General Rugby Discussion 3

AbusesToilets · 15-05-2026 01:40PM

It would be good if it means a better alignment for the season. Run through the Leagues, with the international windows, then play the Cup. French will probably never let it happen

awec · 15-05-2026 01:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124470412#Comment_124470412

You mean play the cup end-to-end at the end of the season?

I imagine the IRFU would block that as well.

sydthebeat · 15-05-2026 01:57PM

https://archive.ph/RV11T

It is a move that largely stems from player welfare concerns, as the South Africans feel it is unsustainable for their top players to compete in a northern hemisphere club season and southern hemisphere Test matches, leaving little room for rest.

well, doh! its what you signed up for.

its no different to the irish teams playing in the league and the 6 nations as well. Plus, if player welfare is your issue, then thats YOUR issue to control. God knows theres enough saffa players playing across the world.

Sounds very much like wanting your cake and eating it too.

However i think in the background to all this is the cost issue of playing in the two competitions, and flying in their players from all sides of the globe for test games. Again, this is a situation they created by having a system where they encourage their players to play abroad.

FtD v2 · 15-05-2026 01:58PM

I get why the SA want it this way, but it changes the competitive integrity of both tournaments arguably and I wouldn't be in favour of it happening.

The European Cup is on its absolute last legs, and something like this would probably be the death knell for it.

AbusesToilets · 15-05-2026 02:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124470469#Comment_124470469

yes. Why would the IRFU block it? It would benefit massively for being played after the leagues have concluded.

awec · 15-05-2026 02:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124470482#Comment_124470482

Because it would put a larger playing burden on the best players within a small window of the season. You are essentially condensing the club games that the best players play in to within 1 timeframe in the season.

The current fixture model allows for the top players to play in the league sporadically and then play all the Euro games they are fit for because they're spread out over the season.

awec · 15-05-2026 02:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124470475#Comment_124470475

The European Cup is on its absolute last legs

Fully agree with this.

I imagine that the SA teams contribute a decent chunk of cash to the competition.

AbusesToilets · 15-05-2026 02:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124470505#Comment_124470505

The SA teams leaving would presumably lead to a change in format or number of teams. Provinces would still be free to choose to rotate as desired.

FtD v2 · 15-05-2026 03:11PM

Irish Universities team playing French Universities this evening in France.

Team:

Player	Club/University
15. Davy Colbert	DUFC / Trinity College
14. Daniel Hurley	UCD / University College Dublin
13. Hugo Lynch	DUFC / Dublin City University
12. Ben Brownlee	UCD / University College Dublin
11. Gene O'Leary Kareem	UCC / University College Cork
10. Matthew Lynch	DUFC / Trinity College
9. Thomas Quinn	UCD / University College Dublin
1.Tom O'Riordan	UCD / University College Dublin
2. Stephen O'Shaughnessy	UCC / University College Cork
3. Liam Kaprigiannis	Instonians / University of Ulster
4. Daniel Leane	St Mary's / Dublin City University
5. Daniel Barron	UCD / University College Dublin
6. Kev Jackson	DUFC / Trinity College
7. David Walsh (c)	DUFC / Trinity College
8. Richie Whelan	Clontarf / Dublin City University

16. Jack O'Neill	DUFC / Trinity College
17. Jack Castles	MU Barnhall / Maynooth University
18. Danny McCarthy	UCC / University College Cork
19. Will Cusack	QUB / Queen's University
20. Conor Tonge	UCD / University College Dublin
21. Oscar Cawley	DUFC / Trinity College
22. Paddy Clancy	UCD / University College Dublin
23. Mark Walsh	DUFC / Trinity College

Travelling Reserves
Jack Spencer	UCD / University College Dublin
Adam Gray	MU Barnhall / Maynooth University

Blackrock College have 9 past pupils in the 23 per a post on the alumni page.

FtD v2 · 15-05-2026 05:20PM

Really good piece here on Rugbypass (someone shared on Leinsterfans) on Glasgow Warrior's Academy, and the leading role Luke O'Dea, formerly of Leinster's S&C coaching staff, plays in the development of their young players.

The article has very good insights into the general way of things in Glasgow IMO, and reflects well I think on Franco Smith and their approach.

I also think the role David Nucifora might be playing behind the scenes in Scottish rugby might be evident in the piece too - refusing to sanction new deals for NSQ players like Seb Cancelliere & Henco Venter, all in favour of more gametime for Academy products. It's surely even more important to Scotland than it is in Ireland given how narrow their playing base is.

https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/how-glasgow-warriors-are-building-monsters-in-the-darkness-to-propel-the-club-into-a-new-era/

sydthebeat · 15-05-2026 05:48PM

on the topic of david nucifora…. this is well worth a watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40fO6v1IHzw

he was never everyones cup of tea over here (Ulster fans im looking at you!) but its very hard to argue he wasnt an instrumental part in the rise of the irish mens team ireland to be a force in world rugby, and the progress he made in world sevens.

his influence, or lack of, in other areas (womens rugby etc) is up for question of course.

this conversation is mainly about coaching and pathways, and id recommend it to anyone who coaches youths upwards. you might gain a small gem of insight to progress yourself and your teams.

sydthebeat · 15-05-2026 07:24PM

Seemingly the drug in the Georgians drug scandal was cannabis

Do we believe that?

