Overseas Player Watch

Hoping this'll be a strong year for the Irish in the premiership this year.

The other starting players over there would be the likes of TOL, iHumph, Shane Monahan and Ian Whitten.

Robin Copeland was pretty good for Cardiff last season,I don't know whether him or Pretorius are first choice though.

Buer wrote: »

Championship generally has a few of our gang knocking around who were released by academies. The man I keep an eye on is Eamon Sheridan at Rotherham. I'd be confident he'll be back at a province at some point in the future. He's 108kg and can play 11, 12, 13 and 14. Bagged himself 8 tries last season.

Not sure he'll ever be top level but would definitely add depth and another option for teams in the Pro12.

Sheridan is with London Irish now.

lurtz wrote: »

cant understand why copeland hasnt been signed back to ireland

Well, he only joined Cardiff last year on a 2 year deal so there hasn't been an opportunity to sign him back, really, and I don't think anyone wanted to gamble on him on the back of his performances in the Championship.

Also, there's the possibility he won't want to come back. He seems to be enjoying himself in Cardiff going on his involvement in their jersey release and looks to be enjoying his rugby too. He's playing most of his rugby in the back row which isn't exactly a weak area in Irish rugby either.

Does Ireland pick overseas players for the national team if they aren't signed within Ireland itself? Sexton will be a big loss if so and Hagan himself would help with the tighthead depth issue.

Cheers. Having a stint in England will be good for the props when it comes to the scrummaging department. Could be good in the long run while the academy props get some extra exposure.

Fireball07 wrote: »

Is Caldwell not still a starter for Bath? Stringer should get some gametime too
And there's Tommy Hayes and Steenson for Exeter.

Not sure if Mushy Buckley and Andress start for their respective clubs, but they're still over there.
And I'm pretty sure Barnes signed for some English team, can't remember who... be interesting to see how he gets on.


And are Dave and Timmy Ryan still playing in pro12? Not sure about that.... and is Fogarty is playing in the Top 14 next season? Lots of Irish players abroad.

Yep all good points (not the Ryans though I dont think).

Danny Barnes is with Newcastle.

Buckley is more of a starter than Andress iirc

Fireball07 wrote: »

Who knows, maybe Schmidt will change this?

I mean the likes of Bowe, Easterby and Murphy are all players who were regularly included while abroad, obviously they were talented players.

But what players playing abroad would have been in contention and missed out- the likes of Cullen, Jennings, Casey? Did Trevor Brennan ever get picked while abroad, I can't remember? Anyway, I don't think any of those players were better than those who were ahead of them.


But maybe Schmidt will consider bringing the likes of Hagan/Andress or Morris into squads.

The guys selected were in different situations or in a different era. Bowe was an established international before he moved. Murphy and Easterby are from a different time, way before the emergence of central contracts.

At that time, a large number of players were based in England. When they made their debuts, literally half the squad were playing there.

Brennan never got a cap when abroad but, similar to Jennings, Cullen and Casey, he wasn't better than what was there. But there were occasions where guys playing in England weren't getting into the squads despite definitely being good enough to be third or fourth choice in their positions. Jennings, for example, only made his debut for Ireland when he announced his return to Leinster.

I'd hope Schmidt does select foreign players if they're deserving of it but they simply don't have the same involvement in training camps etc. to stake their claim. I'm sure there's a certain level of pressure to select Irish based players also to counteract any potential exodus. As long as players thing they'll be out of the picture internationally, that will play on their minds in negotiations unless they're in Sexton's position where they're simply in the team regardless of where they are playing.

There's also Michael Noone at Leicester... Only 23.. Can play anywhere in the back row.. Played a 5 first team games last season and got 3 tries... A former Ireland u19 & u20 player..

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Ian Cross started 13 for LI in the same game. YM man plays outside back, never got a sniff round the Irish scene, hopefully something comes good from here for him

I didn't even realise it was the same Ian Cross!

It'd be great if they ended up with a backline like O'Leary, Humphreys, Sheridan, Cross!

bamboozle wrote: »

Scanlon
Keating
Sheridan
Barnes
Morris
Sexton
Stringer
Andress
Fogarty
Hagan
Caldwell
Sheriff
TJ Anderson
Copeland
Noone


Decent enough team...cant think of a LH though

think Shane Cahill might be a loosehead. Neil best would be much better than anderson

lurtz wrote: »

think Shane Cahill might be a loosehead. Neil best would be much better than anderson

Not sure much better would apply anymore. Best's career has fallen off a cliff and he's probably entering his last contract as a professional before retirement with a low level championship side.

He's a massive case of wasted talent.

lurtz wrote: »

look Im not saying hes goin to be on the next lions tour Im just saying hes a better player than TJ anderson,and speaking of low level clubs Scottish would be a better place to be than Ealing.

Ali Birch is with Rotherham this season, i'll throw him in at 7 instead of TJ Anderson who in fairness didnt stand out much at AIL level last season. Not sure if Jerry Cronin is still with Doncaster...if so i'll throw him in at LH.

Ian Whitten and Shane Monahan would probably squeeze in there.