New thread for the new season
Current spread of academy players across Clubs
UCD 7
Clontarf 4
Trinity 3
Lansdowne 3
Terenure 2
So just let all the players play with their clubs and they all get plenty of game time.
Uncontracted players have no obligation to Leinster yet Leinster treat them as if they are their property with no discussion with their respective clubs.
A completely unnecessary game that tells clubs exactly where they stand with Leinster. Everything always done on Leinster terms.
Would it benefit the league for Leinster to hold on to all the players they pay and never let them play club rugby? Might give it more integrity.
The Boyle argument absolutely does stack up. Both Jack Boyle and Ed Byrne are recently back from long term injury.
Leinster wanted to use the London Irish game to give minutes to Ed Byrne from the start, with Marcus Hanan covering him (presumably - I haven't seen the teams). Releasing Boyle to UCD meant he started and played bigger minutes. Both players will presumably go to South Africa.
The three guys you're complaining about here are all Leinster Academy players, not fully contracted players. Boyle - a Year 2 Academy player was left behind as Leinster brought a fully contracted LHP (Ed Byrne) and a Year 3 Academy player (Hanan) to London.
What do you mean by "uncontracted players" were picked ahead of Sean O'Brien? He's an Academy player - Ruadhri O'Connor's tweet stated Alex Soroka (Academy), James Culhane (Academy) and Will Connors (fully contracted) started in the back row in London.
If Leinster did decide to bring some sub-academy backrowers ahead of a guy who they know is leaving that would make the utmost sense. Why invest time in a guy who won't be part of your team next year when you can get a closer look at another young promising player?
it used to be the case for contracted players that they couldnt play in 2/3 final rounds of the league season and the playoffs unless they had played "x" amount of games beforehand to stop clubs parachuting in contracted players for these games. If some players were released to play last weekend its fine IMO. i dont think UCD were favoured in anyway.. Why would many of the Leinster coaches favour UCD anyway? No reason for them to. As even if UCD were to be relegated many contracted players could or would simply move and transfer to play for a 1A club if they felt it was necessary
What other teams that were equally impacted managed to win games ? Tarf the no 1 team in the league ?
Sean O'Brien is a contracted player - the fact he is going to Connacht at the end of the season is irrelevant. He was released and other uncontracted players were picked in his place.
Your Boyle argument does not stack up - all of the players involved in the A game could have gotten good minutes playing with their clubs. Either the game against London Irish was a prep for South Africa or it wasn't - you can't have it both ways.
UCD were favoured this week as Trinity were deemed to have an "easy" fixture against Garryowen next time out. Doesn't look so easy now after Garryowen beat Munsters.
My point was the integrity of the League !
Doubt Leinster would care what Shannon RFC's views are on what Leinster does with its own players.
I wonder what Shannon RFC might think of it as it enabled UCD to stay 3 points above the playoff game (as are Trinity).
I think Leinster would want both of their Acadamies playing in Division 1A of the All Ireland League !
I really doubt anyone was "favoured" - UCD may have been more fortunate that for whatever reason the decision was made to leave Jack Boyle and Chris Cosgrave to play. In Boyle's case, they may well have felt he would start this game and get good minutes, whereas it's likely Ed Byrne started in London to get minutes into him.
Sean O'Brien being there isn't surprising given he's leaving for Connacht - he's unlikely to go to South Africa in my view unless they need him.
After that - the Leinster coaches just picked the players they felt they wanted to get minutes into, who are presumably going to play in South Africa.
Other clubs who managed to win games were equally impacted.
Clearly the Leinster first team coaches had no interest. But UCD were favoured , whether it was by the powers that be, blazers or some officials, who knows? Trinity and Lansdowne by contrast both had important Leinster players involved in the A game who missed their clubs AIL matches. Both lost tight games. And the results may well impact on relegation or play-off places at the end of the season.
I really supremely doubt that Leo & Stu Lancaster care too much about who won the Colour's Match.
All fine but I think where most people will have a problem will be that 3 contracted players were released to UCD. This seemed to deliberately favour UCD as the players selected in their place would not be ranked ahead of them in the Leinster pecking order.
Right into final week for most teams.
1A
Clontarf are top and though mathematically can be caught. I dont see it. They need 1 point to secure 1st.
Tarf are Home to UCD. Shannon are away to Terenure who are trying to catch Tarf in 1st. Con are 3rd and Young Munster 4th. Trinity and UCD could be caught by Shannon if Shannon were to beat Terenure and either university side dont pick up at least a losing bonus.
