AIL 2021-2022

Lost Ormond

Kicks off weekend of October 2nd 2021
Five All-Ireland League divisions retained
18-game regular season for all 50 teams based on majority of clubs’ preference
Promotion/relegation reinstated
COVID-19 impact contingencies in place

Faugheen

Lost Ormond wrote: »

Kicks off weekend of October 2nd 2021
Five All-Ireland League divisions retained
18-game regular season for all 50 teams based on majority of clubs’ preference
Promotion/relegation reinstated
COVID-19 impact contingencies in place

Great news. There always seemed to be a sense of cautiousness about the last campaign as if they knew it was going to go tits up.

Great to see everything is back to relative normality.

Lost Ormond

Faugheen wrote: »

Great news. There always seemed to be a sense of cautiousness about the last campaign as if they knew it was going to go tits up.

Great to see everything is back to relative normality.

The IRFU got a lot of criticism at time of announcing no promotion/relegation and introducing the provincial community series but they got it fairly spot on in hindsight.

Hopefully we see lot more people going to club games now unlikely but have to live in hope...

Chico Flores

Fantastic news, tag rugby back up and running in Terenure, something to get excited about.

Be great to get even more on Boards involved in the club games and going and contributing to this.

Any transfer rumours!!!

Lost Ormond

Chico Flores wrote: »

Fantastic news, tag rugby back up and running in Terenure, something to get excited about.

Be great to get even more on Boards involved in the club games and going and contributing to this.

Any transfer rumours!!!

Considering no rugby in a full year transfers could be a mess....
Yeah would be great if more on boards, and rugby fans in general, got involved more supporting the club game

Chico Flores

Lost Ormond wrote: »

Considering no rugby in a full year transfers could be a mess....
Yeah would be great if more on boards, and rugby fans in general, got involved more supporting the club game

Working from home a factor too, I know two lads in with us, who have moved home home, and gone back to their local club as not really in Dublin any more

Would think people be dying to go see some live games

Lost Ormond

Chico Flores wrote: »

Working from home a factor too, I know two lads in with us, who have moved home home, and gone back to their local club as not really in Dublin any more

Would think people be dying to go see some live games

This is where IRFU come in. They should be running regular workshops with club committee members/interested parties to assist them with their PR, websites, social media etc to help them promote the clubs better.

Clubs need to turn these games into better 'experiences' and IRFU can assist with that but needs to be club led.

Working from home could be a big factor. Hadnt thought of that. Some movement back to clubs outside Dublin wouldnt be a bad thing.

Chico Flores

Lost Ormond wrote: »

This is where IRFU come in. They should be running regular workshops with club committee members/interested parties to assist them with their PR, websites, social media etc to help them promote the clubs better.

Clubs need to turn these games into better 'experiences' and IRFU can assist with that but needs to be club led.

Working from home could be a big factor. Hadnt thought of that. Some movement back to clubs outside Dublin wouldnt be a bad thing.

I cant speak for other teams, I feel Terenure do as good as anyone at growing the game, the Director of Rugby, Moggy, v involved in trying to pull in new people and so on. But I take your point, it's no good only one or two.

Yeah on the WFH, certainly two lads are gone back home and playing there.

Lost Ormond

Chico Flores wrote: »

I cant speak for other teams, I feel Terenure do as good as anyone at growing the game, the Director of Rugby, Moggy, v involved in trying to pull in new people and so on. But I take your point, it's no good only one or two.

Yeah on the WFH, certainly two lads are gone back home and playing there.

Terenure are very good but theyve a very different feel to many city clubs IMO.
so many from the school are in the club and ties with that so very different to a lot of other dublin clubs at least. would like to see more age grade games/teams from the club but thats for another thread....
Tarf are very good.
But a lot of clubs could be doing so much better.

Its basic things. Some clubs are terrible for providing social media updates of games and thats simply scores. others are excellent. Ballina in Mayo have one of the best club websites in UK/Ireland. They update it and social media with everything going on in the club. match reports for all teams in the club and many of them are done day of game. They also cover what club members do elsewhere etc. Not all clubs need to do that but it shows it can be done

Chico Flores

Lost Ormond wrote: »

Terenure are very good but theyve a very different feel to many city clubs IMO.
so many from the school are in the club and ties with that so very different to a lot of other dublin clubs at least. would like to see more age grade games/teams from the club but thats for another thread....
Tarf are very good.
But a lot of clubs could be doing so much better.

