Tommy Bowe returning

Hamo

So Tommy Bowe coming home?
But not to Ulster? His dad is from Waterford.... Munster bound?

From Wales online...

IRISH rugby bosses want to bring British Lion and Grand Slam ace Tommy Bowe back home.

Wales on Sunday understands the 24-year-old, could be tempted with a lucrative offer to leave the Ospreys at the end of the season.

Bowe, whose brilliant individual try set the Ospreys on the road to victory against Glasgow on Friday, is a popular member of the Liberty Stadium squad and has been a success at the region despite the team’s collective disappointments.

But his stock has risen dramatically in the last six months.

He spearheaded Ireland to their Grand Slam success over Wales at the Millennium Stadium in March, scoring a decisive try and setting up another.

His displays for Ian McGeechan’s squad in South Africa during the summer also took his game to further heights.

The Irish Rugby Union are determined to entice one of their most valuable assets back to home soil on a central contract that would see him placed with one of the two big provinces Munster or Leinster.

Bowe (pictured) signed for the Ospreys from Ulster, but would be unlikely to return to Belfast-based side.

The Ospreys are almost certain to put up a fight to retain his services, especially as Wales wizard Shane Williams is advancing in years.

But Bowe, still only 24, could sense that the time is right to put himself into the thick of the Irish system with the 2011 World Cup getting closer.

Of the Ireland team that beat Wales in the final clash of the 2009 Six Nations at the Millennium Stadium, Bowe was the only player not based in the Emerald Isle.

profitius

He could be Howletts long term replacement. He also might want to go back to Ulster or stay with the Ospreys. I doubt he'll be heading to leinster because of all the players they have in the backs.

accensi0n

What's the reason for it being unlikely that he'd return to Ulster?

Why would Bowe need to join an Irish team to help his chances with playing for ireland? He's a certain starter at this stage...

OldJay

Hamo wrote: »

From Wales online...

IRISH rugby bosses want to bring British Lion and Grand Slam ace Tommy Bowe back home.

Wales on Sunday understands the 24-year-old, could be tempted with a lucrative offer to leave the Ospreys at the end of the season

:rolleyes:
The season is barely up and running and now this? lol

profitius

accensi0n wrote: »

What's the reason for it being unlikely that he'd return to Ulster?

Why would Bowe need to join an Irish team to help his chances with playing for ireland? He's a certain starter at this stage...

Because he went to the Ospreys because he has ambition to win things. They also play good rugby. Most of the Irish squad has heineken cup winners medals and maybe he wants to win that. He won't with Ulster.

We don't know if he wants to come back to Ireland though.

andrewdcs

IRFU would like him at home to wrap him in cotton wool pre world cup perhaps? Also Connaught will get a HC place every time an Irish club wins it, so more money/etc. into the home union.

Remember "country vs club" ruckus about players international training and regimes in England prior to every bleedin world cup /tour. IRFU central contracts solve all that.

Though thinking about it Ireland ended up in a heap and England (limping) made the final in '07... so who knows. Great character, I'd love to have him at Leinster, (embarrassment of riches?) but he'd improve any team the way he's playing.

thehighground

accensi0n wrote: »

What's the reason for it being unlikely that he'd return to Ulster?

Ulster unlikely to feature in business end of Heineken Cup for a couple of seasons (or not until they acquire a top class outhalf & scrumhalf). It is in Ireland's interest that he be continually tested at the highest level available.

Why would Bowe need to join an Irish team to help his chances with playing for ireland? He's a certain starter at this stage...

He is a certain starter at this stage, but there are others who are playing for the provinces, could catch up with him in the next year or two. Kidney is planning a 10 week training camp for the season prior to the RWC - Bowe would not be released by his club for that if playing outside Ireland.

chupacabra

The best decision he ever made was going to the Ospreys. He became the player he is now by going over there and getting some experience in the center surrounded by great players, something he wouldn't have gotten at Ulster. I cant see him going to Munster really. We still have Howlett who is only 31 and the likes of Earls and Jones around who are HC ready. Leinster is probably the most logical of places he would end up seeing as he would be playing within the irish back 3 while there.

Aidric

I think his skillset would be more suited to the fluid Munster backline, it would be nice to see him back in Ireland.

PhatPiggins

The Ospreys are being strongly linked with Lote Tuqri as well.

I cant see Bowe rushing back to be honest. The Ospreys are only a decent coach off being an excellent team, every chance he could win the HC with them over the next couple of years if they get one.

Aidric

Aidric wrote: »

I think his skillset would be more suited to the fluid Munster backline, it would be nice to see him back in Ireland.

Fluid?

If I was the IRFU I would be want him to play with his Irish teammates,if Bowe went to Leinster they would have the full Irish backline,that is what I feel will decide it.

