Ulster Bank League 2012-2013 talk/gossip/rumours

FellasFellas

opinionatedfan wrote: »

Coghlan will be in college three years this may. Very possible he is finishing up.

No no, Coghlan will be in college one year this May.

opinionatedfan

yeah i'm after getting him confused about when he left clongowes.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

Could imagine for someone like coughlan he'd be able to get the equivalent of what UCD are giving him from clubs lie Belvo, Lansdowne etc....... Can't see how a scholarship is gonna tie him down when 1A clubs could easily match it

backgreen

if all these guys move to 1A clubs there is going to be a vast difference in standards between 1A and the rest of the league div.eventually like a sermi-pro set up

CGD

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Could imagine for someone like coughlan he'd be able to get the equivalent of what UCD are giving him from clubs lie Belvo, Lansdowne etc....... Can't see how a scholarship is gonna tie him down when 1A clubs could easily match it

People are way off the mark with what they "think" clubs pay players most big clubs reduced playing fees the last 2 years with lads from the so called bigger clubs on match fees of about €150 if they win. I have heard of big money in lower divisions and especially junior level being paid but monbey in top clubs goes on facillites, coaches, gym, gear etc, etc sponsorship is way down. UCD use tax payers money to support their programme so we all own a part of that team

lurtz

CGD wrote: »

People are way off the mark with what they "think" clubs pay players most big clubs reduced playing fees the last 2 years with lads from the so called bigger clubs on match fees of about €150 if they win. I have heard of big money in lower divisions and especially junior level being paid but monbey in top clubs goes on facillites, coaches, gym, gear etc, etc sponsorship is way down. UCD use tax payers money to support their programme so we all own a part of that team

Ive heard stories of certain 1A clubs paying big bucks to their players. The IRFU are seriously clamping down though I think,there was a survey about it on the site recently and Billy Glynn said at a dinner a major announcement is set to be made soon regarding the domestic game

shaungil

I belieive often sponsors or generous benefactors willentice players. Also give accomadation etc. Not strictly through the club though so can't really be policed

CGD

shaungil wrote: »

I belieive often sponsors or generous benefactors willentice players. Also give accomadation etc. Not strictly through the club though so can't really be policed

Did happen in Celtic Tiger era no doubt but this is not happening too often anymore. Think of all the overseas players in clubs a few years back and take a look now very few around as money is gone. There will always be a few quid around in rugby but people would be suprised to learn that it is not the so called big powerful clubs that are throwing it around but a lot of the smaller/lower division clubs looking to rise up the divisions but foolish strategy in the long run

shaungil

The exammple I know of is a Div 1a club who gave lads a room in a house when they were in college and also got spending money. maybe EUR100 a week. This was last season.

Stainalert

Completely agree although is one club in 1A which actually owns a couple of houses and lets players stay for free

CGD

Stainalert wrote: »

Completely agree although is one club in 1A which actually owns a couple of houses and lets players stay for free

Yeah a couple of clubs would have club houses which they have had for many years given rent free for maybe one or two seasons but not on the scale any of the colleges can offer

ormond lad

Many games scheduled for tomorrow off does anyone know?
Nenagh and Ards in 2B is off.

Gargled

ormond lad wrote: »

Many games scheduled for tomorrow off does anyone know?
Nenagh and Ards in 2B is off.

Marys game is off

JustinDee

A summary of games postponed this weekend. Tried posting an screen capture but to no avail so copied into notepad.

Div1A Clontarf P-P Dolphin
Div1A St. Mary's College P-P Shannon
Div1B Bruff P-P Dungannon
Div1B Dublin University PvP Ballynahinch
Div1B Malone P-P Blackrock College RFC
Div2A Banbridge P-P Seapoint
Div2A D.L.S.P. PvP Queens University
Div2B Armagh PvP Rainey OB
Div2B Instonians P-P Suttonians
Div2B Nenagh Ormond P-P Ards
Div2B Skerries P-P Sligo

U-21 Cork Constitution P-P Dublin University

bamboozle

CGD wrote: »

Yeah a couple of clubs would have club houses which they have had for many years given rent free for maybe one or two seasons but not on the scale any of the colleges can offer

Agree with this. I'd expect the likes of Boyle, Coughlan, gilsenan, Doyle, Tracey, marsh, scm all look to move on from ucd and du if neither get promoted this season. For what it's worth Coughlan is a Raheny lad and played his cricket with Clontarf.

As we've seen with Connacht sending David Moore, Jarvis, loxton, Tj Anderson out to 1a teams this season it would make sense if academy players are filtered up into 1a, it would improve the quality of the league and aid the players development. I'm hoping the big ail change alluded to above is reintroducing the top 4 playoff. If ucd come second in 1b they'd be facing a playoff with probably belvo for a spot in 1a next season.

