. Another 7-8 that play rugby for very good teams in my year alone, and throughout other years there is at least another 30-40 people that play rugby. And they still won't give us our team. I don't get why, its always the answer that we don't have facilities, that GAA is the only sport they want etc. Even soccer in the school is neglected despite having some gifted players but at least they have a team!! This is one thing that I really regret, its a great school academically great place, but now when my parents laid the choice in front of me I should have picked Marys or Terenure instead of going where most my mates went, ah well thats life. . . :(
So as for the future of international rugby? I really hope 1-2 of us make it and then maybe the school will change its mind and people can enjoy rugby there.

anonymous_joe

That's an old story sadly.

All too often the wants of the teaching staff in a school impact on a sport. Gah heads hating other sports is nothing new. (Nor is it endemic, thankfully. Just common enough to be depressing.)

FridaysWell

anonymous_joe wrote: »

That's an old story sadly.

All too often the wants of the teaching staff in a school impact on a sport. Gah heads hating other sports is nothing new. (Nor is it endemic, thankfully. Just common enough to be depressing.)

Try be there, you won't say its an old story, its ****ed up.

No-one gives a **** anyway, whats the point in posting this ****e. No-one listens, no one cares. Wish there was somebody that could help us.

But then again this is Ireland.

anonymous_joe

FridaysWell wrote: »

Try be there, you won't say its an old story, its ****ed up.

No-one gives a **** anyway, whats the point in posting this ****e. No-one listens, no one cares. Wish there was somebody that could help us.

But then again this is Ireland.

I don't mean that I don't believe it. I mean it's happened all too often. Sure didn't Liam Brady always say he was expelled for playing football rather than Gah?

There's f all you can do about school matters other than protest to whomever's in charge of your school. Is there a board of governors? Find out who they are and contact them. They can do something. Assuming they exist.

FridaysWell

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I don't mean that I don't believe it. I mean it's happened all too often. Sure didn't Liam Brady always say he was expelled for playing football rather than Gah?

There's f all you can do about school matters other than protest to whomever's in charge of your school. Is there a board of governors? Find out who they are and contact them. They can do something. Assuming they exist.

Apologies. I wasn't saying you didn't.

Tried that. No avail, they are the same bunch of , I'm not going to say. Doing my LC this year so its too late anyway.

If people didn't have such an Irish attitude on this ****e, then a solution would have been found by now. I tried to play GAA last year in the school as an extra fitness thing. I wasn't welcome at all.

When rugby is accepted as a sport and nothing else throughout this island, then you will see true success.

When people change their ****ed up attitude to things you will see success.

But no-one will listen.

PhatPiggins

FridaysWell wrote: »

Apologies. I wasn't saying you didn't.

Tried that. No avail, they are the same bunch of , I'm not going to say. Doing my LC this year so its too late anyway.

If people didn't have such an Irish attitude on this ****e, then a solution would have been found by now. I tried to play GAA last year in the school as an extra fitness thing. I wasn't welcome at all.

When rugby is accepted as a sport and nothing else throughout this island, then you will see true success.

When people change their ****ed up attitude to things you will see success.

But no-one will listen.

Would you be eligible for the S next year?

anonymous_joe

FridaysWell wrote: »

Apologies. I wasn't saying you didn't.

Tried that. No avail, they are the same bunch of , I'm not going to say. Doing my LC this year so its too late anyway.

If people didn't have such an Irish attitude on this ****e, then a solution would have been found by now. I tried to play GAA last year in the school as an extra fitness thing. I wasn't welcome at all.

When rugby is accepted as a sport and nothing else throughout this island, then you will see true success.

When people change their ****ed up attitude to things you will see success.

But no-one will listen.

I don't think rugby'll ever be the soul sport of Ireland...

It's a depressing story tbh. Check in with the Shamrock Rovers fans on the soccer forum and you'd see they went through the same thing on an even bigger scale.

eroo

I wish it was the case that Club rugby was scouted moreso, and meant a lot more than schools rugby. It would allow a much better method of scouting for players.. rather than focus on the same schools(In Limerick for example: Munchins, Ard Scoil Ris, Castletroy etc). Personally I dont like nor do I pay any attention to schools rugby; I just never liked the attitudes of the players. I'd go as far to say a snobbery exists around schools rugby in places tbh. You dont get that with club rugby.. Club rugby is as close as you get to local GAA clubs i.e. community You don't get that with a schools team imo.