Its basic things. Some clubs are terrible for providing social media updates of games and thats simply scores. others are excellent. Ballina in Mayo have one of the best club websites in UK/Ireland. They update it and social media with everything going on in the club. match reports for all teams in the club and many of them are done day of game. They also cover what club members do elsewhere etc. Not all clubs need to do that but it shows it can be done

I hear what you're saying, but also I sort of don't care what other teams do.

More age grade teams, surely thats our business and harder when connected to the school and all that goes on there and the release of players. But who's club is perfect? We are still very successful.

The minis section is booming and we have strong numbers at 20s and have 5 adult teams, consistently.

Lost Ormond

Chico Flores wrote: »

I hear what you're saying, but also I sort of don't care what other teams do.

More age grade teams, surely thats our business and harder when connected to the school and all that goes on there and the release of players. But who's club is perfect? We are still very successful.

The minis section is booming and we have strong numbers at 20s and have 5 adult teams, consistently.

In some ways you should as if more clubs are doing better it helps all clubs be better or will strive to be better
More age grade is ye're business and having the connection to the school can in some ways make things harder but also can be big assistance if school/club work together well.

Having a strong 20s set up and 5 adult teams consistently is huge and far better than most

Chico Flores

Lost Ormond wrote: »

In some ways you should as if more clubs are doing better it helps all clubs be better or will strive to be better
More age grade is ye're business and having the connection to the school can in some ways make things harder but also can be big assistance if school/club work together well.

Having a strong 20s set up and 5 adult teams consistently is huge and far better than most

I take the point, but then selfishly I want us to win an AIL, and a strong league good but don't want the better ones better again.

On the Youth Teams, its long been held, the connection is so strong with the school, and as long as they are playing and training in there, sure it would be nice, but they are training in school, after school with their friends, I know I did, hard and wrong to be like, now OK come training tonight in Lakelands too

madds

Chico Flores wrote: »

The minis section is booming and we have strong numbers at 20s and have 5 adult teams, consistently.

You have a drop off at Youths level - don't think you're fielding at U15s/16s. Is that solely down to those lads playing with the school?

Chico Flores

madds wrote: »

You have a drop off at Youths level - don't think you're fielding at U15s/16s. Is that solely down to those lads playing with the school?

Pretty much - I would say 60/65% of that age group are panelled in the school, so that kills those teams at JCT. We try to field at u17s for transition year and then others don't bother as don't want to without their mates. I played JCT so I know how important it is, and hard to expalin that the club needs the players but some lads play no rugby (or worthwhile rugby) in a whole season

There would even be a handful in Marys (vomit!!!)

But you cant run a team with only 7 or 8 lads training.

Lost Ormond

So fixtures released yesterday

2A only has 16 rounds listed which is strange. no friday night games listed for now but that will obviously change throughout the season.

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/07/14/2021-22-energia-all-ireland-league-fixtures-confirmed/

Chico Flores

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117612653#Comment_117612653

Assume it is just an error - seems to be missing two rounds at end of October compared to the other leagues.

UCD home and Clontarf away for us at the start.

Hopefully the students are slow to get going and we can get off to a good start. As always, no easy games in 1A

Lost Ormond

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117612948#Comment_117612948

Oh i know. i contacted them on twitter etc so can be updated but no real issue....

Student sides can often be slow starters but with no rugby in so long. this season could go anyway.

Really hope IRFU and clubs can get posts about transfers, even club updates with no rugby in so long to help promote the league.

Chico Flores

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117613091#Comment_117613091

I don't get the secrecy on transfers and so on, it is not like teams don't find out anyway (we are as bad as any side in saying nothing) and it just generates some chat and buzz.

Not sure I have ever asked, but guessing from your user name, you are a Nenagh fan? Expectations for the year? Who do you have up first?

