Magners League

LeinsterDub

With the new ML season just over 2 weeks away anyone else find it strange the official ML site doesn't offer an Italian option?


(P.S Had a look but couldn't find a generic ML thread)

thomond2006

Maybe when an Italian broadcaster comes on board they might.

As regards the ML, I think Munster, Leinster, Edinburgh and Ospreys will make the playoffs this year. I can't see both Irish sides progressing from their respective HEC pools so they should do well this season.

Glasgow have been the big losers in the off season with Brown and Parks leaving and Beattie out through injury so I can't see them making the playoffs again. Cardiff have never been interested in the ML and I don't see that changing. They'll still finish high enough.

I think Ulster are dark horses. If their Bok signings work out and Humphreys is on form, they could be a really good team.

Aironi are a completely new side but they have recruited some big names for their pack including Perugini, Ongaro, Bortolami, Geldunhuys and Nick Williams. Not sure about their backline signings, but Laharrague is a good player. Their pack (and scrum) could beat some teams around IMO.

The Scarlets are woeful, along with their stadium. Nuff said. The Dragons can improve on their good season last year, bar Fussell they haven't lost any big names.

I think Connacht won't finish bottom for once.

From a Munster perspective, I'll be happy enough with a playoff place and not six in a row. :eek:

So my prediction is:

Ospreys (and to win the Final)
Leinster
Munster
Edinburgh

---

Ulster
Cardiff
Dragons
Glasgow
Aironi
Connacht
Scarlets
Treviso

MAGNERS LEAGUE INS AND OUTS 2010 (I added a few missing ones)
(Please note the below lists are not official squad lists. These will be detailed on www.magnersleague.com on the date of the official deadline.)

AIRONI RUGBY
IN: Kaine Robertson (Viadana), Carlo del Fava (Viadana), Quintin Geldenhuys (Viadana), Gabriel Pizarro (Rovigo), Andrea de Marchi (Rovigo), Fabio Ongaro (Saracens), Matias Aguero (Saracens), Ludovic Mercier (Petrarca), Alberto de Marchi (Overmach Parma), Simone Favaro (Overmach Parma), Roberto Quartaroli (Overmach Parma), Nicola Cattina (Calvisano), Giovanbattista Venditti (Gran Parma Rugby), Giulio Rubini (Gran Parma Rugby), Tito Tebaldi (Gran Parma Rugby), George Biagi (Cavalieri Prato), Gareth Krause (Venezia), Riccardo Bocchino (Rugby Roma), Paolo Buso (Rugby Roma), Nick Williams (Munster), Marco Bortolami (Gloucester), Fabio Staibano (Castres Olympique), Salvatore Perugini (Bayonne), Julien Laharrague (Montauban), Danwel Demas (Cheetahs), Dylan Des Fountain (Stormers)

BENETTON TREVISO
IN: Matteo Pratichetti (Viadana), Michele Sepe (Viadana), Gonzalo Padro (Petrarca), Paul Derbyshire (Petrarca), Manoa Vosawai (Overmach Parma), Francesco Minto (Overmach Parma), Edoardo Gori (Cavalieri Prato), Valerio Bernabò (Rugby Roma), Joe Maddock (Bath)

CARDIFF BLUES
IN: Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Michael Paterson (Hurricanes), Tom Brown (London Welsh), Bryn Griffiths (Doncaster) Tom Davies (Doncaster)

OUT: Scott Morgan (NG Dragons), Dai Flanagan (Ospreys), Darren Allinson (London Irish), Robin Sowden-Taylor (NG Dragons), Sam Norton-Knight (Sanyo Wild Knights), Andy Powell (London Wasps), Billy Millard - Backs Coach (Retired)

CONNACHT
IN: Shane Monahan (Leinster), Darragh Fanning (Leinster), Ezra Taylor (Queensland Reds), Cillian Willis (Ulster)

OUT: George Naoupu (Kobe Kobelco Steelers), Kieran Campbell (retired)