But I could be wrong, having never played schools rugby.. just a spectator.:P

FridaysWell

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Would you be eligible for the S next year?

S? Not sure what ya mean? Sorry?

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I don't think rugby'll ever be the soul sport of Ireland...

It's a depressing story tbh. Check in with the Shamrock Rovers fans on the soccer forum and you'd see they went through the same thing on an even bigger scale.

Neither do I, but how I mean is it is seen as a sport, much like it is in Aussie or NZ, obviously not as big as soccer or GAA.

I know its very bad what they went through too, but thats Ireland for ya. Thanks bro.

FridaysWell

eroo wrote: »

I wish it was the case that Club rugby was scouted moreso

Me too.

Also what you said about the local community factor of club rugby, that is very true. Most clubs love new fans and players etc. Be great if every club match had a nice crowd at it and you do see that alot sometimes.

PhatPiggins

I mean would you be young enough to play in the Leinster Schools Senior comp next year

FridaysWell

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I mean would you be young enough to play in the Leinster Schools Senior comp next year

No I don't think so, I did 4th year so probably not.

Why?

PhatPiggins

FridaysWell wrote: »

No I don't think so, I did 4th year so probably not.

Why?

If I was you, I'd repeat the leaving next year in a good rugby playing school. If it was feasible with your parents.

But if you're over age it doesn't matter

FridaysWell

PhatPiggins wrote: »

If I was you, I'd repeat the leaving next year in a good rugby playing school. If it was feasible with your parents.

But if you're over age it doesn't matter

That was the plan for the end of 4th year, I was going to move to such a school. But over that summer I decided to give seeing if they would make a team a shot and stick with it. Didn't come through and it was too late. Just another regret, something I should have done.

PhatPiggins

FridaysWell wrote: »

That was the plan for the end of 4th year, I was going to move to such a school. But over that summer I decided to give seeing if they would make a team a shot and stick with it. Didn't come through and it was too late. Just another regret, something I should have done.

I wouldn't sweat too much about it. The youths rugby developement in Leinster is rapidly improving. Ten years ago it didn't matter if you were Geordan Murphy, if you weren't playing for the right school you were out.

Now there are other ways that good young players can work they way up the Leinster system.

FridaysWell

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I wouldn't sweat too much about it. The youths rugby developement in Leinster is rapidly improving. Ten years ago it didn't matter if you were Geordan Murphy, if you weren't playing for the right school you were out.

Now there are other ways that good young players can work they way up the Leinster system.

After a certain agae, there is no schools anymore and it's actually harder to make any headway because of the bias towards schools players or certain clubs.

Anyway I'll just work the old ass off, see how far things go. And enjoy my rugby along the way

anonymous_joe

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I wouldn't sweat too much about it. The youths rugby developement in Leinster is rapidly improving. Ten years ago it didn't matter if you were Geordan Murphy, if you weren't playing for the right school you were out.

Now there are other ways that good young players can work they way up the Leinster system.

Didn't he play for Newbridge? :pac:

irishbucsfan

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Didn't he play for Newbridge? :pac:

Yeah. Him, Bernard Jackman, Jamie Heaslip, Tony Buckley and Fionn Carr as well as some other players to have made an impact in recent times. He's a very lucky man to have played at such a great school :P

PhatPiggins

Note the "if you weren't playing for the right school" part of the post:pac:

Tim Robbins

FridaysWell wrote: »

So as for the future of international rugby? I really hope 1-2 of us make it and then maybe the school will change its mind and people can enjoy rugby there.

Can you lads not play for one of the youth clubs in your area?

Ok, the standard isn't as high as schools, but it's still fairly high. I did a cup under 18 final last year and was fairly impressed with the standard.

Some clubs like Naas, Navan, Barnhall, DLSP are usually fairly strong and would be as good as or wouldn't be far off schools standard.