Planet Rugby Forum

Conn

Aki's contract would be approx 1/10 of Connachts budget for the next couple of seasons. anything like what you're suggesting would have to weighted against what the province takes in-in revenue But I'm not suggesting a side pays a significant amount. Going on Thornley's article, the IRFU pay a cert...

Conn

I think one of the simpler solutions, which I mentioned yesterday (and thought to actually be the case) is for the provinces to cover some of the central contract for use of the players. It doesn't fully solve the inequality but it'd help and be fairer. Aki's contract would be approx 1/10 of Connac...

Conn

Gerry Thornley The IRFU’s central contract system is the core factor underlying the relative strength of Irish rugby. Only New Zealand has a similar model. Yet there’s also no doubt that the union’s system both rewards and favours Leinster to an increasing degree. On foot of the province securing a ...

Conn

Be sorry to see him go. Loved watching him play, he’s unfortunate that’s a position we have a glut of guys coming through in Cathal Forde, Hugh Gavin and John Devine. Still think he probably offers more than Hawkshaw When Farrell gets a run of games he's excellent, the problem is him staying health...

Conn

Be sorry to see him go. Loved watching him play, he’s unfortunate that’s a position we have a glut of guys coming through in Cathal Forde, Hugh Gavin and John Devine. Still think he probably offers more than Hawkshaw When Farrell gets a run of games he's excellent, the problem is him staying health...

Conn

so Tom Farrell to Munster? It'll be interesting to see if it means he'll be backup 13 to an SOB in his natural position should that Frisch lad leave. He was almost good enough to get capped a few years back but similar to Thornbury (also leaving) he just had an awful habit of getting a lengthy inju...

Conn

Leinster signing an international starting TH on big money, plus Snyman while Ulster cut the squad to less than 30 players and rely on the AIL is damning indictment of both Ulster's ineptness and the balance of power in Irish rugby with a Leinster just miles ahead of everyone (helped by the central...

Conn

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/leinster-rugby/hes-certainly-big-and-powerful-leo-cullen-asked-about-leinster-link-with-tongan-thor-taniela-tupou/a1056715651.html While I'd love to see Tupou play for Leinster, I'm not sure it's in the best interests of Irish rugby. Surely at this stage he'd be...

Conn

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/leinster-rugby/hes-certainly-big-and-powerful-leo-cullen-asked-about-leinster-link-with-tongan-thor-taniela-tupou/a1056715651.html While I'd love to see Tupou play for Leinster, I'm not sure it's in the best interests of Irish rugby. Surely at this stage he'd be...

Conn

Frawley has the unfortunate problem of being a good rugby player in several positions and hasn't had the chance to concentrate on 1. Agree on this I think Frawley could be a good ten or twelve But he needs to just stick with one His adaptability, a bit like Carbery, is to his detriment I'd love him...

Conn

It's the nature of our playing pool that we just don't have the sort of depth other countries have, especially when player development has more or less collapsed in 2 of the big provinces (Munster and Ulster obviously). Munster might be coming right but as long as Irish rugby relies on a handful of...

Conn

Shamus Hurley-Langton staying at Connacht. Very good bit of business that, was wondering if he'd get an offer from France or something. Great business. Excellent player Was nearly certain he was off myself in all honesty with the belt-tightening. A really positive signing since he arrived so great ...

Conn

Connacht signed on Cathal Forde for 2 more years today. Good business as it looks like there'll be s clearout

Conn

Mr. Very Popular wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:40 am
Conn wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 8:03 am
HighKingLeinster wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 7:53 am
Isnt he meant to be a total wanker
He's not, really nice fella actually. it's one of those internet things that get blown out of proportion as per usual
A weapon when he has a few beers in him.

Addressed a long time ago to be fair.

Conn

Too late for him now. But one of the smartest loose heads in Irish rugby is Denis Buckley. Don't know how he would go against Antonio though There’s a reason he never went further Isnt he meant to be a total wanker He's not, really nice fella actually. it's one of those internet things that get blo...

Conn

There's a fair bit of a clearout coming in Connacht apparently, possibly 2 more players heading to Munster

Conn

That's my feeling anyways. If he's in the 23 for Scotland (not writing off England but surely if he's released to Connacht for Scarlets he won't feature in Twickenham) it'll be proven as nonsense but I think they see the potential in Jager and certainly wouldn't be writing off the likes of TOT yet....

Conn

Bealham was training with Connacht yesterday and today, Was ear marked to play this weekend. but got called back into camp halfway through todays session

Conn

He has next to no chance of making the Lions. You’d be taking Aki, Ringrose, Jones ahead of him and probably one of Tompkins or Lawrence given they’ve got a lot more minutes over the past year or so. Tuipilotu (sp) is in with a shout too, he’s a seriously physical player just maybe slightly too sma...

Conn

Ulster have made good changes with the academy and are developing players. Probably been more Ulster academy products capped by Ireland in the last 3 seasons than Munster. Players capped since the 2019 RWC: Non Irish academy players - 4 (one of whom played for Ulster, 2 for Leinster and 1 for Conna...