1B
Armagh promoted as champions. Belvedere and Highfield are in playoffs with 9th 1A. 4th is between Buccs and Wesley. Buccs host Armagh and Wesley are in Naas whove nothing to play for
Huge game at bottom. Malone on 27. Banbridge 29 and UCC 31. UCC host Malone. Banbridge play Highfield
2A
Queens are top and play already relegated Dolphin in Cork next weekend so should win title. If they were to lose which is very unlikely Blackrock can catch them with a win against a Ballymena side with nothing to play for. Nenagh and Barnhall are level on points. Nenagh have much better points difference so as long as they match Barnhalls points next week they will play 2nd and Barnhall will play 9th in 2B in the playoffs.
Dolphin relegated and Bohs 9th in playoffs with 2B
2B
Greystones champions and promoted. Corinthians 2nd. Dungannon 3td. 4th is Sligo now on 43, Wanderers Belfast Harlequins and Rainey are all on 42. Sligo play Quins, Rainey host Corinthians and Wanderers play Malahide whove nothing to play for. Wegians are point above Enniscorthy. Enniscorthy are in stones while Wegians are home to Dungannon. Cant see change of positions there.
2C
Instonians champions. Tullamore currently 2nd with Skerries 3rd a point behind but thats likely to change as Tullamore have Inst at home while Skerries are home to Ballina. Clonmel 3rd and Bruff 4th with Clonmel 3 ahead at moment. Clonmel play Midleton who are 9th and need a win to avoid relegation playoff and Bruff play Omagh who can be caught by Midleton as theyre 3 points ahead of the Cork side. Sundays Well relegated bar a very unlikely set of results as theyre points difference is 130 worse than Midleton
Round Robin
Clogher Valley beat Bective 34-19 and Richmond beat Creggs 14-11 so will meet in final on April 15th to decide who goes senior
The final score was 43-19.
Presumably to London Irish as it was in London and I got the score from their fan forum.
Even if the game isn't important to Leinster the 2 match tour could be very important to the careers of the players involved.
Of course they and Leinster want to put their best foot forward.
Even when they’re already guaranteed first place in the table? Like the third secret of Fatima the way both clubs treated the game. Anybody know the result?
Unfortunately Leinster pay their salaries and they felt they needed the group who would be travelling on the South Africa tour together for a game.
Sundays Well beat Midleton 24-23 to keep their hopes of staying up until at least tomorrow.
Clontarf won 31-28
UCD won colours 22-19 after big comeback
Corinthians beat Wegians 31-27 in great game. Wegians were 17-5 up half time by 60 minutes were 24-17 down then in last 10 minutes got 2 tries to lead 27-24 before home side got 78th minute winner and then Wegians had a great chance late into injury time but k/o
UCD 22 Trinity 19, Trinity had led 19-0
4 Games tonight
In 1A the Colours is on in Belfield. Lansdowne play Clontarf Aviva while the Galway Derby is in Cloonauncean in 2B with Sundays Well hosting Midleton in 2C
Saturday
1A: Cork Con v Terenure, Shannon v Ballynahinch, Garryowen v Young Munster(3.30)
1B: Old Belvedere v Banbridge (2pm), Armagh v UCC, Highfield v Naas, Malone v St Marys, Old Wesley v Buccaneers
2A: Blackrock v Dolphin, Barnhall v Nenagh, Navan v Ballymena, Queens v Old Crescent, UL Bohs v Cashel
2B: Belfast Harlequins v Rainey, Dungannon v Greystones, Enniscorthy v Wanderers, Malahide v Sligo
2C: Ballina v Bangor, Bruff v Tullamore, Clonmel v Omagh, Instonians v Skerries
Young Munster should mathematically seal 4th as only need a point. Shannon will be hoping for a Trinity win tonight as they can go level with them if they beat Hinch
Armagh should get closer to automatic promotion with win over UCC. Top 4 sorted as Wesley 6 behind Highfield with 50+ difference in points difference as well. Banbridge need 4 points more than UCC in last 2 games to avoid playoffs with 2A sides
Queens will also get that bit closer to league title and automatic promotion as they play Crescent who are safe unless Bohs get 2 big wins. Blackrock should stay 2nd with win over Dolphin which would confirm their relegation. Game of day is Barnhall Nenagh. 3rd v 4th. If Nenagh win it could open door for Cashel to catch Barnhall for final playoff spot. Bohs need 2 wins over the tipp sides to avoid playoffs for relegation to 2B.
