London Irish.

Thrashssacre

Anyone think there some talk in the background with the irfu and London Irish, I know there was a proposal before to buy them out and have them as a 5th Provence or development club for the Irish team. but it seems something it going on there now. In the last couple of years we've seen a big increase in Irish involvement at the club. We have Declan kidney and Les kiss running the show and paddy Jackson, Sean o Brien and now Simon zebo rumoured to join the club. Am I reading too much into thing's? Cant think of another club with that much Irish knocking around.

Dave_The_Sheep

No.

Sheep Shagger

Before COVID i would hsve said no...with the current state of finances at the IRFU its an even bigger no.

Do you remember when they nearly killed off Connacht?

As for the number of irish players they have, it hasn't always been like that. Their nick name the 'not nots'.....not from London and not Irish.

sydthebeat

I see no benefit to the IRFU in any such arrangement if one exists currently....

Thrashssacre

I wouldn't be particularly in favour of the idea but with the recent uptick in Irish involvement and some of the academy's (particularly leinsters albeit) bursting with fresh talent I just thought I'd throw the idea out there and see if anyone had heard something.

Squidgy Black

Pops up every few years and does the rounds on the rumour mill. Would be a massive waste of money, and wouldn't make any sense logistically.

sydthebeat

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Pops up every few years and does the rounds on the rumour mill. Would be a massive waste of money, and wouldn't make any sense logistically.

It would make sense if it was an avenue to the likes of Karl Martin this season. We could be losing him as a potential national player due to the fact the academy spots are so tight. Obviously covid is a factor, but it certainly would be beneficial to the IRFU to have an extra team to farm out younger lads for experience.

However, so long as Irish are playing under threat of relegation and the uncertainty that brings.... this won't happen

stephen_n

sydthebeat wrote: »

It would make sense if it was an avenue to the likes of Karl Martin this season. We could be losing him as a potential national player due to the fact the academy spots are so tight. Obviously covid is a factor, but it certainly would be beneficial to the IRFU to have an extra team to farm out younger lads for experience.

However, so long as Irish are playing under threat of relegation and the uncertainty that brings.... this won't happen

If that was the case, surely funding larger academies in the 4 provinces would make more sense. Than funding a team in a different country.

Squidgy Black

sydthebeat wrote: »

It would make sense if it was an avenue to the likes of Karl Martin this season. We could be losing him as a potential national player due to the fact the academy spots are so tight. Obviously covid is a factor, but it certainly would be beneficial to the IRFU to have an extra team to farm out younger lads for experience.

However, so long as Irish are playing under threat of relegation and the uncertainty that brings.... this won't happen

If we had a massive number of players not getting spots yeah, but I think that's still probably a long way down the line in terms of playing base growth.

But the amount of money it'd take to run a Premiership club and keep them competitive, would put a fairly large drain on the IRFU. Especially when you take into account logistics.

That and if the LI academy is taking in local players then the IRFU are funding the training and development of English qualified players.

Thrashssacre

stephen_n wrote: »

If that was the case, surely funding larger academies in the 4 provinces would make more sense. Than funding a team in a different country.

When and where would you blood in the extra players while maintaining everyone is getting enough meaningful minutes that they can work their way up the pecking order?

Former Former Former

I have never heard this as an actual rumour, only ever as a hypothetical "what if...". The OP says there was a proposal, I don't think that's right.

It would make very little sense on any front tbh

Squidgy Black

Thrashssacre wrote: »

When and where would you blood in the extra players while maintaining everyone is getting enough meaningful minutes that they can work their way up the pecking order?

There isn't a massive backlog of young talent who aren't in the academy setups and getting game time though, or a massive amount leaving the Irish setup.

A revamp or larger investment into the AIL would be a much more beneficial use of money for player development rather than pouring millions a year into a team in a different country.

stephen_n

Thrashssacre wrote: »

When and where would you blood in the extra players while maintaining everyone is getting enough meaningful minutes that they can work their way up the pecking order?

Do you think LI would be different? How?

damianmcr

Big plan to bring Paddy home.

MAKE IT SO.

thomond2006

Shut down Connacht and buy London Irish.

That works for me.