Conn

Diabhal wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:24 am My offer of a Pete Wilkins straight swap for McFarland is still on the table lads. I'll cover the logistics myself free of charge too.

Dan Back? are you mad. he was a decent coach but he's turned toxic now, being in Ulster hasn't helped obviously.

Not at all sold on Wilkins though

Conn

Not by many AIL clubs in Ulster would be at it much tbf. Hinch, Ban and Armagh are mostly made up of loyal clubmen and Ulster releases QUB made up of students The other Ulster clubs, bar Instonians, likely woulnd't have the money to be paying players. Dungannon, Clogher, etc. Bangor supposedly in a...

Conn

It’s the worst kept secret in Ulster club rugby that Stones are paying players through the depot Boyd owns, along with offering some lads ‘jobs’ in DPD or elsewhere if they come and sign for them. Doesn’t matter who, or what, or even necessarily how much, or that it’s not strictly coming through th...

Conn

earl the beaver wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 10:06 pm
Conn wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 9:50 pm
earl the beaver wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 9:46 pm

He definitely played for Quins, not in the AIL but for their 2nds and in the senior league.
Quins DoR at the time (name escapes me) and club sec both told me he didn't.. you're probably right though
https://archive.ph/H7rhG

:

Conn

I was flippant earlier, because its an obvious and tedious argument I think the better metric is would the player be the talent they are without x province. Would bealham be the player he is without Connacht? No flipping chance, ergo, a proud man of The Clans Or maybe just player x plays for provin...

Conn

My understanding is that Bealham played for Belfast Harlequins and was offered to Ulster Academy. We passed on him and he went West instead. It may, or may not, have been Allan Clarke who passed. He never played for Belfast Harlequins, Ulster didn't offer him a contract and Jimmy Duffy and Nigel Ca...

Conn

Not really. Furlong and Jäger came through Leinster underage system. Bealham signed for Ulster academy system and TOT came through Ulster underage system. My understanding is that Bealham played for Belfast Harlequins and was offered to Ulster Academy. We passed on him and he went West instead. It ...

Conn

It's cool that the 4 best options are from 4 different provinces. I suspect the same will be case with SH once Murray moves on. Pity more positions aren't similar. Not really. Furlong and Jäger came through Leinster underage system. Bealham signed for Ulster academy system and TOT came through Ulst...

Conn

What do Ulster need more, players or new coaches? Overhaul of their underage coaching. Regardless of the coaching vacuum in the senior side, they're not providing the squad with enough good players and the good players still arrive more raw than you'd like. I think we are starting to provide better...

Conn

[quote="Luckycharmer " Just turned 24 as well, he is 8 months younger than Harry so plenty of years left in both of them. Ross is 29 in 2 months, Frawley just turned 26. Sam prendergast turned 21 yesterday, Tector turns 22 end of next month so the future is bright. [/quote] Theres a glaring problem ...

Conn

Raging I missed it, Trimble was on one of those current affairs programmes a few years ago, he was excellent. Trimble had to change his whole stance on Gay marriage after his daughter got married. Also interesting that his daughter felt more Irish than British mainly down to some parts of societies...

Conn

Edit: nevermind, it's not worth going over.

Conn

Very good so far. Also a lot of shared background with him: school, locality, cultural experiences. Really impressed by the Cushendall hurling captain :thumbup: Raging I missed it, Trimble was on one of those current affairs programmes a few years ago, he was excellent. Trimble had to change his wh...

Conn

triplebogey wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 1:00 pm
CM11 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:50 pm It's also incredibly hypocritical given what Sexton was put through.
Was thinking the exact same thing.

What sexton was put through? Did casey give him grief?

Conn

triplebogey wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:21 pm Casey is normally fine but he's off the deep end a bit in this instance.

I'm sure he's going off the comments section from the 42 and other social media.

Conn

Oh no, Trimbles swimming through tricky waters there then. Very good so far. Also a lot of shared background with him: school, locality, cultural experiences. Really impressed by the Cushendall hurling captain :thumbup: Raging I missed it, Trimble was on one of those current affairs programmes a fe...

Conn

Yep Stu would be a starter for most top tier international teams. Said it on the match thread he is probably ranked 4 on our centres just bad luck to be up against the quality we have at the moment Agree he would be walk on to most other teams I'd say he's ahead of Henshaw as a 12. Possibly, Hensha...

Conn

Winnie wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 5:30 pm
Foot Up wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 5:22 pm I don't think any of the changes for this week will be threatening the first choice team next time out. Baird good but you'd love to see more from him
Bealham?

Agree, he's ahead of Furlong IMO. Also Ireland are blessed at 12, so many options

Conn

Duff Paddy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:41 pm We have an outhalf now anyway lads

Yep, if JGP was playing, the BP would have been secured bt now

Conn

Kimmage's core point is, imo, these schools are already juicing and should be caught but he advances no evidence for his assertion. I agree testing should happen but he should put forward evidence to back up what he's alleging. What evidence could he possible have if there's no testing? Do you want...

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