All Ireland League 2019-2020 Talk/Gossip/Rumours

The Lost Sheep

Next seasons divisions
1A
Cork Con, Clontarf, Lansdowne, Trinity, Garryowen, UCD, Young Munster, Terenure, UCC, Ballynahinch
1B
Shannon, Old Wesley, Naas, Malone, Banbridge, St Marys, Old Belvedere, Armagh, Highfield, Navan
2A
Buccaneers, Ballymena, Cashel, Queens, UL Bohemians, Old Crescent, Dolphin, Nenagh, MU Barnhall, Rainey Old Boys
2B
Blackrock, Galwegians, Greystones, Sligo, Dungannon, Corinthians, Wanderers, Belfast Harlequins, Ballina, Malahide
2C
Skerries, Sundays Well, Midleton, Bruff, Omagh, City of Derry, Tullamore, Bangor, Enniscorthy, Clonmel

No fixtures for AIL until July and provincial leagues/cups will be sooner.
Plenty of coaching changes expected.

troyzer

Hoping Trinity kick on next year, though they did exceed expectations. So they'd be doing well to get to another semi.

The Lost Sheep

For me hopefully we can lose another Dublin side from the top flight and another Ulster/Munster side ideally Ulster gets promoted in their place as a top flight with 4 Leinster(Dublin) 2 Ulster, 2 Limerick, 2 Cork would be a good spread.
Buccs going back to 1B would be good with one of the Connacht sides at least going up to 2A

troyzer

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

For me hopefully we can lose another Dublin side from the top flight and another Ulster/Munster side ideally Ulster gets promoted in their place as a top flight with 4 Leinster(Dublin) 2 Ulster, 2 Limerick, 2 Cork would be a good spread.
Buccs going back to 1B would be good with one of the Connacht sides at least going up to 2A

I mean, it would be good. But ultimately having the best teams in 1A is more important than it being representative of the whole island surely?

The Lost Sheep

troyzer wrote: »

I mean, it would be good. But ultimately having the best teams in 1A is more important than it being representative of the whole island surely?

And whatever happens it will be best sides of the island just saying that i hope its a dublin side or two that are relegated and Shannon/Highfield and/or Banbridge/Malone/Armagh replace them.

Other than that would love far more posters here including the very regular posters could attend a few more games. Not enough season ticket holders support the club game enough IMO

troyzer

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

I mean, it would be good. But ultimately having the best teams in 1A is more important than it being representative of the whole island surely?

And whatever happens it will be best sides of the island just saying that i hope its a dublin side or two that are relegated and Shannon/Highfield and/or Banbridge/Malone/Armagh replace them.

Other than that would love far more posters here including the very regular posters could attend a few more games. Not enough season ticket holders support the club game enough IMO

Well I'm going to try harder to go to more games. Still, the problem ultimately lies with the IRFU.

It doesn't know what the AIL should be used for anymore or what purpose it serves.

Squidgy Black

I wonder would a double header for the Aviva games but the AIL game played on the back pitch work.

I'd say 95% of the 'casual' fans, who weren't involved with a club and get tickets for bigger games through work etc aren't really aware of the AIL as a whole, or the level it's played at.

Would be interesting to see the viewer figures for the AIL final as it's the only game broadcast of the season.

troyzer

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I wonder would a double header for the Aviva games but the AIL game played on the back pitch work.

I'd say 95% of the 'casual' fans, who weren't involved with a club and get tickets for bigger games through work etc aren't really aware of the AIL as a whole, or the level it's played at.

Would be interesting to see the viewer figures for the AIL final as it's the only game broadcast of the season.

The obvious first step would be to get TV interest in a highlights package. You'd probably have to give it away for nothing to begin with but if there was a 1-2 hour show on a Sunday night I'd definitely watch it.

The Lost Sheep

troyzer wrote: »

Well I'm going to try harder to go to more games. Still, the problem ultimately lies with the IRFU.

It doesn't know what the AIL should be used for anymore or what purpose it serves.

IRFU in parts see it as a club game for the community and as part aid to the professional game as there isnt enough A games etc for provincial players to play all through a season.

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I wonder would a double header for the Aviva games but the AIL game played on the back pitch work.

I'd say 95% of the 'casual' fans, who weren't involved with a club and get tickets for bigger games through work etc aren't really aware of the AIL as a whole, or the level it's played at.

Would be interesting to see the viewer figures for the AIL final as it's the only game broadcast of the season.

Double header for which Aviva games and what AIL games do you want on back pitch?
Yes plenty arent aware of clubs or at least arent aware of enough reasons to go to support clubs.