EDINBURGH
IN: Netani Talei (Worcester Warriors), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Jack Gilding (Worcester Warriors), Esteban Lozada (Toulon), Dave Denton (Edinburgh Academicals), Stuart McInally, (Edinburgh University), James King (Melrose), Lee Jones (Selkirk)

OUT: Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Ali Hogg (Newcastle Falcons), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Dave Callam (Released), Simon Cross (Retired)

GLASGOW WARRIORS
IN: Ryan Grant (Edinburgh), Federico Martin Aramburu (Dax), Robert Harley (West of Scotland), James Fleming (Dundee HSFP), Ryan Wilson (Moseley), Aly Muldowney (Moseley), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Hawks), Alex Dunbar (Selkirk), Chris Fusaro (Heriot's FP), Henry Pyrgos (Loughborough University)

OUT: Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Mark McMillan (Bath), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Dan Turner (Toyota Shokki Shuttles), Tim Barker (Ulster), Thom Evans (retired)

LEINSTER
IN: Ed O'Donoghue (Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ulster), Heinke van der Merwe (Golden Lions), Joe Schmidt - Head Coach (Clermont Auvergne)

OUT: CJ Van Der Linde (Cheetahs), Simon Keogh (Released), Chris Keane (Released) Malcolm O'Kelly (Retired), Girvan Dempsey (Retired), Bernard Jackman (Retired), Michael Cheika (Coach - Stade Francais), Chris Whittaker (Team Manager - Stade Francais), Alan Gaffney - Backs Coach (IRFU), Kurt McQuilken - Defence Coach (Retired), Kyle Tonetti (Sale Sharks)

MUNSTER
IN: Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers), Sam Tuitupou (Worcester Warriors), Wian Du Preez (Cheetahs), Peter Borlase (Crusaders), Corey Hircock (Bedford)

OUT: Nick Williams (Aironi Rugby), Jeremy Manning (Newcastle Falcons), Julien Brugnaut (Racing Metro), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Ciaran O'Boyle (Released), Eoghan Grace (Exeter Chiefs)

NEWPORT-GWENT DRAGONS
IN: Matthew Jones (Worcester Warriors), Hugo Ellis (London Wasps), Arthur Ellis (London Wasps), Nicky Griffiths (Doncaster), Andrew Coombs (Newport), Tom Evans (Hartpury College), Danny Wilson - Forwards Skills Coach (London Welsh), Scott Morgan (Cardiff Blues), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues)

OUT: Richard Fussell (Ospreys), Hoani MacDonald (Melbourne Rebels), Grant Webb (Otago), James Arlidge (Nottingham), James Harris (Released), Alex Walker (Released)

OSPREYS
IN: Dai Flanagan (Cardiff Blues), Richard Fussell (NG Dragons), Mefin Davies (Leicester Tigers), Morgan Allen (Pontypool)

OUT: Ed Shervington (Worcester Warriors), Marc Breeze (London Welsh), Liam Davies (Dax), Ross Davies (Released), Jonny Vaughton (Released), Lyndon Bateman (Retired), Filo Tiatia (Retired)

SCARLETS
IN: Joe Ajuwa (Llandovery), Jonny Fa'amatuainu (Bath)

OUT: Rob Higgitt (Worcester Warriors), Darren Daniel (Carmarthen Quins), Jamie Corsi (Released), John Muggleton (Defence Coach)

ULSTER
IN: Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), Johann Muller (Sharks), Pedrie Wannenburg (Bulls), Tim Barker (Glasgow Warriors)

OUT: Ed O'Donoghue (Leinster), Isaac Boss (Leinster), Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier), Clinton Schifcofske (Crusaders, Rugby League), Justin Fitzpatrick (Retired), Matt McCullough (Retired), Tamaiti Horua (Released), Cillian Willis (Connacht)

Riskymove

LeinsterDub wrote: »

With the new ML season just over 2 weeks away anyone else find it strange the official ML site doesn't offer an Italian option?

you mean like the way the Italian Rugby Federation provides an english and french version of their website?