Greystones promoted. Corinthians 2nd. Dungannon may hope stones arent too concerned now theyre promoted and a win for them would seal a playoff spot All Ulster clash with Quins and Rainey could knock Rainey out of push for final spot. Wegians will be trying to get above Enniscorthy to avoid automatic relegation
If Sundays Well dont win tonight they are relegated to junior. Midleton win and they get huge boost as they try avoid relegation playoff. Omagh in 9th and playoff spot. just point behind Ballina, midleton.
Round robin starts tomorrow. change to old format. now being played in 2 semi finals in Double header in Coolmine Clogher Valley v Bective, Richmond v Creggs. winners play for a spot in AIL with runner up of that final in playoff with 9th in 2C.
Important players pulled from the likes of Lansdowne, UCD and Trinity to play in a mickey mouse Leinster A game at the weekend. Very disrespectful towards the AIL clubs at an important time in the season
1A: Tarf and Terenure 1st/2nd to be decided last 2 rounds. Con3rd. YM 4th. Shannon 9th unless they over turn 4 points and significant points deficit on UCD
1B: Armagh 5 clear at top. then 3 points between Belvo, Buccs and Highfield. Bottom are Malone who are 4 behind Banbridge with UCC another 4 points gap. Malone relegated or in playoffs. Banbridge 4 points behind UCC with similar points difference
2A:Queens 2 clear of Blackrock, Nenagh a point behind, 5 points to Barnhall then 7 to Cashel who need results to go their way so assume top 4 will be the sides in those places with order to change. Dolphin last and relegated. Bohs in relegation playoffs.
2B; Greystones 1st and confirmed promotion today. Corinthians confirmed 2nd. 3rd/4th up for grabs with Dungannon on 44, B quins 41, Rainey and Sligo 38, Wanderers 37, Malahide 36. Galwegians and Enniscorthy fighting to avoid automatic relegation. Enniscorthy 1 point ahead with much better points difference
2C: Instonians 1st and champions still yet to drop a point. have scored 679 in 16 games with points difference of +488!!! Skerries 2 clear of Tullamore for 2nd/3rd. Clonmel on 39 with Bruff 31 fighting for last playoff spot. Sundays well all but relegated. 7 off 9th now. Omagh, Ballina and Midleton1 point between 3 of them will be tight for 9th and playoff spot with round robin
IRFU previews
https://www.irishrugby.ie/2023/03/25/energia-all-ireland-league-mens-division-1b-previews-16/
Of course but IRFU can assist clubs promote their games. Assist the clubs with digital marketing. get tv ads promoting the league. work with the title sponsor to get the league across media more.
Help how? You keep saying this but the IRFU can’t make people do what they don’t want to do. If the clubs can’t get the people who are already connected to them to go. What could the IRFU do? I get an email every week from my local club to get me to watch either AIL 6N/Leinster games. Trouble is my local club isn’t local anymore.
Help more attracting members, get people in the gate to watch games. It has a relationship to AIL. Help get people to watch pro games from club house not a pub in town. there is some disconnect between youths and adult rugby. that comes down to formats of competitions and lot of other reasons. yes the clubs need to get parents who take kids to a club once, twice even three times a week to club for training and matches more but there needs to be a greater conversion of people who solely or nearly exclusively watch pro rugby and nothing else.
Work with the clubs in what way? The clubs will benefit from this, with the numbers of kids wanting to play. However this seems to have no relationship to the AIL. There is a strong disconnect in the clubs between youths rugby and Senior rugby. Maybe the clubs need to do more to bridge that gap. Get the parents who are there with their kids, more invested in the club overall and going to games.
Yes but thats where IRFU come in and work with clubs to get people into the clubs as members, going to games.. watch pro games in club house bars not pubs or whatever they can
Maybe at provincial level but most of the casual fans who are attracted to the Slam. Wouldn’t even associate AiL with that at all.
Would be nice to see a boost at attendances tomorrow following on from grand slam last week but how likely is that.....
In tonights game Nenagh beat Cashel 21-17 in 2A. First win in AIL in Cashel for Nenagh which puts them top for tonght at least and nearly confirms the top 4 as the clubs who are in those positions now: Nenagh, Queens, Barnhall and Blackrock
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