Squidgy Black

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Double header for which Aviva games and what AIL games do you want on back pitch?
Yes plenty arent aware of clubs or at least arent aware of enough reasons to go to support clubs.

No idea, just throwing thoughts out there. Maybe Lansdowne vs one of the Munster teams kicking off two hours before an interpro or something along those lines.

The Lost Sheep

Squidgy Black wrote: »

No idea, just throwing thoughts out there. Maybe Lansdowne vs one of the Munster teams kicking off two hours before an interpro or something along those lines.

That helps little bar Lansdowne the few sides they could play before hand and doesnt really help league doing more to get season ticket holders linked and actively involved/supporting clubs through their season tickets somehow would be better like each season ticket package giving people info on their nearest club and info on fixtures etc

Lucas44

Squidgy Black wrote: »

I wonder would a double header for the Aviva games but the AIL game played on the back pitch work.

I'd say 95% of the 'casual' fans, who weren't involved with a club and get tickets for bigger games through work etc aren't really aware of the AIL as a whole, or the level it's played at.

Would be interesting to see the viewer figures for the AIL final as it's the only game broadcast of the season.

90% of games are played at half 2 on a Saturday just make arrangements prior whether it be getting off work early or meeting a few of the lads for pints and the game, it’s easy enough to get to whatever your clubs home games be it 9 games a year or 5/6

FellasFellas

Any word on Morgan Lennon's future? Jobs open in a few Dublin clubs in 1A. Might want to take the next step up the ladder, or may want to try bring Wesley up. Personally, I still think the gulf is too wide for anyone in 1B to come up to 1A at the minute, the standard is just so high.

stellenbosch

troyzer wrote: »

Hoping Trinity kick on next year, though they did exceed expectations. So they'd be doing well to get to another semi.

Me 2- hearing the only first teamer they are losing is NO8 O'Riordan who is off to London-success at the top end likely to depend on how much access they will have to Leinster academy players Kelly/Sylvestre/Turner/Clarkson/Dunne/Baird

Stainalert

Sean Skehan apparently the new head coach in Terenure

Anyone know who is in the shake up for the UCD job?

Lucas44

stellenbosch wrote: »

Me 2- hearing the only first teamer they are losing is NO8 O'Riordan who is off to London-success at the top end likely to depend on how much access they will have to Leinster academy players Kelly/Sylvestre/Turner/Clarkson/Dunne/Baird

Is hogan still there or was he final year this year?

GavMan

Stainalert wrote: »

Sean Skehan apparently the new head coach in Terenure

Anyone know who is in the shake up for the UCD job?

Sean Skehan announced for Nure yesterday.

I hadn't heard Andy Skehan and UCD were parting ways. I'd imagine the UCD gig will get a lot of high profile interest given the talent pool they get every year

D14Rugby

GavMan wrote: »

Sean Skehan announced for Nure yesterday.

I hadn't heard Andy Skehan and UCD were parting ways. I'd imagine the UCD gig will get a lot of high profile interest given the talent pool they get every year

The announced him about a week ago on their Facebook. It'll be interesting to see if he teaches in a school in Dublin now too.

It's a very difficult player pool to coach though because you don't know who you'll have week to week so might be hard enough to get a coach willing to work with that.

Goodluck2me

D14Rugby wrote: »

The announced him about a week ago on their Facebook. It'll be interesting to see if he teaches in a school in Dublin now too.

It's a very difficult player pool to coach though because you don't know who you'll have week to week so might be hard enough to get a coach willing to work with that.

By all accounts when Skehan was going for it they had very high caliber coaches going for it, household names. It’s quite prestigious and comes with the not insignificant bonus of no alicadoos

shoutman

Goodluck2me wrote: »

By all accounts when Skehan was going for it they had very high caliber coaches going for it, household names. It’s quite prestigious and comes with the not insignificant bonus of no alicadoos

Assume you are referring the the UCD gig - I'd assume there are still alacadoo's associated with the club, but fully get that it would be nothing in comparison to the likes of other big clubs like Tarf, Mary's, 'Nure etc.

D14Rugby

Harrison Brewer off to Panasonic in Japan, big loss for Terenure but he's definitely a professional level player so not surprising.

Lucas44

D14Rugby wrote: »

Harrison Brewer off to Panasonic in Japan, big loss for Terenure but he's definitely a professional level player so not surprising.

Would he have been worth a punt for a pro team here in Ireland? Remember huge hype of him coming out of school but similar to burgess in union they ruined him by switching him around in positions

D14Rugby

Lucas44 wrote: »

Would he have been worth a punt for a pro team here in Ireland? Remember huge hype of him coming out of school but similar to burgess in union they ruined him by switching him around in positions

There were talks with Irish teams apparently but don't know what happened with them, possibly they went nowhere or Panasonic offered more money which wouldn't surprise me.