:pac:

profitius

thomond2006 wrote: »

ULSTER
IN: Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), Johann Muller (Sharks), Pedrie Wannenburg (Bulls), Tim Barker (Glasgow Warriors)

OUT: Ed O'Donoghue (Leinster), Isaac Boss (Leinster), Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier), Clinton Schifcofske (Crusaders, Rugby League), Justin Fitzpatrick (Retired), Matt McCullough (Retired), Tamaiti Horua (Released), Cillian Willis (Connacht)

Ulster looks to have a stronger team this season but they'll come up short because their squad. They've some good academy players who'll come through in the next few seasons but for now I think they'll have some good wins but a few injuries could expose them.

LeinsterDub

Riskymove wrote: »

you mean like the way the Italian Rugby Federation provides an english and french version of their website?


:pac:

Why would they provide French and English . Italian clubs are now in the ml and their primary language should be used

profitius

profitius wrote: »

Ulster looks to have a stronger team this season but they'll come up short because their squad. They've some good academy players who'll come through in the next few seasons but for now I think they'll have some good wins but a few injuries could expose them.

I really hope Ulster start to do well after the few years of mediocrity. They have a couple of promising academy players as well as a bit of experience, so with a decent bit of coaching hopefully they make something of it. T'would be nice to have 3 strong Irish provinces.

mrboswell

Never mind Ulster - they have Hcup and a lot more finding.

I'd love to see Connacht finish ahead of them and get a chance at the extra revenue.

LeinsterDub

mrboswell wrote: »

Never mind Ulster - they have Hcup and a lot more finding.

I'd love to see Connacht finish ahead of them and get a chance at the extra revenue.

Ulster should forget about the h cup . They should be looking to win the ml or at least get to the final 4 and then build from there next year

outwest

ulster first few games will be tough, there very low on 9's

if connacht have any chance of getting the 3rd hcup spot, then we must win our first game v the dragons,

i think munster ospreys cardiff leinster will make playoffs, the gunners might get there depends on attatude of cardiff this year,


i reckon the aironi could surprise alot of people and finish mid table there squad is one the best in the league, ( i say that because the other big teams wont be playing the best squads each week.

evil_seed

Agree with outwest. Aironi are dark horses for me. They have a very strong squad now. From the amount they have done they may be the Italian Toulon :P. There's no way they'd do all those signings just for the Italian league, they'll be pushing for a good place in the ML

mrboswell

evil_seed wrote: »

Agree with outwest. Aironi are dark horses for me. They have a very strong squad now. From the amount they have done they may be the Italian Toulon :P. There's no way they'd do all those signings just for the Italian league, they'll be pushing for a good place in the ML

Can we assume that they will play well together??

Will have to wait and see...

LeinsterDub

evil_seed wrote: »

A. There's no way they'd do all those signings just for the Italian league, they'll be pushing for a good place in the ML

I thought they weren't playing in the Super 10 any more? Just the ML

profitius

Some people say the Italian teams will be fighting it out at the bottom with Connacht but nobody knows what will happen yet. They have gotten one some good players but it remains to be seen how strong the squads are and how they gel as a team.

ALH-06

LeinsterDub wrote: »

I thought they weren't playing in the Super 10 any more? Just the ML

They won't be in the Super 10 any more. They'll have 22 domestic games in the ML already! Plus European rugby...

thomond2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ospreys/8937717.stm

Alun Wyn Jones to captain the Ospreys this season, taking over from current Wales captain Ryan Jones.

thomond2006

http://www.magnersleague.com/news/6094.php

Summer transfers: who's new?
24 August 2010, 1:22 am
By Westgate


As the countdown to the big Magners League kick-off on Friday, 3 September gathers pace, we take a look at the new faces taking part in the new campaign.

There are international players from no fewer than 14 nations registered within the 12 clubs and as many as 227 capped players have been registered among the squads at the start of the season.

It means that, with the two new Italian super-franchises of Benetton Treviso and Aironi Rugby joining the league for the first time, the quality and entertainment for what will be the 10th anniversary season of Celtic Rugby tournaments is set to rise even higher.

