Ulster Squad 2019/20

[Dave]

I'm happy enough with EOS as first choice but we need depth.

[Deraless]

Contract renegotiation ploy probably.

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[jean valjean]

Contract renegotiation ploy probably.

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Not so sure. If he wants to remain in Ireland squads he needs to be playing more often in big games. I rate him higher than killer but he has played more this year, hence his promotion to the 23. Being dropped for the Tolouse game would have been a real jolt to the system. If leinster managed his game time better this wouldn't be an issue but they cant expect to keep 5 out of the 6 front row players for Ireland.

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[ulster32]

He still has a year to run on his contract as far as i am aware, I would imagine if there is any news it wouldn't be announced until after the six nations or even the QF.

[Dave]

It's the same employer so I suppose the deal will be the same unless he is saying give me more cash to go live in Belfast. Danger money.

[nonplussed]

Sean Dougall returning at last. Had a great run in Pau and would be an excellent addition

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[launish116]

Sean Dougall returning at last. Had a great run in Pau and would be an excellent addition

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Isn't he an open side? we need 6/8's

[Columbo]

Sean Dougall returning at last. Had a great run in Pau and would be an excellent addition

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i had heard some (all?) of the Irish guys at Pau were being released, but is this solid or just speculation? Wouldn’t be a bad signing tbf


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[therealspratt]

Sean Dougall returning at last. Had a great run in Pau and would be an excellent addition

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i had heard some (all?) of the Irish guys at Pau were being released, but is this solid or just speculation? Wouldn’t be a bad signing tbf


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Foley, Butler and Dougall are all being released. Foley would be a good pickup.

[Columbo]

Foley, Butler and Dougall are all being released. Foley would be a good pickup.

indeed.. a couple of years in top 14 will have tightened all those boys up I’d say..

[Columbo]

Updated with the latest info, and assuming that McG and Faddes are done deals - ages at 1st Sept 2019 in brackets, NIQs in red:

Prop [9]: O'Sullivan (23) - McGrath (29) - McCall (27) - Warwick (28) - O'Hagan (25) - Moore (28) - O'Toole [20] - Kane (24) - Milasinovich (26)
Hooker [4]: Best (37) - Herring (29) - Andrew (26) - McBurney (22)
Lock [4]: Henderson (27) - O'Connor (26) - Treadwell (23) - Carter (29)
Back Row [8]: Rea (25) - Ross (30) - Montgomery (24) - Murphy (28) - Reidy (30) - Timoney (24) - Coetzee (28) - Jones (23)
Scrum-half [3]: Cooney (29) - Shanahan (26) - Stewart (21)
Out-half [3]: Burns (25) - McPhillips (22) - Lowry (21)
Centre [6]: Marshall (28) - McCloskey (27) - Curtis (21) - Cave (32) - Addison (27) - Hume (20)
Back three [8]: Gilroy (28) - Stockdale (23) - Lyttle (22) - Busby (25) - Faddes (27) - Ludik (32) - Nelson (26) - Owens (23)

One thing that jumps out when including ages is what a young group this is - out of 45, just 5 over 30 at the start of next season.

Academy - obviously there'll be a new intake and some players cut / promoted, but FWIW here is the current crop:

Prop [0]: All promoted already!
Hooker [1]: McCall (24)
Second Row [2]: Dalton (20) - Regan (22)
Back Row [5]: Rea (21) - Dunleavy (20) - Hall (21) - Agnew (20) - Allison (20) - McCann (19)
Scrum-half [1]: Curtis (19)
Out-half [1]: Houston (20)
Centre [1]: Moore (20)
Back three [3]: Baloucoune (22) - Kernohan (20) - Hughes (20)

Obviously Baloucoune at least, and possibly Kernohan, are likely to be promoted (perhaps at the expense of Busby and / or Owens??). Not sure if the new boy Hyde will be on an academy contract, or development contract?

[MightyRearranger]

Cave (32)

Has Cave signed a new contract? I'd assumed that his talk of retirement was fueled by the knowledge he wasn't going to be offered an extension and would either need to retire or move on. Would obviously love to be wrong about that, he looked like he was back to his best on Saturday and if he can keep that up he'd be close to a starter with a full deck to choose from in my eyes.

[Jackie Brown]

Same age as Ludik, surely he has a couple of years left in the tank.

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[shamalicious]

Baggy suggests that Cave is going at the end of the season.

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[OldMan]

I don't think Cave will be around next season, though based on his performance on Saturday, I think it would be useful to retain him in the squad for 1 more season as it's RWC year