Lost Ormond

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117613195#Comment_117613195

I dont either. The clubs have to send in the info to IRFU to ratify the moves and IRFU/provinces used to years ago release the transfers

Yeah Nenagh fan but based elsewhere for work

Hard to know with Nenagh. Last 2 fully completed seasons they were just above relegation to 2B and then 2 seasons before that were in playoffs to 1B. Will likely be somewhere in between i think.

Lost Ormond

Connacht league fixtures are up and winner will qualify for bateman cup semi final and connacht senior cup final with remaining 4 sides playing off to determine the other finalist

Leinster league and cup draws made. 12 teams competing in the senior cup. missing the university sides and few others but fantastic to see that number competing. been while since its been that high

Nothing about Munster or Ulster competitions yet

Purple Fox

Nure had a couple of signings last year before things got going, Andrew Keating (Garryowen), Cathal Marsh (USA) and Alex Thompson (UK) which were some good signings. Lansdowne have signed Paeder Timmins but have lost some good front row like McElroy to Bristol and Greg McGrath to Connacht.

Lost Ormond

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117629482#Comment_117629482

Panda back in Dublin. Garryowen will really miss him.

Wasnt Alex Thompson with Nure before?? Good moves alright.

Purple Fox

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117629871#Comment_117629871

He was, he played when Nure got to the semi final and Ulster signed him.

Panda is a great player, will do loads for Nures scrum

Chico Flores

Metro Cup fixtures up now too, and pre season friendlies starting. All that bit closer to back seeing games.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117732845#Comment_117732845

iGood to see some games back being played. Interesting to start season off with metro cup for senior 2nds

Connacht senior league starts this weekend as well.

Chico Flores

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117732909#Comment_117732909

Good to see all round. Who would be favourite for Connacht league?

Our J1s are playing Wanderers, we should be beating them to be honest.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117733186#Comment_117733186

Hard to know. Think Buccs and Corinthians will do well but this season considering how long its been since regular games could throw all kinds of results up.

Chico Flores

I've heard Navan are in all sorts of trouble, less than 15 at training etc. Be a shame to see them really struggle, in reality I imagine being relegated from 1B might have suited them better on a rebuild.

Jason Harris-Wright is coaching out there.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117733869#Comment_117733869

Probably would have suited them better. they had such momentum getting all the back to back promotions and then having finished bottom in 1B with the 19/20 season they really would have been better off as you say rebuilding back in 2A.

RuPi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117733869#Comment_117733869

Their J1’s and 20’s are due to play this weekend v Boyne so hopefully things aren’t too bad numbers wise.

I imagine The AIL will revert to one up one down regarding promotion, I can’t see anyway that Covid won’t impact 1 game across the season, so even if things don’t go as well as hoped for sides they will still have a shot of staying up in a two legged playoff with ninth.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117738739#Comment_117738739

Unfortunately neither of those games didnt go ahead

Good to see few games going ahead tho. Trinity playing Leinster 19s and 20s today or "gods chosen people" if going by their twitter account ...

Strand1970

Sligo beat buccs 43-10 and Ballina beat Corrintians 32-26.

Chico Flores

Not AIL releated but back playing for first time in what 18 months yesterday in Terneure in the Smyth Cup. Was some craic.

Horrific standard but everyone in such good mood! Still hungover!

Chico Flores

Peter Claffey has moved back to Galway and is playing for Corinthians this season.

Stainalert

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117629482#Comment_117629482

Peadar Timmins not going to Lansdowne

Believe Terenure have signed James Connolly (Ex Connacht Flanker) and are chasing another prominent back row. They look to be shaping up well for the season ahead.

