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All Ireland League 2019-2020 Talk/Gossip/Rumours

13567…18

Comments

  • #62
    Stainalert
    Registered Users Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Stainalert


    Squidgy Black wrote: »
    From the UCD Ad Astra Academy site:

    There are currently 60 UCD Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholars in a range of sports, including 10 male Rugby players (4 are currently representing Ireland) and 1 female member of the Irish squad

    Sorry I mean't per year - my main point is there are loads of other scholarships UCD offer their rugby players as well


  • #63
    ArmchairQB
    Registered Users Posts: 958 ✭✭✭ArmchairQB


    Very troubling to hear Leinster Academy pushing players to clubs that they want to and actively encourage to break rule 6. If Sullivan plays for Rock he should be reported. UCD as well as other colleges all over varying degrees of scholarship from Ad Astra down to University fees, 50% of Masters Fee, CAO points, Monthly living allowance. Most 20s and senior team startters are all on some sort of scholarship as they call it but breaking the rules is what other clubs call it.


    Academy also now pushing sub academy players to play AIL but they are mostly apart from 6/7 lads not up to it physically yet & by default they are devaluing the 20s League and pushing players that dont make it at AIL out of school out of rugby. Kuke McGrath, Dan Leavy, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Jack Coonan, Joey Carberry, Tadgh Beirne all played 20s with their clubs and it did them no harm. Now 40 or so sub academy lads are being told they must play AIL to be considered even though they will only pick 6/7 of them from pre determined positions. It is very short sighted of the pro game that gets all of its players from the amuteur game and will mean less players playing rugby after 20s than before


  • #64
    Goodluck2me
    Registered Users Posts: 5,397 ✭✭✭Goodluck2me


    UpTipp123 wrote: »
    Celtic cup kicks off 24th August and runs til the 12th October - then maybe semi final and final and then cover for the world cup and pro14 games with an InterPro game over xmas. Alot of these lads wont see AIL til 2020

    Blocks of 3 games kicking off 5th October with the 9th game on 14th December, game 10 is 11th January then.

    Deasy retried, Tom Hayes an O Donovan sacked by Shannon, with geoff moylan and tadgh Bennett in.
    Sean skehan DOR in Terenure.

    any word on UCD?
    Kevin croke announced as new UCD coach with Brett Igoe and Mark McGroarty as assistants. Bobby Byrne still DOR.


  • #65
    D14Rugby
    Registered Users Posts: 2,815 ✭✭✭D14Rugby


    Goodluck2me wrote: »
    Kevin croke announced as new UCD coach with Brett Igoe and Mark McGroarty as assistants. Bobby Byrne still DOR.

    That's a very decent coaching staff to have. All involved in leinster rep squads recently I believe so highly rated enough


  • #66
    shoutman
    Registered Users Posts: 6,924 ✭✭✭shoutman


    D14Rugby wrote: »
    That's a very decent coaching staff to have. All involved in leinster rep squads recently I believe so highly rated enough

    Great appointment, two guys who I feel would really suit coaching students.


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  • #67
    Gatekeeper23
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭Gatekeeper23


    Any truth in Eddie Weaver leaving Belvo to join Lansdowne? Serious coup if true!


  • #68
    Stainalert
    Registered Users Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Stainalert


    Gatekeeper23 wrote: »
    Any truth in Eddie Weaver leaving Belvo to join Lansdowne? Serious coup if true!

    Not that I'm aware of.


  • #69
    Callmedeece15
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭Callmedeece15


    Anyone know what's going on in Navan? Losing Conor Farrell to belvo for big $$, rumours they won't even be able to field a team?


  • #70
    Gatekeeper23
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭Gatekeeper23


    Stainalert wrote: »
    Not that I'm aware of.


    Heard it from a source within the club itself, wasn't sure if it was true or not. If anyone hears of any updates, do keep us posted!


  • #71
    The Lost Sheep
    Registered Users Posts: 14,967 ✭✭✭✭The Lost Sheep


    ArmchairQB wrote: »
    Very troubling to hear Leinster Academy pushing players to clubs that they want to and actively encourage to break rule 6. If Sullivan plays for Rock he should be reported. UCD as well as other colleges all over varying degrees of scholarship from Ad Astra down to University fees, 50% of Masters Fee, CAO points, Monthly living allowance. Most 20s and senior team startters are all on some sort of scholarship as they call it but breaking the rules is what other clubs call it.

