The Academies

Winters

As in sport in general, its all very cyclical.

Until recently the Leinster academy was known for producing talented backs. Now it is looking at a large number of forwards in the academy and some would say a shortage of talented backs.

Connacht's academy has possibly shown the most improvement in recent years and with underage success.

I would be a bit concerned, as a Leinsterman, where the next Denis Hickie or Shane Horgan is coming from.

That video about the Exiles was very interesting but difficult to see where they enter the underage provincial system.

RobbieRuns

Connacht has shown the most improvement in recent years and that is a fact. A great coach in Nigel Carolan and dare I say it, he has taken in more Exiles to look at through the programme that he runs in the Summer months and he can keep them and play them in the interpro's at U19's (which they won this year). He is using the Exile system better than anyone at present and good luck to him.

I have always felt a bit sorry for the Exiles. It is hard to fit into the underage provincial system. Their U18's only play two provinces every year (they won both last year). The English Clubs do not want them when they declare for us as they get nothing for them playing with Ireland. It's a tough way to come through.

Hype710

Huge number of exiles in the Under 20s squad compared to previous years so they seem pretty serious about it.

McGuigan, Furniss, Joyce, O'Meara, Panter & Harty.

The likes of Ruddock and Marmion joined Irish academies after their Under 20 involvement so it will be interesting to see whether McGuigan and Furniss, who are already involved with English sides, join Irish academies for next season. Panter will likely join to Connacht academy, Joyce is highly thought of in Ulster but I'm not sure about O'Meara or Harty.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Hype710 wrote: »

Huge number of exiles in the Under 20s squad compared to previous years so they seem pretty serious about it.

McGuigan, Furniss, Joyce, O'Meara, Panter & Harty.

The likes of Ruddock and Marmion joined Irish academies after their Under 20 involvement so it will be interesting to see whether McGuigan and Furniss, who are already involved with English sides, join Irish academies for next season. Panter will likely join to Connacht academy, Joyce is highly thought of in Ulster but I'm not sure about O'Meara or Harty.

Is Joyce an exile? I know he first played for Ulster U20 back in 2011 and has been involved in the senior side so I assumed that he came through the ulster set up.

ormond lad

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Is Joyce an exile? I know he first played for Ulster U20 back in 2011 and has been involved in the senior side so I assumed that he came through the ulster set up.

Yeah. was irish youths in 2011. was in school in solihull and supossedly turned down leicester to join ulster

English Lurker

irishbucsfan wrote: »

If we start signing up every Irish exile from England, I wonder would that make English clubs less likely to offer academy places to Irish qualified players? It might start to feel like a waste of resources to them.

Don't see any grounds for worry. It's not a new risk - there's a fairly constant stream from England to Ireland, and also to Scotland, some to Wales, Matavesi to Fiji, Lahiff to Australia etc.etc. We're used to developing players for others just have to accept it and it's not like everybody who could go does, the likes of Brookes and Geraghty spring to mind.

Of course, our clubs will try and persuade players to commit to England, largely to stop them swanning off - and if they want a go at an Ireland career, they pretty much have to - but there we go.

What I don't get is why you'd target us, and not say, New Zealand. I know we're closer and our academy program is pretty good, but it's a bit like stopping by the bar with an ok looking girl and ignoring the really hot one making eyes at you... not that I'm trying to persuade you to stop poaching our youngsters or ought... but seriously, poaching kiwis, it's great, get involved...

CIARAN_BOYLE

English Lurker wrote: »

What I don't get is why you'd target us, and not say, New Zealand. I know we're closer and our academy program is pretty good, but it's a bit like stopping by the bar with an ok looking girl and ignoring the really hot one making eyes at you... not that I'm trying to persuade you to stop poaching our youngsters or ought... but seriously, poaching kiwis, it's great, get involved...

With the very odd exception we only poach the kids or grandkids of Irish people.

We very rarely poach someone just because. Anyway a lot Irish end up in Britain so we poach their kids.

English Lurker

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

With the very odd exception we only poach the kids or grandkids of Irish people.

We very rarely poach someone just because. Anyway a lot Irish end up in Britain so we poach their kids.

I know - suggested New Zealand as I thought there had been a lot of Irish immigrants there.

CIARAN_BOYLE

English Lurker wrote: »

I know - suggested New Zealand as I thought there had been a lot of Irish immigrants there.

Well we have Bent and Boss but I haven't heard of many NZers that are IQ other than that. Declan O'Donnell could have played for us but he has already played 7s for NZ.

A lot more English

lurtz

Declans younger brother Kylem O'Donnell,Brendan O'Connor,Mike Fitzgerald..the list in NZ goes on and on

opinionatedfan

Heard a rumor that Leinster will have two props joining the academy next season, haven't heard names but Dooley as one makes sense.