Also Dublin is a far more enticing factor aswell,these moves are also lifestyle choices.

themont85

Rumour starting by the press, shock horror.

Its better if he stays there for Irish Rugby, he is getting a first 15 slot in a top 10 European team(on paper at least). If he comes back then a youngster may lose out, although Munster would make sense with the age of Howlett.

chupacabra

themont85 wrote: »

Its better if he stays there for Irish Rugby, he is getting a first 15 slot in a top 10 European team(on paper at least). If he comes back then a youngster may lose out, although Munster would make sense with the age of Howlett.

As would a move to Leinster with the age of Shane Horgan

2040

I'd prefer if he went Ulster. Munster and Leinster are always going to be strong sides regardless. The IRFU needs to concentrate on Connacht and Ulster now. Munster and Leinster can look after themselves.

I think Tommy needs to stay at Ospreys. He's only really come good since he got there. I reckon he has a lot to owe to their style of play, and his confidence is through the roof.

I also think that Leinster making a bid for him, at the expense of Academy players, would be a mistake.

Bowe is class, pure class, but at the expense of potentially developing some more world class players, I'd be happy to see him stay at Ospreys (and miss the Leinster games due to anything short term!)

anonymous_joe

I'd be a bit disappointed to see him at Munster or Leinster. Fantastic player, but Ulster need him badly.

The IRFU really needs to get the finger out when it comes to helping Ulster, helping them get Bowe back and maybe Best/Wilson to complement Henry, Ferris and Pollock would really help that.

Chucky the tree

2040 wrote: »

I'd prefer if he went Ulster. Munster and Leinster are always going to be strong sides regardless. The IRFU needs to concentrate on Connacht and Ulster now. Munster and Leinster can look after themselves.

He's not a piece of meat. Bowe should be the one to decide where he goes and not the IRFU.

Tim Robbins

Chucky the tree wrote: »

He's not a piece of meat. Bowe should be the one to decide where he goes and not the IRFU.

If he came back to Ireland I'd like to see him at Ulster.

2040

Of course he should. I'm just saying that if the IRFU were going to go all carrot and stick about it i'd prefer if it was to Ulster. Ulster could be immense in a few years and that would be beneficial to Irish rugby as a whole. But yeah, of course it's up to him.

anonymous_joe

Chucky the tree wrote: »

He's not a piece of meat. Bowe should be the one to decide where he goes and not the IRFU.

Very true. That's why they need to make Ulster more attractive. :pac:

profitius

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I'd be a bit disappointed to see him at Munster or Leinster. Fantastic player, but Ulster need him badly.

The IRFU really needs to get the finger out when it comes to helping Ulster, helping them get Bowe back and maybe Best/Wilson to complement Henry, Ferris and Pollock would really help that.

Ulster get as much funding as Munster and Leinster. Connacht are the ones who need to be given an equal oppertunity.

spoon

Munster are actually pretty short on players at 14. Howlett rarely misses a game there. Nearly all our wingers play 11, bar Howlett and Jones it seems. Howlett's contract is also up at the end of the season.

If he was to come back to Ireland, I'd be surprised if it wasn't Munster.

That being said, I'd be happy to see him playing anywhere in Ireland. It's better for our national team having all our top players in the country and being made available without hassle where needed. Himself and Reddan missed 2 weeks of the training camp before the 6 nations because their clubs wouldn't release them, if memory serves me right?

buck65

Leave him where he is. Good to have some of our players learning and plying their trades in different countries. Look at all the foreign players here. He is playing in a league where we can all see how he is playing and the Ospreys release him when the IRFU need him.

stephen_n

Might be better for Ireland if the IRFU have control over the number of games he plays in a season. If he does com back I doubt it would be to Ulster, as things stand that would be like putting a race horse in a donkey derby!

stujey

Playing for the Ospreys didn't actually do him any harm last season judging from him Ireland and Lions performances.

As far as I am concerned, players should be playing where they are happy and performing and should not be persuaded to move because of the perception that somewhere else or another way is better.

If the Ospreys get Tuquiri then Bowe will play 13.
May not end up terrible for Ireland because then Earls can play 14 when Bod retires and Bowe can move 13.

OldJay

Stevie Quick Raccoon wrote: »

If the Ospreys get Tuquiri then he will play 13

Really? I would say they'd want a first choice centre to choose from as opposed to someone who has played no more than four or five games for the Tahs and Wallabies in that position.
Just my opinion of course

2040

He means that Bowe might play 13, which would be interesting.

Justind

Justind wrote: »

Really? I would say they'd want a first choice centre to choose from as opposed to someone who has played no more than four or five games for the Tahs and Wallabies in that position.
Just my opinion of course

Sorry I meant Bowe will move to 13.