The UAFC

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/jordie-barretts-irish-sabbatical-bucks-trend-in-prioritising-development-over-cash-liam-napier/EVIGD6V5NNBTNPFHR6JMCIT4KI/ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-black-jordie-barrett-re-signs-with-new-zealand-rugby-to-take-sabbatical-at-leinster/FPFV35V3CVD...

How is this even possible on the 3G Carpet? The rugby markings are stitched into the carpet - IFA rules are that football can only be played on a "clean" 3G Pitch i.e. no other sports markings on the surface, and football markings in white. Unless they can temporarily aerosol out the rugby...

John Afoa played 58 times over 3 seasons, majority of time playing the full 80 mins - he was outstanding in one of the best packs Ulster have fielded. Don't let the circumstances of his departure, and Logans spin, distort the impact he had on Ulster Rugby for those 3 years. It was the golden era of ...

I really don't think there is anything to lose giving Dan Soper an opportunity to run the show. Players who played under him at various clubs and schools can't speak highly enough of him as a person, and as a coach, and importantly for such a young squad he coaches a player centric style and the pla...

The solution to the blazer problem is quite simple. Amateur and professional rugby should be totally divorced from each other Let the blazers continue to play happy families with club rugby. But they should have zero input in the professional game As for female representation on the existing rugby ...

I’d happily take a saffer style character led coaching tkt: I’d doubt they’d be an issue around basic d, set piece and breakdown. I’d also imagine there would be a direct honesty around poor standards. The aim would be simple: a raise in standards, and young player development. No mediocre recontra...

With regards the criticism of the Ulster Scrum - Kitshoff Herring Moore Warwick Stewart O'Toole O'Sullivan Andrew Wilson That's 6 international front rowers, a very solid & experienced European operator and 2 local lads who are URC level atm - i don't really see how that is improved (personnel w...

Malone in big trouble i think,

2nd XV landed up to Ballymoney on Saturday for a Junior Cup game with only 10 players.

All these cancellations must be saving Instonians a fortune in match fees. I think it's got to the stage where the other clubs just take the hit and concede, why risk a demoralising 70 point loss to a team that is clearly abusing the rules on paying players and are practically semi pro in an amateur...

This Ireland squad has done that which others failed do ----convincingly score trys against minnows but now the serious stuff starts where Ireland will have to play like Ireland --and defend . I think the points difference is sufficient to allow Ireland to lose one of the next two games . Thus thus...

Too many squads, talent diluted in the north. If your not involved in an ulster training squad of some sort then it’s a surprise. Bring back Ulster schools when it was the best 15 players in the province. No need for u16,u17,u18 and u19. Too many egos being created. Sent from my iPhone using Tapata...

None of the AIL 2nd teams covered themselves in any glory over the weekend; Queens 2s couldn't field against Cooke Armagh conceded 60 against Ballyclare and match stopped early Ballymena, Banbridge, Clogher Valley & Malone all heavily beaten Hinch beaten by Ballymoney Rainey lost to Randalstown ...

and Queens are so good they can't even field a 2nds against Cooke tomorrow...

jeez i never thought id see a player criticised for "carrying beyond his support" - if he carries over the gain line and the support players miss the clean out, that's on them, not him. What's the alternative - ask him to stop on contact so the support players can keep up?

More interestingly the AIL select team, boys who have been round the block and shown they can cut it in senior rugby - AIL Select XV 15 Adam Doherty (Banbridge RFC) 14 Curtis Henry (Ballymena RFC) 13 Bevan Prinsloo (Instonians RFC) 12 Mark Best (Ballynahinch RFC) 11 Dylan Nelson (City of Armagh RFC)...