Dan Murphy (Barnhall 2nd row) signing for Lansdowne along with Luke Thompson (Old Wesley Hooker)

Marcus Kiely apparently Trinity bound - don't think Naas are too happy

Tom Sexton (Hooker) has signed for Old Belvedere

Stainalert

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765433#Comment_117765433

Also understand Shane O'Hanlon (UCC prop) joining Cork Con with James Taylor (UCC 10) joining Highfield

Stainalert

Leinster Rugby | Leinster Senior Cup to kick-off this weekend

Friday

Wanderers v Lansdowne

Saturday

Barnhall v Old Wesley

Tullamore v Terenure

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765549#Comment_117765549

Good to see lot more sides competing in this competition as some years has seen such small % of overall senior clubs in province

competing

Cant see too many shocks though

Number 137

The 6 clubs who didn't enter the Leinster Senior Cup were Trinity, UCD, Old Belvedere, St. Mary's, Blackrock and Skerries. Naas were due to host Clontarf in the 1st round, but Clontarf have been subsequently given a walkover.

Stainalert

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117766431#Comment_117766431

Strange Trinity didn't enter given they fielded a senior team and a 20's team against Leinster U'19 & U'20 last week

RuPi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765457#Comment_117765457

Taylor is a great signing for Highfield although the 10 they already had was very useful.

Not much movement in Ulster.

Ballymena brought in Matthew Corr (Queens) and Azur Allison (Malone) alongside a few good schoolboys.

Peter Cooper and Jack Milligan moved from Malone to Hinch.

Rainey lost four props with Tommy O’Hagan going to Malone. Bradley Roberts on to a senior contract with Ulster so he had to move to a division 1 side, heard he went to Hinch.

Lost Ormond

Munster senior cup draw made this afternoon

Round 1 – 11th September 2021 – 2.30pm 

Match 1 – Nenagh Ormond RFC v Midleton RFC

Match 2 – UCC RFC v Garryowen FC

Match 3 – Old Crescent RFC v Kilfeacle & District RFC

Match 4 – Young Munster RFC v Cork Constitution FC

Match 5 – UL Bohemian RFC v Dolphin RFC

Match 6 – Bruff RFC v Clonmel RFC

Match 7 – Cashel RFC v Shannon RFC

Match 8 – Sunday’s Well RFC v Highfield RFC

Quarter-Finals – 18th September 2021 – 2.30pm 

Match 9 – Winner of Match 1 v Winner of Match 7

Match 10 – Winner of Match 6 v Winner of Match 2

Match 11 – Winner of Match 3 v Winner of Match 8

Match 12 – Winner of Match 4 v Winner of Match 5

Chico Flores

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117766568#Comment_117766568

It seems Trinity are playing in the Metro Cup for Barnhall on Saturday according to the fixtures, weird you wouldn't just play higher?

Same with Naas, Navan, Rock etc

Stainalert

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117767557#Comment_117767557

Think this is where the Leinster Branch should step in. If you aren't willing to enter the Leinster Senior Cup then it should impact on your ability to enter / progress in cups below this such as Metro. There has to be some sort of consequence for clubs if they don't enter the senior cup otherwise it leaves them with too easy a decision.

luke9311

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765433#Comment_117765433

That makes sense why i didn't see him playing for suttonians against nure then. Probably good news for belvo as he would be a good signing for them you would imagine. also noticed kennys suttonians coach now...

Stainalert

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117767831#Comment_117767831

Who is Suttonians coach?

Chico Flores

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117767804#Comment_117767804

Totally agree, this is what happens in Metro League - if you forefit a game in say Metro 3 but field at Metro 6 or whatever, you automatically give walk over

Not fair on say the 2s players with us, Barnhall, Lansdowne, Wanderers or whoever, who probably play a majority 1s side now in a 2s comp.

luke9311

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117767854#Comment_117767854

andy kenny, think he held previously roles with old belvo, castleknock years ago and i think he had a stint with michaels at some stage

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117767804#Comment_117767804

Yeah Leinster should be stepping in here. For competitions starting same time like that. shouldnt be able enter j1 if deciding not to enter senior. Leinster senior cup needs to get back some of its prestige by that i mean a cup all clubs want to play and compete/shock a division 1 team/go on a run...

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117768362#Comment_117768362

Andy Kenny good coach. yeah won a schools cup with belvedere and then coached ucd, michaels few others as well

Gatekeeper23

Club Scene podcast favourite James Fennelly has moved from Trinity to Stradbrook.

James Connolly moved from Naas to Nure.

Heard Shane O'Riordan from Highfield could be moving on, but unconfirmed...