Last season saw massive crowd increases and closer finishes than ever before on the pitch.

The 2009/10 campaign also saw the highly successful introduction of a Play-Off system and Grand Final to determine the Magners League champions.

Who will topple the Ospreys in 2010/11? Take a look at some of the players who have been brought in to do just that this season.


AIRONI RUGBY

IN: Kaine Robertson (Viadana), Carlo del Fava (Viadana), Quintin Geldenhuys (Viadana), Gabriel Pizarro (Rovigo), Andrea de Marchi (Rovigo), Alberto de Marchi (Overmach Parma), Fabio Ongaro (Saracens), Matias Aguero (Saracens), Ludovic Mercier (Petrarca), Simone Favaro (Overmach Parma), Roberto Quartaroli (Overmach Parma), Nicola Cattina (Calvisano), Giovanbattista Venditti (Gran Parma Rugby), Giulio Rubini (Gran Parma Rugby), Tito Tebaldi (Gran Parma Rugby), George Biagi (Cavalieri Prato), Gareth Krause (Venezia), Riccardo Bocchino (Rugby Roma), Paolo Buso (Rugby Roma), Nick Williams (Munster), Marco Bortolami (Gloucester), Fabio Staibano (Castres Olympique), Salvatore Perugini (Bayonne), Julien Laharrague (Montauban), Danwel Demas (Cheetahs), Dylan Des Fountain (Stormers), Gabriel Pizarro (Rugby Rovigo), Giulio Rubini (Gran Parma), Paolo Buso (Rugby Roma), Luigi Milani (Viadana), Luca Redolfini (Viadana), Plinio Sciamanna (Viadana), Roberto Santamaria (Viadana), Luigi Ferraro (Viadana), Josh Furno (Viadana), Aldo Birchall (Viadana), Andrea Benatti (Viadana), Josh Sole (Viadana), Pablo Canavosio (Viadana), Riccardo Pavan (Overmach Parma), Michael Wilson (Viadana), Vickus Liebenberg (Brive)

BENETTON TREVISO

IN: Matteo Pratichetti (Viadana), Michele Sepe (Viadana), Gonzalo Padro (Petrarca), Paul Derbyshire (Petrarca), Manoa Vosawai (Overmach Parma), Francesco Minto (Overmach Parma), Edoardo Gori (Cavalieri Prato), Valerio Bernabò (Rugby Roma), Joe Maddock (Bath)
OUT: Dion Kingi (Petrarca Padova), Michele Suto (Petrarca Padova), Silvio Orlando (Marchiol Mogliano), Steven Bortolussi (Petrarca Padova), Emiliano Mulieri (Marchiol Mogliano), Fraser Waters (Retired)

CARDIFF BLUES

IN: Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Michael Paterson (Hurricanes), Tom Brown (London Welsh), Bryn Griffiths (Doncaster) Tom Davies (Doncaster)
OUT: Scott Morgan (NG Dragons), Dai Flanagan (Ospreys), Darren Allinson (London Irish), Robin Sowden-Taylor (NG Dragons), Sam Norton-Knight (Sanyo Wild Knights), Andy Powell (London Wasps), Billy Millard - Backs Coach (Retired)

CONNACHT

IN: Shane Monahan (Leinster), Darragh Fanning (Leinster), Ezra Taylor (Queensland Reds)
OUT: George Naoupu (Kobe Kobelco Steelers), Michael Bradley (Head coach - Retired)

EDINBURGH

IN: Netani Talei (Worcester Warriors), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Jack Gilding (Worcester Warriors), Esteban Lozada (Toulon), Dave Denton (Edinburgh Academicals), Stuart McInally, (Edinburgh University), James King (Melrose), Lee Jones (Selkirk), Alex Blair (Scotland National Academy), Fraser Brown (Watsonians), Lewis Niven (Scotland National Academy)
OUT: Steve Jones (Exeter Chiefs), Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Ali Hogg (Newcastle Falcons), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Dave Callam (Released), Simon Cross (Retired)

