Any word on the Academy?

[armalig]

Good 2c some International Ulster men on the u19 bench all the way from Omaha

[nonplussed]

A couple of apples who havent fallen far from the tree there in Jacob Boyd and Bryn Ward

[ljsulster]

U18 clubs drew 17-17
U19s won 50-14

[Big-al]

Nice!

[HammerTime]

Any scores from today?

[RuPi]

3 losses.
Schools lost 38-0
Clubs and Schools lost 24-18
19’s lost in the last minute 19-15

[Tap+Go]

3 losses.
Schools lost 38-0
Clubs and Schools lost 24-18
19’s lost in the last minute 19-15

Clubs leading to the last couple of minutes also. Hard to get a win in Cork!

[Tap+Go]

Summary of results then:

v Connacht (Belfast 21/8)
U18 Clubs drew 17-17
U18 Schools - no inter-pro game as Connacht only one team at U18 but had played Connacht U18 on 6/8 at Barnhall and lost 7-40
U19s won 50-14

v Munster (Cork 28/8)
U18 Clubs lost 18-24
U18 Schools lost 0-38
U19s lost 15-19

v Leinster (Dublin 3/9)
U18 Clubs lost 20-34
U18 Schools lost 19-33
U19s lost 15-28

In terms of inter-pros Leinster won U18 Clubs & U19s (won all 3 games but did have Munster & Ulster in Dublin), while Munster won U18 Schools (won both games).

On the face of it results wise not great but on the positives this years cycle of fixtures away in Cork & Dublin is tough. The U18 Clubs were right in the mix leading all their games around the 60min mark but dropped off in the last 10mins. The U18 Schools had a much improved scoreline v Leinster while the U19s were obviously very competitive but again late scores cost them.
At U18 level there were a lot of U17s who got game time so will be interesting if they play U18 again next year or if any go on to U19. Either way potentially a strong 2006 group at U19 level in 2 years time you would think.

Was great last year they had the highlights up of the games & disappointing that doesn’t seem to be the case this year. Any views from the fixtures of any players emerging besides those in the U19 already mentioned before?

[solidarity]

Trying hard to put a gloss on a poor set of results, Tappers. Six defeats out of six against the Turnips and Mexicans and only two of them within a converted try. We have to be 80 minute teams, not 60 minute teams.

[Tap+Go]

Trying hard to put a gloss on a poor set of results, Tappers. Six defeats out of six against the Turnips and Mexicans and only two of them within a converted try. We have to be 80 minute teams, not 60 minute teams.

Guess I’m a glass half full kinda guy. With that in mind there is no need to worry - we’ll get the ones Leinster don’t want anyway!

[rumncoke]

It maybe due to the fact very little rugby is played between April and Sept with a possible fall off in fitness in Ulster sides which might not occur as southern Schools might continue with GAA sports rather than Cricket

[Jetstream]

It maybe due to the fact very little rugby is played between April and Sept with a possible fall off in fitness in Ulster sides which might not occur as southern Schools might continue with GAA sports rather than Cricket

I think you are clutching at straws.

[rumncoke]

Maybe but it does appear to be fitness and stamina based together with playing away- Travel can be exhausting to some extent .

Anyway as I always point if you get 1 to 3 players out of an under age XV your winning.

[HammerTime]

What happened the much lauded youth system. Pure sh!te. Let’s hear from the power at be/coaches what the craic is.

[rumncoke]

It’s got little to with system - talent and attitude