Lancey Howard · 17-05-2026 01:11PM

Possibility (probability?) of SARU withdrawing from EPCR

When?

If next season will Connacht, Ulster, Ospreys and Edinburgh get the extra places?

phog · 17-05-2026 05:27PM

Scott Hastings (61) died today. RIP

bilston · 17-05-2026 05:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124476833#Comment_124476833

Ah no, very sad, no age at all. Like a few here, no doubt, I grew up watching Scotland beating us year after year through the late 80s and 90s, with what was a pretty decent Scottish team, and him being very much part of it, particularly in the early part of that period.RIP

sydthebeat · 17-05-2026 05:42PM

Very sad, such a young age really.

Twice a lions tourist as well

OldRio · 17-05-2026 06:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124476833#Comment_124476833

Dear me. No age.

Larbre34 · 17-05-2026 06:56PM

Desperately sad to hear that Hastings has succumbed to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma after a 4 year battle.

He was predeceased by his wife, Jenny, in 2024. She had herself suffered with acute mental illness for many years, no doubt affected for the worse by Scott's illness and long treatment.

How could your heart but go out to their two adult children and surviving family and friends.

May they rest in peace.

thebaz · 18-05-2026 10:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124477093#Comment_124477093

So sad, a great rugby player . Peace to them all.

OldRio · 18-05-2026 01:11PM

I received an email this morning saying that the 'Golden Tickets' sale had begun for the European Finals 2027 in Lyon.

Podge_irl · 18-05-2026 02:15PM

Ah drat. Premium tickets gone already

sydthebeat · 18-05-2026 06:40PM

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/noah-caluori-and-benhard-janse-van-rensburg-two-of-seven-uncapped-players-in-steve-borthwicks-42-man-england-squad-gallagher-prem/?xnpe_tifc=hF_8xDe_x.H8OFxDhFQNbMpsafeWaeiWhFWLhyPWbf8vRkevauE6EM4LnkEAbfs3tu4vaMp.b.HJhIQuhkHd4I_D4FHl&utm_source=rugbypass&utm_campaign=RugbyPass_Newsletter_18052026_NH_WR_Opt-ins_Engaged&utm_medium=email

Not really significant but Steve Borthwick has named seven uncapped players in his 42-man England squad for their three-day camp at England’s Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park this week.

Noah Caluori

Charlie Bracken

Archie McParland

Emmanuel Iyogun

Benhard Janse van Rensburg

Kepu Tuipulotu

Billy Sela

ersatz · 18-05-2026 07:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124479857#Comment_124479857

Noah Caluori is on a serious try scoring bender, heading for breaking the prem season record at 19 years old. There is a question mark about the quality of some the opposition and matches, but thats still some breakout season. He's scored ten tries against Sale this season.

sydthebeat · 18-05-2026 07:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124479917#Comment_124479917

yeah the quality of the prem this season has been pretty muck, leading to plenty of flat track bullies (not saying thats the extent of calouris talent!)

in the URC zebre are by far the leakiest team, conceding an average of 32.6 points per game (587 in 18)

in the prem, newcastle concede on average 47.8 points per game (764 in 16)

and in the top 14, montauban concede an average of 50.3 points per game (1207 in 24)

just another statistic in which the URC is the best league

leakyboots · 18-05-2026 08:40PM

Caluori does look very exciting to be fair, quality of opposition or not. England would be mad not to call him up

pickarooney · 19-05-2026 08:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124479932#Comment_124479932

Bit unfair including Montauban who 'went on holiday by mistake' in the Top14. Vannes conceded an average of 34.3 last year, Oyonnax 30.4 the year before.

Of course, if we graph that, next year's promoted team will concede 61.5 points per game and Dragons only 27 so the URC will soon be the best league outside of the ProD2

Quin_Dub · 19-05-2026 03:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124479857#Comment_124479857

I don't get the inclusion of Van Rensburg…

He looked very average any time I have seem him play and at 29 he's hardly a "development" pick.

Investing time in some younger guys (like Ojomoh for example) would seem to make more sense

AbusesToilets · 19-05-2026 07:13PM

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2026/05/19/champions-cup-revamp-includes-scrapping-pool-stage/

What year is it again? Brits at it etc.

I don't actually mind the proposal. Going to a straight knock out comp would be my preference generally, although I'd rather it be after the conclusion of the leagues. If they can increase prize money for the participating teams to offset the loss of games, it could be quite tidy. Given PRL are involved, I wouldn't hold my breath on that mind.