Squidgy Black

Delighted for him, he played well at u20 when they moved him into centre, but never really worked out at academy level with Leinster. Moved to NZ and moved back into the backrow with Manawatu in the mitre 10.

He was stifled by the number of players coming through at the same time in the backrow, he was in the same U20s squad with Leavy, O'Donoghue, SOB2.0, Peader Timmins. And also VdF in the academy back at Leinster too.

D14Rugby

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Delighted for him, he played well at u20 when they moved him into centre, but never really worked out at academy level with Leinster. Moved to NZ and moved back into the backrow with Manawatu in the mitre 10.

He was stifled by the number of players coming through at the same time in the backrow, he was in the same U20s squad with Leavy, O'Donoghue, SOB2.0, Peader Timmins. And also VdF in the academy back at Leinster too.

He was a really good centre to be fair just didn't enjoy it but the academy wouldn't let him switch so his only option was to drop out and go to mitre 10 as a back row

stellenbosch

D14Rugby wrote: »

There were talks with Irish teams apparently but don't know what happened with them, possibly they went nowhere or Panasonic offered more money which wouldn't surprise me.

Was with Ulster on trial in April but got nothing

stellenbosch

Lucas44 wrote: »

Is hogan still there or was he final year this year?

Final year but understand still playing for Trinity next year

The Lost Sheep

Connacht league fixtures up now
25/8
Corinthians v Wegians, Sligo v Ballina
1/9
Ballina v Corinthians, Sligo v Buccs
8/9
Ballina v Wegians, Buccs v Corinthians
14/9
Corinthians v Sligo, Wegians v Buccs

thomond2006

You know you're committed when you're posting Connacht league fixtures at 2:39am.

The Lost Sheep

thomond2006 wrote: »

You know you're committed when you're posting Connacht league fixtures at 2:39am.

I've only 6 posts in this thread so far. Previous seasons seen me with 20/29 posts in ail thread.

gilesdebond

Heard all the Connacht academy players playing outside of Connacht have to transfer to Connacht clubs next year.

D14Rugby

gilesdebond wrote: »

Heard all the Connacht academy players playing outside of Connacht have to transfer to Connacht clubs next year.

That would be an awful decision by connacht

gilesdebond

Also, first round of AIL games penciled in for the 6th October

Lucas44

gilesdebond wrote: »

Also, first round of AIL games penciled in for the 6th October

Rumoured that Celtic cup players to miss first 8 ail games, can anyone confirm

UpTipp123

Celtic cup kicks off 24th August and runs til the 12th October - then maybe semi final and final and then cover for the world cup and pro14 games with an InterPro game over xmas. Alot of these lads wont see AIL til 2020

Blocks of 3 games kicking off 5th October with the 9th game on 14th December, game 10 is 11th January then.

Deasy retried, Tom Hayes an O Donovan sacked by Shannon, with geoff moylan and tadgh Bennett in.
Sean skehan DOR in Terenure.

any word on UCD?

D14Rugby

Has Deasy actually retired this time? Why were the 2 guys sacked by Shannon?

UpTipp123

He stated on this podcast few weeks ago that he was done: Its on his twitter profile from few weeks ago

Re Shannon coaches - all seemed pretty mad- Hayes and o'Donovan went to USA with them in May, then came back and were sacked. there now on hunt for forwards coach.

Conall Doherty and Paul Kiernan signed to Lansdowne from UCD.
Jack Stafford - Shannon to Garryowen
Billy Scannell to UCC

Rumoured the US Major league clubs chasing top AIL talent - Will Leonard, mark o keeffe, Kindregan, McNulty etc all worked out well.

Mc Love

Wasnt Hayes going to Exeter anyway? Bit mad to suggest he was sacked

UpTipp123

Exeter - whispers. Maybe a bit mad to say sacked - my bad. But he went to US as head coach then when he returned they brought in new DOR and head coach and now on hunt for forwards coach without him knowing. So maybe you choose what this best describes this.

Mc Love wrote: »

Wasnt Hayes going to Exeter anyway? Bit mad to suggest he was sacked

stellenbosch

UpTipp123 wrote: »

He stated on this podcast few weeks ago that he was done: Its on his twitter profile from few weeks ago

Re Shannon coaches - all seemed pretty mad- Hayes and o'Donovan went to USA with them in May, then came back and were sacked. there now on hunt for forwards coach.

Conall Doherty and Paul Kiernan signed to Lansdowne from UCD.
Jack Stafford - Shannon to Garryowen
Billy Scannell to UCC

Rumoured the US Major league clubs chasing top AIL talent - Will Leonard, mark o keeffe, Kindregan, McNulty etc all worked out well.