GLASGOW WARRIORS

IN: Ryan Grant (Edinburgh), Federico Martin Aramburu (Dax), Robert Harley (West of Scotland), James Fleming (Dundee HSFP), Ryan Wilson (Moseley), Aly Muldowney (Moseley), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Hawks), Alex Dunbar (Selkirk), Chris Fusaro (Heriot's FP), Henry Pyrgos (Loughborough University), Colin Shaw (Scotland 7s)
OUT: Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Mark McMillan (Bath), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Dan Turner (ToyotaShokki Shuttles), Tim Barker (Released), Justin Va'a (Released), Chris Kinloch (Released)

LEINSTER

IN: Ed O'Donoghue (Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ulster), Heinke van der Merwe (Golden Lions), Mariano Galarza (Universitario de La Plata), Joe Schmidt - Head Coach (Clermont Auvergne)
OUT: CJ Van Der Linde (Cheetahs), Simon Keogh (Released), Chris Keane (Released) Malcolm O'Kelly (Retired), Girvan Dempsey (Retired), Bernard Jackman (Retired), Michael Cheika (Coach - Stade Francais), Chris Whitaker (Team Manager - Stade Francais), Alan Gaffney - Backs Coach (IRFU), Kurt McQuilkin - Defence Coach (Retired), Kyle Tonetti (Sale Sharks)

MUNSTER

IN: Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers), Sam Tuitupou (Worcester Warriors), Wian Du Preez (Cheetahs), Peter Borlase (Crusaders), Corey Hircock (Bedford)
OUT: Nick Williams (Aironi Rugby), Jeremy Manning (Newcastle Falcons), Julien Brugnaut (Racing Metro), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Ciaran O'Boyle (Released)

NEWPORT-GWENT DRAGONS

IN: Matthew Jones (Worcester Warriors), Hugo Ellis (London Wasps), Arthur Ellis (London Wasps), Nicky Griffiths (Doncaster), Andrew Coombs (Newport), Matt Evans (Hartpury College), Scott Morgan (Cardiff Blues), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), Danny Wilson - Forwards Skills Coach (London Welsh)
OUT: Richard Fussell (Ospreys), Hoani MacDonald (Melbourne Rebels), Grant Webb (Otago), James Arlidge (Nottingham), James Harris (Released), Alex Walker (Released)

OSPREYS

IN: Dai Flanagan (Cardiff Blues), Richard Fussell (NG Dragons), Mefin Davies (Leicester Tigers), Morgan Allen (Pontypool)
OUT: Ed Shervington (Worcester Warriors), Marc Breeze (London Welsh), Liam Davies (Dax), Ross Davies (Released), Jonny Vaughton (Released), Lyndon Bateman (Retired), Filo Tiatia (Retired),

SCARLETS

IN: Joe Ajuwa (Llandovery), Gavin Quinnell (Viadana), Jonny Fa'amatuainu (Bath - loan), Robin McBryde (WRU - forwards coach)
OUT: Rob Higgitt (Worcester Warriors), Darren Daniel (Carmarthen Quins), Jamie Corsi (Released), John Muggleton (Defence Coach), (Mark Jones - coaching role at the Scarlets), Simon Easterby (coaching role at the Scarlets)

ULSTER

IN: Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), Johann Muller (Sharks), Pedrie Wannenburg (Bulls),
OUT: Ed O'Donoghue (Leinster), Isaac Boss (Leinster), Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier)

ScrubsfanChris

LeinsterDub wrote: »

With the new ML season just over 2 weeks away anyone else find it strange the official ML site doesn't offer an Italian option?


(P.S Had a look but couldn't find a generic ML thread)

Now they do:

http://www.magnersleague.com/italian/index.php

ScrubsfanChris

LeinsterDub wrote: »

With the new ML season just over 2 weeks away anyone else find it strange the official ML site doesn't offer an Italian option?

Now they do:

http://www.magnersleague.com/italian/index.php