Planet Rugby Forum

Can't post up the PDF.

Interesting anyway

Are they ring-fencing the Premierships?

For two seasons

Seems like a good idea. The standard is getting pretty good there again. Would be nice to see it as a genuine stepping stone to the fully-pro tier.

Boxcar Ira wrote:Seems like a good idea. The standard is getting pretty good there again. Would be nice to see it as a genuine stepping stone to the fully-pro tier.

Sounds a little like the Scottish model.

Boxcar Ira wrote:Seems like a good idea. The standard is getting pretty good there again. Would be nice to see it as a genuine stepping stone to the fully-pro tier.

Maybe if you are a Lansdowne - but lower down teams and higher level junior ones like an Enniscorthy etc will now have a harder time breaking into senior I think.

Banana Man wrote:

Boxcar Ira wrote:Seems like a good idea. The standard is getting pretty good there again. Would be nice to see it as a genuine stepping stone to the fully-pro tier.

Maybe if you are a Lansdowne - but lower down teams and higher level junior ones like an Enniscorthy etc will now have a harder time breaking into senior I think.

I suspect the real issue will be breaking in the new Premier Section (Old money 1A & 1B).

It will remain relatively the same to get into the newly named Conference.

Mullet 2 wrote:

Banana Man wrote:

Boxcar Ira wrote:Seems like a good idea. The standard is getting pretty good there again. Would be nice to see it as a genuine stepping stone to the fully-pro tier.

Maybe if you are a Lansdowne - but lower down teams and higher level junior ones like an Enniscorthy etc will now have a harder time breaking into senior I think.

I suspect the real issue will be breaking in the new Premier Section (Old money 1A & 1B).

It will remain relatively the same to get into the newly named Conference.

True enough - the rich will stay rich.

How are they choosing the Premiership teams? 1A&B from last season?

Nolanator wrote:How are they choosing the Premiership teams? 1A&B from last season?

Does last years 1A and 1B have the provincial spread though?

The switch to a geographical model in the conference division should help alleviate the problem of clubs not wanting to go up from Junior rugby (due to increased costs etc)

Just checked and the only Connacht side are Bucs

So somebody would be for the chop


Not only that Wegians were far closer to the bottom of 2A than the top.

Mullet 2 wrote:

Nolanator wrote:How are they choosing the Premiership teams? 1A&B from last season?

Does last years 1A and 1B have the provincial spread though?

201/2019

1A
Lansdowne, Cork Constitution, Terenure College, Garryowen, Clontarf, Young Munster, UCD, Dublin University, Shannon, UCC

Leinster - 5
Munster - 5

1B
St. Mary's College, Buccaneers, Banbridge, Ballynahinch, Old Belvedere, Naas, Ballymena, Old Wesley, Malone, City of Armagh

Leinster - 4
Ulster - 5
Connacht 1

2A
Dolphin, UL Bohemians, Nenagh Ormond, Highfield, Cashel, Queen's University, Blackrock College, Galwegians, Old Crescent, Navan

Munster - 6
Leinster - 2
Ulster - 1
Connacht - 1

2B
Corinthians, Greystones, Rainey Old Boys, MU Barnhall, Wanderers, Sunday's Well, Skerries, Dungannon, Sligo, Belfast Harlequins

Leinster - 4
Munster - 1
Ulster -3
Connacht - 2

2C
City of Derry, Omagh, Thomond, Malahide, Midleton, Seapoint, Bangor, Tullamore, Ballina, Bruff

Leinster - 3
Munster - 3
Ulster - 3
Connacht 1

Mullet 2 wrote:Just checked and the only Connacht side are Bucs

So somebody would be for the chop


Not only that Wegians were far closer to the bottom of 2A than the top.

And Corinthians went down.....

Think the Connacht teams are

Buccs - 1B
Wegians - 2A
Sligo - 2B
Corinthians - 2B
Ballina - 2C

AIL currently has 50 clubs across the 5 divisions and we'll be going to 48 clubs across 6.
I wonder will there be a mega relegation year in 2C

If you burst your arse to save yourself and then had your spot handed to Wegians you would not be a happy boy.

Banana Man wrote:

Boxcar Ira wrote:Seems like a good idea. The standard is getting pretty good there again. Would be nice to see it as a genuine stepping stone to the fully-pro tier.

