Guinness Pro12 2014/2015 Season thread

Buer · 24-06-2014 11:42am

Owen Williams has suffered a serious neck injury in Singapore playing an off season tournament with the Blues. Parents have flown out to be with him. Very little information available currently but really doesn't look good at all.

vienne86 · 24-06-2014 12:40pm

Buer wrote: »

Owen Williams has suffered a serious neck injury in Singapore playing an off season tournament with the Blues. Parents have flown out to be with him. Very little information available currently but really doesn't look good at all.

Every time I go to a match, I am amazed and thankful that there are not more serious injuries. I really hope Owen is going to be OK - it sounds serious.

dregin · 25-06-2014 1:18pm

Doesn't sound at all good. http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/15239.php#.U6q93_ldXIs

CIARAN_BOYLE · 25-06-2014 1:56pm

Buer wrote: »

Owen Williams has suffered a serious neck injury in Singapore playing an off season tournament with the Blues. Parents have flown out to be with him. Very little information available currently but really doesn't look good at all.

Looks like a bad one alright

Buer · 25-06-2014 2:25pm

Latest release has confirmed significant damage to his spinal cord.

At this time, I think we're looking at retirement at best.

molloyjh · 25-06-2014 2:35pm

Buer wrote: »

Latest release has confirmed significant damage to his spinal cord.

At this time, I think we're looking at retirement at best.

Oh God that's really awful. Heart goes out to the guy.

Buer · 25-06-2014 2:41pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Oh God that's really awful. Heart goes out to the guy.

Absolutely. I suppose there's some sort of miracle where he might be able to play again but I can't see it (in my wholly uneducated opinion).

When Macauley Cook stayed behind after the team left Singapore to remain at his bedside, though, I thought it had to be very bad.

molloyjh · 25-06-2014 2:44pm

Buer wrote: »

Absolutely. I suppose there's some sort of miracle where he might be able to play again but I can't see it (in my wholly uneducated opinion).

When Macauley Cook stayed behind after the team left Singapore to remain at his bedside, though, I thought it had to be very bad.

Ah well feck the rugby career at this stage, I just hope the guy can get back to something close to normal at least.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 25-06-2014 2:55pm

Buer wrote: »

Absolutely. I suppose there's some sort of miracle where he might be able to play again but I can't see it (in my wholly uneducated opinion).

When Macauley Cook stayed behind after the team left Singapore to remain at his bedside, though, I thought it had to be very bad.

My reading is he might be able to walk again but I'm not sure.

thomond2006 · 25-06-2014 3:14pm

I gulped when I read spinal cord injury. I hope he can recover as much as possible.

Larbre34 · 25-06-2014 3:58pm

Please dont turn this into a Michael Schumacher type speculation fest as to what condition he will be left in. Itll be months and maybe years before the chap's outcome is known. For now lets just wish him and his family the best.

dregin · 25-06-2014 4:45pm

read yesterday that Alex McKinnon is working towards walking again. Absolutely amazing, considering how bad it seemed at first.

bilston · 25-06-2014 10:59pm

Horrendous injury, we can only but hope and pray for the best for the young lad. Just 22 FFS.

icdg · 27-06-2014 3:13pm

It may be nothing, but the Facebook username of "RaboDirect Pro12" has been changed to "Pro12 Rugby". Presumably the official end date for the RaboDirect sponsorship is fast approaching.

oneofakind32 · 27-06-2014 3:20pm

icdg wrote: »

It may be nothing, but the Facebook username of "RaboDirect Pro12" has been changed to "Pro12 Rugby". Presumably the official end date for the RaboDirect sponsorship is fast approaching.

pro12rugby.com also redirects to http://www.rabodirectpro12.com

b.gud · 27-06-2014 4:47pm

icdg wrote: »

It may be nothing, but the Facebook username of "RaboDirect Pro12" has been changed to "Pro12 Rugby". Presumably the official end date for the RaboDirect sponsorship is fast approaching.

Twitter page has changed to PRO12 Rugby too

Wexfordboy89 · 28-06-2014 1:39pm

Any word on a new sponsor for the league?

CIARAN_BOYLE · 28-06-2014 6:38pm

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

Any word on a new sponsor for the league?

Last I heard was logan saying it wasn't important anyway if they got one so assuming nothing yet

CatFromHue · 30-06-2014 4:48pm

Wikipedia have a page for the transfers in and out of each Pro12 club for next season

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2014%E2%80%9315_Pro12_transfers#Ulster

Buer · 30-06-2014 5:05pm

When you see it all written down like that, it's hard to see teams like Edinburgh and Treviso being competitive next season. Shocking amount of departures from both.

.ak · 01-07-2014 9:24am

Buer wrote: »

When you see it all written down like that, it's hard to see teams like Edinburgh and Treviso being competitive next season. Shocking amount of departures from both.