Ul bohs will be relegated, which should make 1a stronger if limerick only has 3 teams and an ulster team come up also.

bamboozle

Landowne v Clontarf on rte today kicking off at two. Plenty of academy talent on show, Moore, jack o Connell, sexton, collie o Shea, Reid, Flanagan plus the likes of ronaldson, tadhg Beirne, Burke-flunn, lett, Crawford.

Clontarf have won their last 4 with bonus points and will be looking to spoil the day.

IngazZagni

The Lansdowne/Clontarf game today could be a cracker if past matches and current form between these two is anything to go by. While Lansdowne have all but officially claimed the title, Clontarf are more than capable of spoiling the party and leave Lansdowne waiting another week. Looking forward to it.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

This will be a belter on a surface that is great for quick running rugby, obviously suits Lansdowne, will definitely suit Tarf with the likes of D'arcy (7), Lett, McGrath other D'arcy and possibly Reid. This is game of the year without a doubt...........cant wait to go along to it. Lansdowne win the league if they win, Tarf need to win to keep their slimmest of league hopes alive......how they must rue the poor start of the season!

bamboozle

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

This will be a belter on a surface that is great for quick running rugby, obviously suits Lansdowne, will definitely suit Tarf with the likes of D'arcy (7), Lett, McGrath other D'arcy and possibly Reid. This is game of the year without a doubt...........cant wait to go along to it. Lansdowne win the league if they win, Tarf need to win to keep their slimmest of league hopes alive......how they must rue the poor start of the season!

Should be a cracker, not making excuses but tarf were missing nearly half their team at start of season and lost their first two, in 8th min of injury time down in con...also lost in injury time at home to landowners - although better team won that day.cronin at 9 for tarf has been in cracking form recently, keep an eye on him and ben Reilly in second row, Fitzpatrick at ten is another class act finally overcoming injury woes.

trouttrout

bamboozle wrote: »

Landowne v Clontarf on rte today kicking off at two. Plenty of academy talent on show, Moore, jack o Connell, sexton, collie o Shea, Reid, Flanagan plus the likes of ronaldson, tadhg Beirne, Burke-flunn, lett, Crawford.

Clontarf have won their last 4 with bonus points and will be looking to spoil the day.

On telly too

lurtz

Apparently Ronaldson is the target of a few English clubs by now,as well as in Ireland as well. Id love to see him get a contract in Leinster,he deserves it and is a brilliant player

opinionatedfan

He is off to Connacht apparently

ormond lad

Well Done to Lansdowne on the 1A win
http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/28860.php

3 AIL wins in a row for Dublin clubs.

Rest of results available below
http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/28859.php

backgreen

munster dominance at an end

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

opinionatedfan wrote: »

He is off to Connacht apparently

Better than that, was at bath at start of the year. Some player, think he'd start for 2 of the 4 provinces right now. Dunno if connacht would be a good move for him. Leinster should've looked to him before Jimmy Gopperth!

Lansdowne have a great squad, strength in depth is immaculate, nut how many of these players were hown-grown (produced with Lansdownes underage)?

lurtz

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Better than that, was at bath at start of the year. Some player, think he'd start for 2 of the 4 provinces right now. Dunno if connacht would be a good move for him. Leinster should've looked to him before Jimmy Gopperth!

Lansdowne have a great squad, strength in depth is immaculate, nut how many of these players were hown-grown (produced with Lansdownes underage)?

as in played with Lansdowne at mini level? Not too many Id imagine because most of the team arent from the area.Ross McCarron,Healy and Simon Morrissey probably did because theyre locals and went to Gonzaga who have a strong connection with the club

Buer

Lansdowne are similar to other big sides and do a big recruitment drive; they're probably the most active at it along with UCD. Their blazers and coaches approach players when they're in their final year of school to draft them for their U20 side and convince them to join although it's not limited solely to underage players. The result is not too many of the lads involved had a connection to the club. McCarron played with UCD out of school for a few years before joining Lansdowne. Morrissey played his AIL rugby with Blackrock before joining Lansdowne. Not sure they'd any connection to the club before joining.

JustinDee

Buer wrote: »

McCarron played with UCD out of school for a few years before joining Lansdowne. Morrissey played his AIL rugby with Blackrock before joining Lansdowne. Not sure they'd any connection to the club before joining.

Ross McCarron's father is current president of Lansdowne. He would appear to have a lot more of a Lansdowne background than you give him credit for.

Buer

JustinDee wrote: »

Ross McCarron's father is current president of Lansdowne. He would appear to have a lot more of a Lansdowne background than you give him credit for.

That's me told although I did qualify it by saying I wasn't sure!

lurtz

yeah Ross McCarrons family are steeped in lansdowne