The other one i'm not so sure about, maybe McKeever?

CGD

opinionatedfan wrote: »

Heard a rumor that Leinster will have two props joining the academy next season, haven't heard names but Dooley as one makes sense.

The other one i'm not so sure about, maybe McKeever?

If true Dooley would be nailed on and the other would be between Hefeernan & McKeever I would say. McKeever might loose out as on past form they may want to prove himself for a year. A long shot might be Ross Deacon who is being experimented with as a tight head not sure how that is going though

lurtz

it could well be Ross Deacon

lurtz

academy spots are being finalised and submitted to the irfu by wednesday coming i hear

ormond lad

lurtz wrote: »

academy spots are being finalised and submitted to the irfu by wednesday coming i hear

so if rumours are true
Munster: Rory Parata, Greg o Shea
Leinster:
Connacht: Sean O Brien
Ulster:

its_phil

ormond lad wrote: »

so if rumours are true
Munster: Rory Parata, Greg o Shea
Leinster:
Connacht: Sean O Brien
Ulster:

Rumour going around Connacht Clan site is Parata is not a done deal for Munster and Carolan will talk to him this week

opinionatedfan

ormond lad wrote: »

so if rumours are true
Munster: Rory Parata, Greg o Shea
Leinster: Tom Daly, Adam Byrne, Billy Dardis, Steve Crosbie, Peter Dooley.
Connacht: Sean O Brien
Ulster:

Wouldn't be surprised if a few more spots are filled post JWC and of course a few surprises.

lurtz

Jacob,James Connolly and Saba in Connacht

lurtz

Connacht could be looking outside the province for some backs,watch this space

ormond lad

opinionatedfan wrote: »

Wouldn't be surprised if a few more spots are filled post JWC and of course a few surprises.

Of course. that goes without saying. always does happena and there is nearly always somebody who many dont expect named in 1 of the academies

its_phil wrote: »

Rumour going around Connacht Clan site is Parata is not a done deal for Munster and Carolan will talk to him this week

will be interesting to see where he goes. He'll def have an academy contract by the looks of things. Only time will tell whether he is in red or green next season

opinionatedfan

Is Rory Scannell an academy member? because if not you would assume he will be.

lurtz

opinionatedfan wrote: »

Is Rory Scannell an academy member? because if not you would assume he will be.

Munster sub. Id imagine he'll be going in alright

ormond lad

opinionatedfan wrote: »

Is Rory Scannell an academy member? because if not you would assume he will be.

He's not(in sub academy i think) but he prob will be. had kind of forgotten about him

opinionatedfan

Sean McCarthy probably an option in Munster aswell, maybe Brian Scott or Niall Horan?

wouldn't know the prospects in Ulster to well, maybe Josh Fullerton or Donnan. Ben Alexander maybe too.

Big lock up there thats highly though of aswell, Russell Blair. Missed most the season with a broken leg though.

Probably some exiles going to be picked up. Panter? O'Meara?

FellasFellas

ormond lad wrote: »

so if rumours are true
Munster: Rory Parata, Greg o Shea
Leinster:
Connacht: Sean O Brien
Ulster:

Leinster apparently it's gonna be Crosbie, Dooley and Dardis

lurtz

ormond lad wrote: »

He's not(in sub academy i think) but he prob will be. had kind of forgotten about him

he is in the sub academy. After his performances in the 6 nations he looks a lock

opinionatedfan wrote: »

Sean McCarthy probably an option in Munster aswell, maybe Brian Scott or Niall Horan?

wouldn't know the prospects in Ulster to well, maybe Josh Fullerton or Donnan. Ben Alexander maybe too.

Big lock up there thats highly though of aswell, Russell Blair. Missed most the season with a broken leg though.

Probably some exiles going to be picked up. Panter? O'Meara?

horan is in munster sub so might be promoted. Id say sean mccarthy will also be. Dont know much about ulster either but alexander looked very good in the 19s against england

CGD

FellasFellas wrote: »

Leinster apparently it's gonna be Crosbie, Dooley and Dardis

2 more backs on that list one straight out of school and another after a year in sub academy

irishbucsfan

CGD wrote: »

2 more backs on that list one straight out of school and another after a year in sub academy

Guessing...

Tom Farrell and... One of the 10s?

CGD

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Guessing...

Tom Farrell and... One of the 10s?

Half right, not going to say anything else!

opinionatedfan

backs straight out of school?

Brewer, Byrne or McKeon?

a year in the sub suggests Daly imo.

Hearing mixed messages on Tom Daly. Think we are being too picky if we don't take him in.