Leinsters in vs out is also a bit harrowing on paper. We really need one more decent mid-level NIQ to bolster the ranks.

former legend · 01-07-2014 9:36am

CatFromHue wrote: »

Wikipedia have a page for the transfers in and out of each Pro12 club for next season

I think the clubs who've done the best business for next season are Connacht and the Dragons.

Edinburgh and Treviso have been absolutely plundered but both teams were abysmal with their existing squads so maybe no harm in that.

Buer · 01-07-2014 10:30am

.ak wrote: »

Leinsters in vs out is also a bit harrowing on paper. We really need one more decent mid-level NIQ to bolster the ranks.

Overall, I don't find it too bad, to be honest. We've lost two blokes from our first choice 23 in Cullen and BOD.

Douglas has replaced Cullen and we've been trying to sign an additional centre by all accounts.

The remainder are squad players at best and I'm pretty happy to see guys like Conan, Furlong, SCM, Tracy and McGrath get a big vote of confidence. Time will tell though and we really need that extra signing, as you say.

Tox56 · 01-07-2014 11:54am

CatFromHue wrote: »

Wikipedia have a page for the transfers in and out of each Pro12 club for next season

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2014%E2%80%9315_Pro12_transfers#Ulster

Is that Conan getting promoted early? Interesting if so, cant remember which year he entered the academy though so I could be wrong

ssaye2 · 01-07-2014 11:59am

Tox56 wrote: »

Is that Conan getting promoted early? Interesting if so, cant remember which year he entered the academy though so I could be wrong

1 year early afaik

1 Match, 1 Try, 1 MOTM award. Fantastic prospect.

thirteen. · 01-07-2014 3:27pm

Leo Auva'a to Treviso? Was he not headed to Newcastle?

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-07-2014 3:28pm

thirteen. wrote: »

Leo Auva'a to Treviso? Was he not headed to Newcastle?

originally it was rumoured but he signed with Treviso.

former legend · 03-07-2014 11:25am

I see that Edinburgh have signed Anton Bresler from the Sharks, seems like a good move for them, can't say I know much about him apart from this:

But anyone with a decent bit of Super rugby experience has to improve Edinburgh's squad.

ssaye2 · 07-07-2014 11:18am

Strange

Why would rabodirect update the league table for next season.

Sponsorship gone but still just doing it for the craic or what?

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/table.php

.ak · 07-07-2014 11:20am

ssaye2 wrote: »

Strange

Why would rabodirect update the league table for next season.

Sponsorship gone but still just doing it for the craic or what?

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/table.php

The people who run it are the same guys from Dublin who ran celtic league etc. They'll still be working away on it even after the sponsor changes. It's not actually Rabodirect that do this.

irishbucsfan · 07-07-2014 11:23am

ssaye2 wrote: »

Strange

Why would rabodirect update the league table for next season.

Sponsorship gone but still just doing it for the craic or what?

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/table.php

The site is developed and managed by Sotic, who will continue to do that (they do a lot of these sites). I'd doubt Rabodirect are even aware, or care very much, that it's been updated. Sotic will just move that content over when they're told to.

icdg · 07-07-2014 12:46pm

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The site is developed and managed by Sotic, who will continue to do that (they do a lot of these sites). I'd doubt Rabodirect are even aware, or care very much, that it's been updated. Sotic will just move that content over when they're told to.

Since 1st July no news stories on the Pro12 website have mentioned RaboDirect (referring to the league as simply the Pro12 or Pro12 Rugby) but they haven't rebranded the website colours or logo. It maybe that they'll change it once the new sponsor is announced or when the new season launch is held but I'm now rather suspicious that there will in fact be no sponsor next season - the Scottish Professional Football League has had no sponsor since the start of last year and the Football League only got one because Sky managed to tie it into their renewed TV rights deal.

crisco10 · 07-07-2014 2:58pm

icdg wrote: »

Since 1st July no news stories on the Pro12 website have mentioned RaboDirect (referring to the league as simply the Pro12 or Pro12 Rugby) but they haven't rebranded the website colours or logo. It maybe that they'll change it once the new sponsor is announced or when the new season launch is held but I'm now rather suspicious that there will in fact be no sponsor next season - the Scottish Professional Football League has had no sponsor since the start of last year and the Football League only got one because Sky managed to tie it into their renewed TV rights deal.

Heard a strong rumour from a usually reliable resource that the sponsors have been found and it's a well known "Irish" drinks company..;-)

.ak · 07-07-2014 3:00pm

Be gas if it was Bulmers. :P

irishbucsfan · 07-07-2014 3:02pm

icdg wrote: »

Since 1st July no news stories on the Pro12 website have mentioned RaboDirect (referring to the league as simply the Pro12 or Pro12 Rugby) but they haven't rebranded the website colours or logo. It maybe that they'll change it once the new sponsor is announced or when the new season launch is held but I'm now rather suspicious that there will in fact be no sponsor next season - the Scottish Professional Football League has had no sponsor since the start of last year and the Football League only got one because Sky managed to tie it into their renewed TV rights deal.