    Academy also now pushing sub academy players to play AIL but they are mostly apart from 6/7 lads not up to it physically yet & by default they are devaluing the 20s League and pushing players that dont make it at AIL out of school out of rugby. Kuke McGrath, Dan Leavy, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Jack Coonan, Joey Carberry, Tadgh Beirne all played 20s with their clubs and it did them no harm. Now 40 or so sub academy lads are being told they must play AIL to be considered even though they will only pick 6/7 of them from pre determined positions. It is very short sighted of the pro game that gets all of its players from the amuteur game and will mean less players playing rugby after 20s than before
    Getting guys to play as high level possible should be the aim and sub academy players should be involved in AIL(be it division 2 or 1) and even should be on loan from a division 2 club not fielding at 20s and play 20s with a division 1 club and AIL with a division 2 club if possible.
    Callmedeece15 wrote: »
    Anyone know what's going on in Navan? Losing Conor Farrell to belvo for big $$, rumours they won't even be able to field a team?
    Nonsense about issues with fielding team but bound to have the Dublin city clubs looking at some players considering how well they did last few seasons/


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  • #72
    Stainalert
    Registered Users Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Stainalert


    The Lost Sheep wrote: »
    Getting guys to play as high level possible should be the aim and sub academy players should be involved in AIL(be it division 2 or 1) and even should be on loan from a division 2 club not fielding at 20s and play 20s with a division 1 club and AIL with a division 2 club if possible.

    Disagree strongly re sub academy players. For a lot of them they are much better off playing 20's rather than being pushed too high too fast.


  • #73
    The Lost Sheep
    Registered Users Posts: 14,967 ✭✭✭✭The Lost Sheep


    Stainalert wrote: »
    Disagree strongly re sub academy players. For a lot of them they are much better off playing 20's rather than being pushed too high too fast.
    Too much made of getting guys into a few top clubs at 20s and a season or two playing division 2 AIL then moving to division 1 AIL would be far more beneficial than playing 20s or even mix of 20s and AIL division 2 for guys not ready for AIL 1 at 19/20


  • #74
    Callmedeece15
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭Callmedeece15


    The Lost Sheep wrote: »
    Nonsense about issues with fielding team but bound to have the Dublin city clubs looking at some players considering how well they did last few seasons/

    Would be a shame to not see them kick on after a couple of great seasons, will struggle losing players of Farrell's calibre and failing to recruit suitable replacements.


  • #75
    Gatekeeper23
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭Gatekeeper23


    Stainalert wrote: »
    The Lost Sheep wrote: »

    Disagree strongly re sub academy players. For a lot of them they are much better off playing 20's rather than being pushed too high too fast.


    Too high too fast? These men have to step up to the plate, they have to learn. No point saying otherwise


  • #76
    Stainalert
    Registered Users Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Stainalert


    Gatekeeper23 wrote: »
    Stainalert wrote: »


    Too high too fast? These men have to step up to the plate, they have to learn. No point saying otherwise

    Not for sub academy - academy is different. We don't always have to look at the AIL with professional goggles. The vast majority of these players will never play Pro and quite often when they don't make academy / Irish U20s they walk away from rugby entirely which is a really bad outcome for all concerned.


  • #77
    The Lost Sheep
    Registered Users Posts: 14,967 ✭✭✭✭The Lost Sheep


    Gatekeeper23 wrote: »
    Too high too fast? These men have to step up to the plate, they have to learn. No point saying otherwise
    Have to step up?
    Dont put such high demands on players. Playing AIL 2A/B/C for a season and then moving up to division 1 if ready to/suitable to step up


  • #78
    Lucas44
    Registered Users Posts: 379 ✭✭Lucas44


    Stainalert wrote: »
    Gatekeeper23 wrote: »

    Not for sub academy - academy is different. We don't always have to look at the AIL with professional goggles. The vast majority of these players will never play Pro and quite often when they don't make academy / Irish U20s they walk away from rugby entirely which is a really bad outcome for all concerned.

    Sub academy players are 19 coming out of school why shouldn’t they play ail, name a 19 year old who’s gone on to play for Irish 20s that hasn’t played ail, the ones playing ail are the ones who make the academy.. lots of 18,19 year olds playing ail that aren’t in sub academy’s that are good club players.. there’s no reason as to why a sub academy player coming out school should settle for taking a step down in quality of rugby to play u20


  • #79
    UpTipp123
    Registered Users Posts: 24 ✭UpTipp123


    Callmedeece15 wrote: »
    Anyone know what's going on in Navan? Losing Conor Farrell to belvo for big $$, rumours they won't even be able to field a team?

    Dont see this happening - Navan in 1B now also, same league as belvo, unless money has swung it for him, but it would be great to see Navan hold onto where own an see how they go in 1B. Anyone know how there fixed next season? Heard Haugh the 9 is leaving?


  • #80
    Gatekeeper23
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭Gatekeeper23


    UpTipp123 wrote: »
    Dont see this happening - Navan in 1B now also, same league as belvo, unless money has swung it for him, but it would be great to see Navan hold onto where own an see how they go in 1B. Anyone know how there fixed next season? Heard Haugh the 9 is leaving?

    Extremely possible given the talent pool that Navan has and the money that Belvo have available at their disposal. Shame.

    Haven't heard of Haugh leaving yet as i'm led to believe he has enjoyed his time there thus far? Could be wrong thouugh


  • #81
    ArmchairQB
    Registered Users Posts: 958 ✭✭✭ArmchairQB


    UpTipp123 wrote: »
    Dont see this happening - Navan in 1B now also, same league as belvo, unless money has swung it for him, but it would be great to see Navan hold onto where own an see how they go in 1B. Anyone know how there fixed next season? Heard Haugh the 9 is leaving?