Thrashssacre

Squidgy Black wrote: »

There isn't a massive backlog of young talent who aren't in the academy setups and getting game time though, or a massive amount leaving the Irish setup.

A revamp or larger investment into the AIL would be a much more beneficial use of money for player development rather than pouring millions a year into a team in a different country.

Well rather then a takeover how about the sort of developmental agreement that Southern kings had with one of the teams in southern France, a takeover would spark outrage within English rugby, and fighting private investment in order to insure the team doesn't fall behind in the league would be too big risk. With a name like London Irish and how they brand themselves it surely wouldn't be too out of there ethos to have some kind of deal like that with Irish clubs.

Clegg

I doubt there would be any official link up with London Irish as long as Paddy Jackson plays for them.

There would be a media and online frenzy and it's not one that the IRFU would willingly court.

Squidgy Black

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Well rather then a takeover how about the sort of developmental agreement that Southern kings had with one of the teams in southern France, a takeover would spark outrage within English rugby, and fighting private investment in order to insure the team doesn't fall behind in the league would be too big risk. With a name like London Irish and how they brand themselves it surely wouldn't be too out of there ethos to have some kind of deal like that with Irish clubs.

Southern Kings had an agreement with a Pro D2 team if I remember correctly. No top level team would really be interested in short term loans for players that aren't deemed ready enough to get game time at their own teams.

London Irish has never really had any actual connection to Irish rugby other than it's name. Their owner is English, they've had the odd Irish player and their current coaching ticket has some Irish people involved, but it's never really been a thing.

Seems more likely to me that Kidney / Kiss are using their historical contacts to get players on board. Sometimes when the money on offer is relatively similar from a few teams, players will gravitate towards the devil they know.

In Zebo's case if I recall correctly he was / is good friends with Jackson so probably a vote of confidence there.

Zebo had a decent cameo for Racing at the weekend too.

Dave_The_Sheep

That's been Zebo all over at Racing. Cameos. His strike rate over time, without checking stats, is ****e. In HC games not so much.

For Forks Sake

thomond2006 wrote: »

Shut down Connacht and buy London Irish.

That works for me.

ersatz

LI have a coupe of Irish players and an Irish coach. Several other premiership clubs could boast the same at one time or other. LI have some historical legacy connection, a bit like Liverpool or MU, but otherwise I don't see that there's any real connection with rugby in Ireland. And for the IRFU it would just be a money pit to own.

Serbian

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

That's been Zebo all over at Racing. Cameos. His strike rate over time, without checking stats, is ****e. In HC games not so much.

Not to make this about Zebo, but his strike rate has been ok for Racing historically (30 tries in 81 appearances), just not good in the past two seasons (7 tries in 30 appearances). I think he has been used off the bench a good bit in the last two years in fairness, especially since Beale arrived.

irishbucsfan

Former Former Former wrote: »

I have never heard this as an actual rumour, only ever as a hypothetical "what if...". The OP says there was a proposal, I don't think that's right.

Yeah, it's never been more than fans speculating

thomond2006

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

That's been Zebo all over at Racing. Cameos. His strike rate over time, without checking stats, is ****e. In HC games not so much.

Racing could easily drop him with the depth they have if his performance wasn't up to it.

connemara man

London Irish taking older Irish players looking for name value to hammer home the Irish angle

Bristol taking younger Irish players and coaches giving them top of the rang facilities to improve in and grow

I know which the IRFU should be in chats with, but also shouldn't anyway

The Inbetween is mine

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

That's been Zebo all over at Racing. Cameos. His strike rate over time, without checking stats, is ****e. In HC games not so much.

Funnily enough, when he got there first , he was scoring trys for fun and people were saying ...ah they were only dives over the line that anyone could score.
Watching him recently, his all around game play has improved massively...he was vitally involved in 3 or 4 trys at the weekend, his awareness of others around him and usage of the ball was fantastic...if he does leave Racing, he'll have his choice of destination imo

Yeah I'd carry no torch for him but Zebo is playing very well and has improved his all round game since going to Racing.

Bazzo

ecoli3136 wrote: »

Yeah I'd carry no torch for him but Zebo is playing very well and has improved his all round game since going to Racing.

Yes, he's definitely become more round.

sebdavis

I like Zebo but for all the praise he gets, has he ever won anything at club level?

