The Academies

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Michaels have to play/train in Wanderers etc but they don't have an old boys club is that not a factor in drop off with them?
Need more club competitions/games for lads in school to keep ties with a club all through from under 13/14 for first years to under 18/19/20 for sixth years

The lack of an old boys possibly a factor but they have links with wanderers as you mention and old belvedere down the road. A lot of michaels players possibly there since primary school so might never have played with a club. Compare that to belvedere,Castleknock,clongowes who only get lads in in first year they would have played club before(if they have played at all) easier to rejoin after 6 years as opposed to never having been involved.
I think michaels are particularly guilty of over training. A lot play juniors in second year(even if they don't make team they train with them) likewise 4th years up with seniors(michaels didn't field a TY team this year as far as I know)

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Niall Horan LH Prop
Jacob Walshe LH Prop
Craig Trenier LH Prop
Peter Dooley LH Prop
Max Abbott Hooker
Jack Dinneen Hooker
Jonny Murphy Hooker
John Andrew Hooker
Brian Byrne Hooker
Rory Burke TH Prop
Brian Scott TH Prop
Jamie Dever TH Prop
Saba Meunargia TH Prop
Michael Lagan TH Prop
Ed Byrne TH Prop
John Madigan 2nd Row
Sean McCarthy 2nd Row
Darragh Moloney 2nd Row
Ultan Dillane 2nd Row
Sean O Brien 2nd Row
Alan O Connor 2nd Row
John Donnan 2nd Row
Alex Thompson 2nd Row
Ross Molony 2nd Row
Tadhg Beirne 2nd Row
Gavin Thornbury 2nd Row
Ryan Murphy Back Row
Jack O Donoghue Back Row
James Connolly Back Row
Rory Moloney Back Row
Marc Kelly Back Row
Eoghan Masterson Back Row
Frankie Taggart Back Row
Lorcan Dow Back Row
Josh Atkinson Back Row
Dan Leavy Back Row
Peadar Timmins Back Row
Josh Van Der Flier Back Row
Jack Cullen Scrum Half
Ryan Foley Scrum Half
Jamie Glynn Scrum Half
Dave Shanahan Scrum Half
Nick McCarthy Scrum Half
Gearoid Lyons Out Half
Conor McKeon Out Half
Sean O Hagan Out Half
Cathal Marsh Out Half
Steve Crosbie Out Half
Ross Byrne Out Half
Dan Goggin Centre
Rory Scannell Centre
Rory Parata Centre
Peter Robb Centre
Sam Arnold Centre
Jacob Stockdale Centre
Jack Owen Centre
Tom Daly Centre
Gary Ringrose Centre
Tom Farrell Centre
Jordan Coghlan Centre
Harrison Brewer Centre
Rory O Loughlin Centre
Greg O Shea Wing
Alex Wootton Wing
David Panter Wing
Ross Adair Wing
Adam Byrne Wing
Ian Fitzpatrick Wing
Stephen Fitzgerald Full Back
Dave Johnson Full Back
Darren Sweetnam Full Back
Ciaran Gaffney Full Back
Shane Layden Full Back
David Busby Full Back
Billy Dardis Full Back
Cian Kelleher Full Back

Leinster academy named today. Full list confirmed above

Edited to include full Ulster Academy

Trenier is a tight head prop.

FrannoFan wrote: »

For those listed above and playing they are doing a great job. But if you look at the side that finally broke the pattern and won a cup where are they now?are they still playing? A lot of those lads got flogged to death in school and pack it in. Michaels have a poor enough record in players staying in the game. Common in a lot of schools but not all.

The Michaels team who won it in 2007 were really from another generation in schools cup terms. They won it based on the talented cycle/good coaching thing (though of course they changed coaches at Christmas) which was the way schools rugby operated for its history. Michaels changed their system around 2006 for the younger kids and that's the generation you should focus on now. The 2007 Michaels players kept playing but like many just quit after a few years of college/work life. One of them had some personal issues which led to a tragic death recently which was reported in the newspapers actually.