Maybe if you are a Lansdowne - but lower down teams and higher level junior ones like an Enniscorthy etc will now have a harder time breaking into senior I think.

Tougher on them obviously. But it will provide a more competitive top tier I suppose.

Mullet 2 wrote:If you burst your arse to save yourself and then had your spot handed to Wegians you would not be a happy boy.

Wegians getting a massive influx of cash money having sold Crowley Park too - so might get a free ride to Premiership 2 and them spend.

I suppose it's natural for Irish people to look at the negatives first but.....


The IRFU is talking about clubs buddying up with the Provinces on the provision of facilities, coaching and players.

To keep the quality high I would think they would want to concentrate the talent in a small number of clubs (Their ideal would probably be 2 but max 3).

The boost the chosen clubs would receive would make the league very one-sided.

Mullet 2 wrote:If you burst your arse to save yourself and then had your spot handed to Wegians you would not be a happy boy.

That'll be us I guess then.

Diego wrote:

Mullet 2 wrote:If you burst your arse to save yourself and then had your spot handed to Wegians you would not be a happy boy.

That'll be us I guess then.

More then likely

Mullet 2 wrote:

Diego wrote:

Mullet 2 wrote:If you burst your arse to save yourself and then had your spot handed to Wegians you would not be a happy boy.

That'll be us I guess then.

More then likely

Now I know how white South Africans feel

Banana Man wrote:

Mullet 2 wrote:

Nolanator wrote:How are they choosing the Premiership teams? 1A&B from last season?

Does last years 1A and 1B have the provincial spread though?

201/2019

1A
Lansdowne, Cork Constitution, Terenure College, Garryowen, Clontarf, Young Munster, UCD, Dublin University, Shannon, UCC

Leinster - 5
Munster - 5

1B
St. Mary's College, Buccaneers, Banbridge, Ballynahinch, Old Belvedere, Naas, Ballymena, Old Wesley, Malone, City of Armagh

Leinster - 4
Ulster - 5
Connacht 1

2A
Dolphin, UL Bohemians, Nenagh Ormond, Highfield, Cashel, Queen's University, Blackrock College, Galwegians, Old Crescent, Navan

Munster - 6
Leinster - 2
Ulster - 1
Connacht - 1

2B
Corinthians, Greystones, Rainey Old Boys, MU Barnhall, Wanderers, Sunday's Well, Skerries, Dungannon, Sligo, Belfast Harlequins

Leinster - 4
Munster - 1
Ulster -3
Connacht - 2

2C
City of Derry, Omagh, Thomond, Malahide, Midleton, Seapoint, Bangor, Tullamore, Ballina, Bruff

Leinster - 3
Munster - 3
Ulster - 3
Connacht 1

Fully extrapolated out -

Its Leinster - 18
Munster - 15
Connacht- 5
Ulster - 12

With City of Derry begging to be made a junior side - I can see them willingly drop out

Mullet 2 wrote:

Nolanator wrote:How are they choosing the Premiership teams? 1A&B from last season?

Does last years 1A and 1B have the provincial spread though?

Probably not, that's what I was wondering.
Maybe do it the old Pro12 way for the HEC. X team from each price automatically qualify, then the rest of the division is made up based on league standings.
Some teams are going to miss out based on being from a strong province (Leinster). Be a big financial punishment.

Banana Man wrote:2B
Corinthians, Greystones, Rainey Old Boys, MU Barnhall, Wanderers, Sunday's Well, Skerries, Dungannon, Sligo, Belfast Harlequins

Leinster - 4
Munster - 1
Ulster -3
Connacht - 2

The Well were going to be the only Munster team in 2B? What a disaster of a season that would have been.

Rumham wrote:

Banana Man wrote:2B
Corinthians, Greystones, Rainey Old Boys, MU Barnhall, Wanderers, Sunday's Well, Skerries, Dungannon, Sligo, Belfast Harlequins

Leinster - 4
Munster - 1
Ulster -3
Connacht - 2

The Well were going to be the only Munster team in 2B? What a disaster of a season that would have been.

Well they still will be -there arent going to be changes until season after next

Mullet 2 wrote:I suppose it's natural for Irish people to look at the negatives first but.....


The IRFU is talking about clubs buddying up with the Provinces on the provision of facilities, coaching and players.

To keep the quality high I would think they would want to concentrate the talent in a small number of clubs (Their ideal would probably be 2 but max 3).