It'd be a pretty big waste of money I suppose to rebrand everything to be white labelled only to rebrand it again when they have a new sponsor!

ssaye2 · 07-07-2014 3:06pm

Guinnesspro12.com
http://mawords.com/guinnesspro12.com

Celtic rugby reg 2/7/14

Domain Name: GUINNESSPRO12.COM
Registry Domain ID:
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.meshdigital.com
Registrar URL: http://www.domainbox.com
Updated Date: 2014-07-02T00:00:00Z
Creation Date: 2014-07-02T00:00:00Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2016-07-02T00:00:00Z
Registrar: MESH DIGITAL LIMITED
Registrar IANA ID: 1390
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: support@domainbox.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.8779770099
Reseller: Domainmonster.com
Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Domain Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited
Registry Registrant ID:
Registrant Name: Shane Whelan
Registrant Organization: Celtic Rugby
Registrant Street: 1st Floor Simmonscourt House
Registrant Street: Simmonscourt Road
Registrant City: Ballsbridge
Registrant State/Province: Dublin
Registrant Postal Code: DUBLIN 4
Registrant Country: IE
Registrant Phone: +353.16690950
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax: +353.16690950
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: domains@sotic.co.uk
Registry Admin ID:
Admin Name: Shane Whelan
Admin Organization: Celtic Rugby
Admin Street: 1st Floor Simmonscourt House
Admin Street: Simmonscourt Road
Admin City: Ballsbridge
Admin State/Province: Dublin
Admin Postal Code: DUBLIN 4
Admin Country: IE
Admin Phone: +353.16690950
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax: +353.16690950
Admin Fax Ext:
Admin Email: domains@sotic.co.uk
Registry Tech ID:
Tech Name: Shane Whelan
Tech Organization: Celtic Rugby
Tech Street: 1st Floor Simmonscourt House
Tech Street: Simmonscourt Road
Tech City: Ballsbridge
Tech State/Province: Dublin
Tech Postal Code: DUBLIN 4
Tech Country: IE
Tech Phone: +353.16690950
Tech Phone Ext:
Tech Fax: +353.16690950
Tech Fax Ext:
Tech Email: domains@sotic.co.uk
Name Server: ns1.domainmonster.com
Name Server: ns2.domainmonster.com
Name Server: ns3.domainmonster.com
DNSSEC: unsigned
URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2014-07-07T15:06:35Z

cp · 07-07-2014 3:07pm

Guinness Mid-Strength Pro 12.

.ak · 07-07-2014 3:14pm

Atleast they're not calling it the Guinness Premiership. :P

molloyjh · 07-07-2014 3:30pm

Well that's some good news anyway. Between that and the Sky coverage hopefully we'll see the league start to regain some of the ground it's lost in the last year or so.

awec · 07-07-2014 4:04pm

Wonder if we'll see Guinness promotions at games then.

Buer · 07-07-2014 4:54pm

Guinness will be a good sponsor. They're very good at promoting their product and marketing. They've done a great job with the hurling championship.

Also an immediately recognised brand which will be good for the league profile.

thomond2006 · 07-07-2014 5:25pm

Ssaye are you a private rugby detective? Does any rugby information get past you on the internet?

ssaye2 · 07-07-2014 10:06pm

http://mawords.com/whois/whois.php?Domain=turkishairlinespro12.com

Regd in April credit LF user

icdg · 07-07-2014 10:30pm

There may have been speculative registering of a number of domains to guard agains cybersquatting. I guess we'll find out sooner rather than later as I'd expect the fixture list to be published pretty soon as LNR and Premiership Rugby have both published theres.

irishbucsfan · 07-07-2014 10:36pm

Yeah I'm sure they would have jumped on a number of domains to prevent that. Just as I'm sure there are countless failed attempts by people to register leinster.ie and hold leinster rugby to ransom.

vienne86 · 08-07-2014 9:11am

Well I hope this guinness rumour is correct.I think they would be great sponsors.

CatFromHue · 08-07-2014 1:23pm

But I thought the Irish had no interest in the Pro12............Magners and Guinness aye!

thomond2006 · 08-07-2014 1:33pm

I hate Guinness.

Edit: However compared to RaboDirect they would be much better sponsors.

ssaye2 · 08-07-2014 2:11pm

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9375305,00.html

Edinburgh have confirmed the signing of 23-year-old USA Eagles wing Brett Thompson on a one-year contract, subject to medical examination.

LeinsterDub · 08-07-2014 2:20pm

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/guinness-head-in-as-new-sponsors-of-pro-12-1-3469675

"Celtic rugby organisers are preparing to announce brewery firm Guinness as the new sponsors of the PRO 12, the Evening News understands."

Guinness Pro12 2014/2015 Season thread

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