Rock are favourites IMO
But not massively so like last season.
Michaels wont be far off them.
Terenure/Gonzaga are dark horses
Has there been any preseason games yet, I think Marys lost to Belvo 30-19 or something like that but not sure Marys were full strength
South african school's rugby is generally on a different level tbh, I'd expect any team from Ireland to struggle against the like of Greys, Affies, Paarl Gym etc. When the tournament is organised it's difficult to know who will be the top teams that year, so obviously the best teams from each country might not be competing, but I remember the top SA schools running up cricket scores against the english and NZ teams. They put some of their games on the Supersport Schools youtube page if you want to have a look. They play incredible fast and physical, it's a great watch.
I know back in 2013/14 Blackrock battered EG Jansen who were ranked the 5th best school in SA at the time and wasnt even close. But that blackrock team was very very good.
Will be interesting to see how the other countries teams compare to Grey.
A Rock in 2015 beat a South African schools amalgamation side as well I think.
The 2013 Leinster Schools Cup Final between Rock & Michaels produced a hell of a lot of pro rugby players:
-Garry Ringrose, Charlie Rock, Jeremy Loughman, Oli Jager, David O'Connor and Nick Timoney on the Rock side
-Cian Kelleher, Ross Byrne, Nick McCarthy, Denis Coulson, Ross Molony, James Ryan, Josh Murphy and Max Deegan on the Michaels team that also included a 7s international in Adam Leavy.
That was a very strong couple years for Blackrock the team the year after had: Loughman, Timoney, Doris, Jager, Conor oliver, Hugo Keenan, Brian Mollen (Ire 7s), Joey Carberry, David O'connor
Lads this is youths rugby thread running for over a decade. dont have schools talk leading to this being closed like so many of those threads
And that rock team had many youths players: Loughman(athy), Oliver (skerries), Carberry (athy), o connor (skerries)....
Munster league phase 1 nearly at half way phase now. Qualifiers for phase 2 cup etc beginning to take shape
35 Leinster players in national talent squads:
Prop
George Hadden (Gorey/Clontarf FC) - u20
Patrick McCarthy (Blackrock/Dublin University FC) - u20
Adam Deay (Tullow/Lansdowne FC) - u19
Andrew Sparrow (St Mary’s College) - u19
Adam Watchorn (Prop/Kilkenny College) - u18
Hooker
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock/UCD RFC) - u20
Stephen Smyth (Kilkenny) - u19
Tom Stewart (St Michaels) - u18
Lock
Conor O’Tighernaigh (S. Micheals/UCD RFC) - u20
James Doyle (Enniscorthy RFC/Enniscorthy) - u20
Alan Spicer (Belvedere) - u18
Alex Mullen (Blackrock) - u18
Mahon Ronan (Boyne RFC) - u17
Backrow
Liam Molony (Blackrock/DUFC) - u20
Alex Usanov (Belvedere) - u18
Aaron O’Brien (St Marys) - u18
Scrumhalf
Fintan Gunne (St, Michaels/Terenure RFC) - u20
Tadhg Brophy (Newbridge) - u19
Oliver Coffey (Blackrock) - u19
Outhalf
Tom Larke (Old Wesley RFC) - u19
Jack Murphy (Pres Bray) - u19
Sean Naughton (Kilkenny) - u19
Paddy Taylor (Newbridge) - u18
Centre
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock/Clontarf FC) - u20
Sam Berman (St. Michaels/Dublin University FC) - u19
Luke Kritzinger (Blackrock) - u19
Connor Fahy (Wexford RFC)
Back Three
Henry McErlean (St. Michaels/Terenure College RFC) - u20
Andrew Osborne (Naas/Naas RFC) - u20
David Colbert (Gonzaga/Dublin University FC) - u19
Ruben Moloney (Blackrock/UCD RFC) - u19
Jules Fenelon (St Michaels) - u19
Hugo McLaughlin (Gonzaga) - u19
Paidi Farrell (Tullamore RFC) - u18
Charlie Molony (Blackrock) - u17
22 Munster players in national talent squads:
Mark Fitzgerald (Crescent College Comp) - u19
Emmett Calvey (Ard Scoil Ris) - u18
Danny Sheahan (PBC/UCC RFC) - u19
Dawid Novak (CBC Cork) - u19
Michael Foy (CBC Cork) - u18
Jacob Sheahan (PBC/UCC RFC) - u19
Sean Edogbo (Cobh RFC/UCC RFC) - u19
Brian Gleeson (Rockkwell/Garryowen FC) - u19
Kamil Novak (CBC Cork) - u19
Luke Murphy (Ard Scoil Ris) - u18
Jake O’Riordan (St Munchins College) - u19
Dylan Hicks (Bantry RFC) - u18
Tom Wood (St Munchins College) - u18
Michael O’Donovan (Bantry RFC) - u18
Eoghan Smyth (Midleton RFC) - u18
Gene O’Leary Kareem (PBC Cork) - u18
Josh Costello (Shannon RFC) - u20
Ihechi Oji (UL Bohemians RFC) - u20
Ben O’Connor (PBC Cork) - u19
Stephen Kiely (Castletroy/Old Crescent RFC) - u19
Jed O’Dwyer (Crescent College Comp) - u18
Matt Te Pou (St Munchins College) - u18
17 ulster players in national training squads:
Jack Boal (Campbell/QUB RFC) - u20
Cameron Doak (Wallace/Belfast Harlequins RFC) - u20
Joe Charles (Down/Ballynahinch RFC) - u20
Jacob Boyd (RBAI) - u19
Flynn Longstaff (Campbell College) - u19
Charlie Irvine (Wallace/QUB RFC) - u20
Mark Lee (Rainey Old Boys RFC) - u19
Josh Stevens (Methodist College) - u19
Bryn Ward (RBAI) - u19
James McKillop (Foyle College) - u19
Jamie Jackson (Portadown College) - u18
David Armstrong (Methodist College) - u18
Clarke Logan (Coleraine Grammar School) - u18
Rory Ellerby (RBAI) - u19
Ethan Graham (Ballynahinch RFC) - u19
Lucas Kenny (Campbell College) - u19
Ben McFarlane (Methodist College) - u19
11 Connacht players in national training squads:
Fiachna Barrett (Prop/Corinthians RFC)
Sean Hopkins (Prop/Ballina RFC/St Muredach’s College)
Ambrose Bamber (Lock/Sligo RFC/Sligo Grammar)
Diarmuid O’Connell (Lock/Sligo RFC/Sligo Grammar)
Bryan Walsh (Lock/Corinthians RFC/Colaiste Einde)
Max Flynn (Backrow/Corinthians RFC/CC Roscrea) - u19
Blayze Molloy (Backrow/Ballina RFC/Clongowes) - u19
Tom Farthing (Scrumhalf/Corinthians RFC/Colaiste Chroi Mhuire)
Caden Grant (Centre/Corinthians RFC/St Joseph’s College)
Sean Fox (Wing/Corinthians RFC) - u19
Cian Brady (Fullback/Monivea RFC/Colaiste an Eachreidh)
What exactly are the national training squads? I assume the players will have periodic training camps and consistent contact with coaches throughout the year?