The boost the chosen clubs would receive would make the league very one-sided.

Heard a rumour that Leinster are building 4 centres of excellence throughout the province. Mini UCD facilities with 4G pitch/gym etc.

Seems a good idea. Personally would have made more Regional Conference rugby to cut down on travelling outside of the Premiership stuff. Will be interesting to see what happens with the Ulster clubs and where the resources go.

Liathroidigloine wrote:

Mullet 2 wrote:I suppose it's natural for Irish people to look at the negatives first but.....


The IRFU is talking about clubs buddying up with the Provinces on the provision of facilities, coaching and players.

To keep the quality high I would think they would want to concentrate the talent in a small number of clubs (Their ideal would probably be 2 but max 3).

The boost the chosen clubs would receive would make the league very one-sided.

Heard a rumour that Leinster are building 4 centres of excellence throughout the province. Mini UCD facilities with 4G pitch/gym etc.

Northside location with adjacent land badly needed

Banana Man wrote:

Rumham wrote:

Banana Man wrote:2B
Corinthians, Greystones, Rainey Old Boys, MU Barnhall, Wanderers, Sunday's Well, Skerries, Dungannon, Sligo, Belfast Harlequins

Leinster - 4
Munster - 1
Ulster -3
Connacht - 2

The Well were going to be the only Munster team in 2B? What a disaster of a season that would have been.

Well they still will be -there arent going to be changes until season after next

Ah right. That's a nightmare division for travel.

Assume most/all teams back in pre season.

Fixtures came out yesterday officially

http://www.irishrugby.ie/club/allirelan ... xtures.php

Armagh start at home to Old Wesley.

Made a couple of signings but haven’t heard very much. Think we are the only Ulster 1B club without any Academy players. Could be a good or bad thing.

Actually one for the Nordies, I know Rainey had a few academy lads on the books - do you know if they held onto them or not?

boringperson12 wrote:Armagh start at home to Old Wesley.

Made a couple of signings but haven’t heard very much. Think we are the only Ulster 1B club without any Academy players. Could be a good or bad thing.

I have no idea how good we'll be this season. We're so flipping unpredictable

As far as I know, all the Academy players are either at Ballymena, Banbridge, Malone or Hinch.

Below is stolen from UAFC

Ballynahinch (5): O'Toole, McCall, Regan, Hall, Hughes
Banbridge (4): O'Sullivan, Lowry, Hume, McCann
Malone (6): Dalton, Dunleavy, Agnew, G Curtis, A Curtis, Moore
Ballymena (4): Rea, Allison, Balacoune, Houston

boringperson12 wrote:As far as I know, all the Academy players are either at Ballymena, Banbridge, Malone or Hinch.

Below is stolen from UAFC

Ballynahinch (5): O'Toole, McCall, Regan, Hall, Hughes
Banbridge (4): O'Sullivan, Lowry, Hume, McCann
Malone (6): Dalton, Dunleavy, Agnew, G Curtis, A Curtis, Moore
Ballymena (4): Rea, Allison, Balacoune, Houston

O'Hagan not in the academy?

Banana Man wrote:

boringperson12 wrote:As far as I know, all the Academy players are either at Ballymena, Banbridge, Malone or Hinch.

Below is stolen from UAFC

Ballynahinch (5): O'Toole, McCall, Regan, Hall, Hughes
Banbridge (4): O'Sullivan, Lowry, Hume, McCann
Malone (6): Dalton, Dunleavy, Agnew, G Curtis, A Curtis, Moore
Ballymena (4): Rea, Allison, Balacoune, Houston

O'Hagan not in the academy?

Listed in the Senior Squad now. Whether he is still at Rainey, I don’t know.

Not entirely a fan of this concentration of players but oh well, it's the way of things now.

boringperson12 wrote:Armagh start at home to Old Wesley.

Made a couple of signings but haven’t heard very much. Think we are the only Ulster 1B club without any Academy players. Could be a good or bad thing.

4 nordie teams in a row for Marys at the start of the season.

Uncle Fester wrote:

boringperson12 wrote:Armagh start at home to Old Wesley.

Made a couple of signings but haven’t heard very much. Think we are the only Ulster 1B club without any Academy players. Could be a good or bad thing.

4 nordie teams in a row for Marys at the start of the season.

careful they might pick the accent