I have never noticed a major difference between Michaels and any other school. Blackrock RFC have struggled in recent years to field teams and didn't have a J1 last year, they have the biggest rugby school in the country to get players from.

People quit sport, it's just the way it is.

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Of course people quit sport and that's just the way it is but current system doesn't help with player retention in the key 18-22/23 age group

I played schools and club - of the underage players in both there has been a huge dropoff. The idea that it is down to overtraining in school is just nonsense, Michaels are producing players now because of the quality of their coaching and hours going in. It is just life that stuff changes after school. Imo one of the biggest problems with clubs for years was the payments to players at under 20s by many clubs. Clubs should be looking for not just Senior Cup players but below that too.

Btw you are all forgetting Monkstown who are riddled with Michaels boys, not to the same degree as before Michaels got very good but that club relied heavily on Michaels for years.

spillit67 wrote: »

The Michaels team who won it in 2007 were really from another generation in schools cup terms. They won it based on the talented cycle/good coaching thing (though of course they changed coaches at Christmas) which was the way schools rugby operated for its history. Michaels changed their system around 2006 for the younger kids and that's the generation you should focus on now. The 2007 Michaels players kept playing but like many just quit after a few years of college/work life. One of them had some personal issues which led to a tragic death recently which was reported in the newspapers actually.

I have never noticed a major difference between Michaels and any other school. Blackrock RFC have struggled in recent years to field teams and didn't have a J1 last year, they have the biggest rugby school in the country to get players from.

People quit sport, it's just the way it is.

Blackrock club have struggled in recent years but times changing now. Trevor Hogan is involved in coaching their under 20s and they've attracted more from the school to the club and are working on the links between club and school.

spillit67 wrote: »

I played schools and club - of the underage players in both there has been a huge dropoff. The idea that it is down to overtraining in school is just nonsense, Michaels are producing players now because of the quality of their coaching and hours going in. It is just life that stuff changes after school. Imo one of the biggest problems with clubs for years was the payments to players at under 20s by many clubs. Clubs should be looking for not just Senior Cup players but below that too.

Btw you are all forgetting Monkstown who are riddled with Michaels boys, not to the same degree as before Michaels got very good but that club relied heavily on Micahels for years.

Who said it was about over training in school? The clubs should be looking at more than senior cup players and to be fair many clubs do as they need players for their social teams but more needs to be done by IRFU and the branches and clubs and schools to improve the numbers staying in the game. You can go 6-7 years without ever playing for a club and that isn't good for the game overall.
Payments at 20s level was an issue and still is to an extent. Ive played and got €€€s to play 20s myself but that isn't one of the biggest problems.

tigerbarron wrote: »

Every sport has a large dropoff in that age group just look at GAA.

I know all sports do but we In rugby don't help ourselves with the current system where for a large number of players they can go from 12-19 with never playing for a club so don't have

Leinster's academy class next year will look lile this:

At least two props, a lock, two backrows, a centre and two back three players.

A hooker would get stong consideration but not sure there are any candidates there.

tigerbarron wrote: »

Leinster's academy class next year will look lile this:

At least two props, a lock, two backrows, a centre and two back three players.

A hooker would get stong consideration but not sure there are any candidates there.

Sean McNulty will get the academy spot in Leinster next year.

FellasFellas wrote: »

Sean McNulty will get the academy spot in Leinster next year.

Dylan Donnellan from last years Irish 20's would be the pick of hookers I would say.

thinklinkl wrote: »

No chance he makes it.

McNulty is a decent shout, especially as he is with UCD. Although i'd be surprised if Munster werent after him.

Wouldn't agree seen both in action last season and would have Donnellan all day! McNulty is/was Minster sub academy at least

where could one read this?

Stainalert wrote: »

Big unit

Any use?

work in progress in the scrum, good in the loose.

He and Loughman being two good tightheads who will probably both join the academy proper next year.

HowthHeadO wrote: »

Tadhg Beirne hasn't played a game of rugby in 10+ months id say.. no idea what his injury is either

Think it was that hip Op that a lot of the younger guys seem to get

Think he is due back soon