    Ironic as Navan would be one of the big spenders in the AIL they pay large for players and continuously offer large sums to players. Heard of a huge offer they have made to a forward returning from England which a few clubs were asked to match but out of their league


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  • #82
    Gatekeeper23
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭Gatekeeper23


    ArmchairQB wrote: »
    Ironic as Navan would be one of the big spenders in the AIL they pay large for players and continuously offer large sums to players. Heard of a huge offer they have made to a forward returning from England which a few clubs were asked to match but out of their league

    Very interesting! Who is the player?


  • #83
    BallcarrierNo7
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭BallcarrierNo7


    Gatekeeper23 wrote: »
    Any truth in Eddie Weaver leaving Belvo to join Lansdowne? Serious coup if true!
    Callmedeece15 wrote: »
    Anyone know what's going on in Navan? Losing Conor Farrell to belvo for big $$, rumours they won't even be able to field a team?

    Dont know about not being able to field a team but yes I have also heard Farrell is joining Belvo. Apparently he has rolled back 'les années' and is back to his best. He has nothing Toulouse and has been out of the Leinster set up for far Toulon!


  • #84
    Stainalert
    Registered Users Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Stainalert


    Has anyone heard anything about Tadgh McElroy - Heard he was coming back to Ireland from Bedford?


  • #85
    UpTipp123
    Registered Users Posts: 24 ✭UpTipp123


    Stainalert wrote: »
    Has anyone heard anything about Tadgh McElroy - Heard he was coming back to Ireland from Bedford?

    big signign for any AIL club - is he back with lansdowne? Also heard Lansdowne signed back a second row who was in the UK - any idea?


  • #86
    Callmedeece15
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭Callmedeece15


    ArmchairQB wrote: »
    Ironic as Navan would be one of the big spenders in the AIL they pay large for players and continuously offer large sums to players. Heard of a huge offer they have made to a forward returning from England which a few clubs were asked to match but out of their league

    Fairly sure their entire team is homegrown bar 2/3 players?


  • #87
    D14Rugby
    Registered Users Posts: 2,815 ✭✭✭D14Rugby


    The Lost Sheep wrote: »
    Getting guys to play as high level possible should be the aim and sub academy players should be involved in AIL(be it division 2 or 1) and even should be on loan from a division 2 club not fielding at 20s and play 20s with a division 1 club and AIL with a division 2 club if possible.

    Pushing players to play AIL isn't the solution, especially not if its division 2. The whole problem players face playing AIL is the physicality levels, adjusting to clubs calls and adjusting to new clubs in general. Encouraging players to play div 2 for a year then move up doesn't fix any of these problems and further weakens the player-club bond. There isn't a hope in hell of Div 1 players allowing a situation where their 20s players can play for their 20s and play AIL for a div 2 team or where they'll take 20s eligible players from a div 2 team, player workload and pressure to share tactics and remember 2 playbooks just won't allow it.

    If you look at the current u20s squad most of the Leinster players in it have played 20s this season and those that haven't either did last season or were just physically ready for AIL straight away, that should be the system, join a club/stay at your current club, play U20s, learn the clubs play style, then progress up to the AIL team when you're ready. It shouldn't be what it is in a lot of cases where players join the AIL team that will guarantee them playing time straight away then sink or swim.

    I think I've said it before but personally I think the AIL should be cut to 1 A/B and 2 A/B and to be in the AIL you must have a minimum of a 1st and 2nd team and an U20s team to allow for player development to be done properly, and there should be certain facility requirements then to be in div 1 these requirements should step up a notch to give a more professional look and allow provinces to monitor players when they're with clubs so they can be released to them more. The U20s league should be monitored more by provincial setups too.


  • #88
    Stainalert
    Registered Users Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Stainalert


    UpTipp123 wrote: »
    big signign for any AIL club - is he back with lansdowne? Also heard Lansdowne signed back a second row who was in the UK - any idea?

    Not back with Lansdowne anyhow. Will check re 2nd row


  • #89
    luke9311
    Registered Users Posts: 303 ✭✭luke9311


    Stainalert wrote: »
    Has anyone heard anything about Tadgh McElroy - Heard he was coming back to Ireland from Bedford?

    should be interesting he was good solid player at 2 before he left for england and playing for lansdowne. He not back from bedford a while tho playing for sarries nah?


  • #90
    Squidgy Black
    Registered Users Posts: 21,605 ✭✭✭✭Squidgy Black


    luke9311 wrote: »
    should be interesting he was good solid player at 2 before he left for england and playing for lansdowne. He not back from bedford a while tho playing for sarries nah?

    Joined Bedford on a season long loan at the start of last season, so if he's on his way back to Ireland it means Sarries didn't pick up his contract.


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  • #91
    Chico Flores
    Registered Users Posts: 606 ✭✭✭Chico Flores


    Callmedeece15 wrote: »
    Fairly sure their entire team is homegrown bar 2/3 players?

    They have the South African Centre who played with Blackrock and saw Brian Haugh mentioned above. Have not seen them play to be honest but generally the more country teams are more or less home grown aren’t they?


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