Cookiemunster

Yeah, that's not how team sport works.

Former Former Former

sebdavis wrote: »

I like Zebo but for all the praise he gets, has he ever won anything at club level?

Magners League, 2010-2011

theVersatile

sebdavis wrote: »

I like Zebo but for all the praise he gets, has he ever won anything?

By this standard, Stephen Donald is better than ROG

sebdavis

theVersatile wrote: »

By this standard, Stephen Donald is better than ROG

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Yeah, that's not how team sport works.

As I said I like him, but at the end of his career if he ends up with only a magners league from club rugby it will be a shame for him

sebdavis

sebdavis wrote: »

As I said I like him, but at the end of his career if he ends up with only a magners league from club rugby it will be a shame for him

Little to do with an individual player though so your points not really valid either way

sydthebeat

would zebo even have gotten a medal for 2011?
do academy players get winners medals?

Cookiemunster

sydthebeat wrote: »

would zebo even have gotten a medal for 2011?
do academy players get winners medals?

He played 9 times that season, so yes he did.

sydthebeat

Cookiemunster wrote: »

He played 9 times that season, so yes he did.

does every who plays per season get a medal?

say Leinster used 60 ish players this season... everyone gets a medal? not just the senior playing squad?

Squidgy Black

Anyways, so London Irish yeah....

Cookiemunster

sydthebeat wrote: »

does every who plays per season get a medal?

say Leinster used 60 ish players this season... everyone gets a medal? not just the senior playing squad?

What's being in the academy got to do with anything? He played 9 senior games, therefore played a significant role in the winning the league. Why would he not have gotten a medal?

sydthebeat

Cookiemunster wrote: »

What's being in the academy got to do with anything? He played 9 senior games, therefore played a significant role in the winning the league. Why would he not have gotten a medal?

its a genuine question, im just wondering if medals are given to everyone who makes an appearance during the league season?

or is there a minimum start / appearance requirement before this happens... or do you have to be fully contracted etc.

in other professional sports there are definitely minimum requirements in order to receive a winners medal.... so im interested if someone knows the answer in regards to celtic league rugby?

Lost Ormond

sydthebeat wrote: »

its a genuine question, im just wondering if medals are given to everyone who makes an appearance during the league season?

or is there a minimum start / appearance requirement before this happens... or do you have to be fully contracted etc.

in other professional sports there are definitely minimum requirements in order to receive a winners medal.... so im interested if someone knows the answer in regards to celtic league rugby?

No there isnt. Certainly dont have to be fully contracted with the number of academy players who regularly play a lot of games through the season

No minimum start or appearance requirement either afaik.

sydthebeat

Lost Ormond wrote: »

No there isnt. Certainly dont have to be fully contracted with the number of academy players who regularly play a lot of games through the season

No minimum start or appearance requirement either afaik.

great, id hate to think there would be academy players over the years who would have played at the top level but never been recognised for it.

salmocab

sydthebeat wrote: »

its a genuine question, im just wondering if medals are given to everyone who makes an appearance during the league season?

or is there a minimum start / appearance requirement before this happens... or do you have to be fully contracted etc.

in other professional sports there are definitely minimum requirements in order to receive a winners medal.... so im interested if someone knows the answer in regards to celtic league rugby?

I remember years ago in the premier league in soccer you had to have I think 10 appearances to get a medal. In Martin Keowns last season with arsenal it got to a stage he had to come off the bench in the last 4 games (I think it was) to get his medal but arsenal hadn’t quite won the league so he was relying on them being in the lead to get on for the last few.

sebdavis

In regards London Irish, they get a huge chuck of money from the RFU for developing young players, it was mentioned somewhere recently, they would need to hand this back etc....cant see it happening

sydthebeat

salmocab wrote: »

I remember years ago in the premier league in soccer you had to have I think 10 appearances to get a medal. In Martin Keowns last season with arsenal it got to a stage he had to come off the bench in the last 4 games (I think it was) to get his medal but arsenal hadn’t quite won the league so he was relying on them being in the lead to get on for the last few.

and i recall in the 1986 FA cup final where kevin moran played, he didnt get a medal cos he was sent off !! they eventually gave it to him at the start of the next season