Will the various underage squads this year be made up exclusively of these players or will some come from outside? I guess 85 players isn't sufficient for four squads, even before injuries etc.
They are potential future academy and pro players. Yeah they get periodic training camps and sessions.
The irish squads will look outside these players.
National talent squad is a group of players identified by the irfu and provinces to be the players with the most potential to play professional rugby at provincial or international level
Think of it like a sub sub-academy.
These are players that they feel are the most likely contenders to make the provincial academies in the next few years, so they get a bit of extra attention and coaching etc.
The Underage provincial teams will be made up of these guys plus others outside the NTS.
Not all the NTS members will make the academies of course , but they are the most likely group.
Are there any recent examples of guys who were not in a NTS at any point and made an academy? From within ireland.
Dan Sheehan comes to mind anyway, more recently Temi Lasisi.
Very surprised not to see Charlie Sheridan included in the National Talent Squad, he looks a serious prospect. Anyone have any insights into why he wasn’t included?
Are there are any other notable omissions?
There was a guy from munster who had some hype who didnt make it i think. Neff Giwa.
his size is seen as an issue at the pro level.. he is an excellent player
he is more athlete than rugby player, didnt even start for munster clubs
For the non Leinster provinces, I think i’d keep a spot for those kinds of guys. You can make a rugby player but you can’t make an athlete. Depending on their attitude, though.
thats not the same sheridan playing for lansdowne 20s at the minute do you know? seen a player called sheridan on there teamsheets before seems decent enough cant remember what his first name was tho.
Charlie Sheridan is Naas I think.
Yeah he is playing AIL for Naas at 18.
Munster seem to be tapping into immigrant communities far better than any other province. They have Oji, Te Pou, Kareem and Edogbo, also Giwa who didn’t make the squad. I don’t think there is a single player across the other 3 provinces’ NTS from a non European background.
cormac izuchukwu - Ulster
Temi Lasisi - Leinster
They are academy players. I am talking about the NTS line ups.
Comps update...
Connacht leagues at 16s/18s. 2/3 rounds in.
18s division 1 Buccs and Sligo started strong. Division 2 Ballinasloe, Corrib, Westport leading so far
17s division 1 Sligo, Buccs, Corinthians going well Division 2 Castlebar, Corrib
16s Division 1 Sligo, Buccs, Corinthians, Ballina.. Division 2 Connemara-Oughterard, Castlebar
Munster
Phase 1 nearly finished bar a few catch up games/playoffs. so most group qualifiers are known
16s
Section 1
Young Munster 1st, Shannon/Ennis or Garryowen 2nd/3rd. playoffs
Section 2
Corcha Dhuibhne v Castleisland final game next weekend. Corca Dhuibne 2nd win or lose. Castleisiand last but a win would put them third. Killorglin, Listowel will want CD to win and then its tiebreaker with Killorglin having beat Listowel in group game
Section 3
Nenagh 1st, Bruff 2nd, Kanturk 3rd
Section 4
Bandon 1st, Clonakilty 2nd, Kinsale 3rd
Section5
Highfield 1st, Cork Con 2nd, Ballincollig 3rd
Section 6
Fermoy finished on 16 points. Waterpark 1 to play on 12 points. Clonmel finished on 12 points. W City 1 to play on 8. Both waterford sides play winless fethard. assume both win the games then it would be Waterpark 1st, Fermoy 2nd, Clonmel 3rd
Section 7
Youghal 1st, Midleton 2nd, Cobh 3rd
18s
Young Munster, Garryowen, Crescent and Shannon all on 16 points. Garryowen v Crescent playoff next weekend...
Abbeyfeale-Listowel 1st, Killarney 2nd, Killorglin 3rd
Ennis Black 1st, Cashel-Thurles 2nd, Bruff White 3rd
Kinsale 1st, Bantry Bay 2nd, Bandon 3rd
Section 5
Highfield 1st, Carrigaline-Dolphin 2nd, Sundays Well 3rd
Waterpark 1st Clonmel 2nd. Cobh 3rd. Midleton 4th. Waterpark play Midleton in final game next weekend. Midleton must win to qualify for cup ahead of Cobh
Genuinely the strangest post ive seen on this website to date
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