Hyland to Nure from UCD?

Aungier to Tarf from Nure?

Mc Love

Yeah maybe - I honestly dont think Shannon would have done better. They do go through some amount of head coaches.

UpTipp123

Mc Love wrote: »

Yeah maybe - I honestly dont think Shannon would have done better. They do go through some amount of head coaches.

Ya fair point. Felt Hayes did a good job, took over from Marcus Horan an won 1B with them, everyone suspected them to be relegated from 1A and were flying it up until xmas, joint 5th, and beat UCD back to back then lost rest of games. Will Leonard moving to US, Casey an Flannery excelling with Ireland 20s also, Lee Nicholas injured - all didnt help them second half of season.

The Lost Sheep

gilesdebond wrote: »

Heard all the Connacht academy players playing outside of Connacht have to transfer to Connacht clubs next year.

Would be better for the clubs involved

D14Rugby wrote: »

That would be an awful decision by connacht

Not long term though. Yes having players playing 1A is important but getting clubs within the province to higher level is also vital and academy players involved with the clubs in 2A/2B will help that hugely

Lucas44 wrote: »

Rumoured that Celtic cup players to miss first 8 ail games, can anyone confirm

They need A games. If they dont miss others other than 20s call ups then is that too much of an issue?

UpTipp123 wrote: »

Celtic cup kicks off 24th August and runs til the 12th October - then maybe semi final and final and then cover for the world cup and pro14 games with an InterPro game over xmas. Alot of these lads wont see AIL til 2020

Blocks of 3 games kicking off 5th October with the 9th game on 14th December, game 10 is 11th January then.

Deasy retried, Tom Hayes an O Donovan sacked by Shannon, with geoff moylan and tadgh Bennett in.
Sean skehan DOR in Terenure.

any word on UCD?

Any thoughts on tipp clubs or do you have any involvement in any tipp club?
Will have some complaints but provinces need A games as well. If all known now then clubs shouldnt have too many complaints.

The Lost Sheep

Aaron O Sullivan joining Blackrock

Chico Flores

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Aaron O Sullivan joining Blackrock

A Leinster academy lad in 2B doesn't seem right.

Don't they all have to play in Div 1

The Lost Sheep

Chico Flores wrote: »

A Leinster academy lad in 2B doesn't seem right.

Don't they all have to play in Div 1

Dont think they do but in general many will have been encouraged to play with higher level sides. Wouldnt see it as not being right tbh. 2A can still be decent quality

Lucas44

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Dont think they do but in general many will have been encouraged to play with higher level sides. Wouldnt see it as not being right tbh. 2A can still be decent quality

Likely he’ll be getting high match fees there in the region of 200-500 euro based on what they were offering less talented players last year

Chico Flores

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Dont think they do but in general many will have been encouraged to play with higher level sides. Wouldnt see it as not being right tbh. 2A can still be decent quality

But blackrock are in 2B.

You have Greystones, Malahide and wanderers there too, and then if playing up again you have Barnhall in 2A.

Then all the Div 1 teams.

Doesn't make sense to see an academy lad that low down relatively. They would want him at a higher level

The Lost Sheep

Chico Flores wrote: »

But blackrock are in 2B.

You have Greystones, Malahide and wanderers there too, and then if playing up again you have Barnhall in 2A.

Then all the Div 1 teams.

Doesn't make sense to see an academy lad that low down relatively. They would want him at a higher level

He doesnt even turn 20 until December. Mightnt be too worried and maybe think season at that level will improve him more this season then moving up for season after than not playing in the AIL in a 1A club all the time. Game time in 18 AIL 2B games far better than maybe a few AIL division 1 games

D14Rugby

Lucas44 wrote: »

Likely he’ll be getting high match fees there in the region of 200-500 euro based on what they were offering less talented players last year

He was on UCD Ad Astra too so he's giving up his scholarship which is guaranteed accommodation, bursary and/or fees paid. Also losing all the help like tutors, talking to lectures about arranging stuff around lectures etc that you get when you're representing UCD. That's a lot to give up to go play 2B rugby, especially when there's a lot of options in roughly his position playing regularly in 1A. If you're in the second year of the academy and you don't back yourself to start for UCD then that academy position probably isn't too secure.

Lucas44

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

He doesnt even turn 20 until December. Mightnt be too worried and maybe think season at that level will improve him more this season then moving up for season after than not playing in the AIL in a 1A club all the time. Game time in 18 AIL 2B games far better than maybe a few AIL division 1 games

He won’t be playing 18 games for blackrock, he’ll do well to play 9.. leinster likely to get back to the final or win Celtic cup ruling him out until potentially Christmas