Potential new scrum half after Ruan leaves,

[therealspratt]

I wouldn't be too surprised if the IRFU prevented us from signing Stringer even if we were interested.

[MCBwinwinwin]

Surely bringing in Stringer is harming indigenous talent from progressing ...

Well said, it would highlight the ridiculous system that is in place. Block Pienaar from staying and then replace him with someone who is at the end of his career.

Better still block Pienaar to clear the way for indigenous talent and then bring a project player in.


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[Cockatrice]

Stringer isn't bulky enough... remember bulk is everything skill has no place... if your bulky enough your good enough isn't that what they say in Lisburn Parush.

[Tender]

Aaron Smith seems to have taken a long toilet break and landed in trouble. Maybe we could capitalise on his indiscretion and offer him a fresh start I don't think we'd give a toss how long he takes in the toilet, he'd be an able replacement for Ruan.

[thecrouch]

If the IRFU allow us to replace Pienaar with Stringer it would prove they haven't a notion what they are doing.

[Tender]

It's clear they don't. If Ruan is keeping some IQ potential International out of our team, I haven't seen
this mystery star. Last week against the Sprays being a fine example. We're a different animal with Ruan on the pitch. We don't have another waiting in the wings.

[Neil F]

As a serious question: why do people believe the IRFU would stand in the way of Ulster signing someone like Stringer but wouldn't stop Ulster resigning Paul Marshall? Marshall is 31; younger than Stringer, sure but still at the end of his career and probably no nearer bothering the international squad. Why would the IRFU support one but not the other? Before we go any further, I'm aware that the current IRFU policy makes no sense and that applying rational logic to it probably isn't worth the time but the question still stands...

Let's go one step further: the major blockages in the Irish system are not foreign players. They are Irish journeymen. Guys at the end of their careers who don't (and shouldn't) regularly bother the international selectors. If the IRFU want a serious policy about getting young Irish players to play, this is also something that needs to be taken care of. The IRFU has taken no steps to do so. From that, we can probably deduce that whatever the hell is going on, it's not really about ensuring game time for young Irish players. In that context, them blocking signing Stringer doesn't really seem to make any sense.

Mandating minimum playing time for young Irish players is quite clearly within the IRFU's power, given the restrictions they impose on senior internationals, etc. What's scary is that it's an obvious solution and there are so many ways of doing it: each province has a quota that players under 23 must play; it could be done positionally; it could be done in terms of identification of specific talents; whatever... Given that it's an obvious solution; that it's organisationally possible; and might actually benefit Irish rugby, yet hasn't even been considered from what I can deduce, it seems fairly clear to me that blocking signing of aged Irish players may well not be something on the IRFU's radar.

[Amiga500]

the chat seems to be this boy Stewart is to be the real deal and Ulster/Ireland see him as the future. I heard they will spend this season trying to bulk him up, let him play limited amount of rugby so he is ready for next season.

Er so we have a potential scrum half who will spend a year eating lots and then potentially will be our starting 9 next season ?

Sounds like a plan to me.....

A crap plan, but a plan nevertheless.

Aye, but coaching a player how to improve his pass, or to recognise opportunities or even manipulate the players around you to make opportunities is too tough for our world* class coaches. Easier to make the kid push a few weights instead.


*world may be defined by greater lisburn area

[Snipe Watson]

Let's be very clear. p has reached his zenith as a player. He will never be jot better than he is today. What you see is what you get.

[againstthehead]

As a serious question: why do people believe the IRFU would stand in the way of Ulster signing someone like Stringer but wouldn't stop Ulster resigning Paul Marshall? Marshall is 31; younger than Stringer, sure but still at the end of his career and probably no nearer bothering the international squad. Why would the IRFU support one but not the other? Before we go any further, I'm aware that the current IRFU policy makes no sense and that applying rational logic to it probably isn't worth the time but the question still stands...

Let's go one step further: the major blockages in the Irish system are not foreign players. They are Irish journeymen. Guys at the end of their careers who don't (and shouldn't) regularly bother the international selectors. If the IRFU want a serious policy about getting young Irish players to play, this is also something that needs to be taken care of. The IRFU has taken no steps to do so. From that, we can probably deduce that whatever the hell is going on, it's not really about ensuring game time for young Irish players. In that context, them blocking signing Stringer doesn't really seem to make any sense.

Mandating minimum playing time for young Irish players is quite clearly within the IRFU's power, given the restrictions they impose on senior internationals, etc. What's scary is that it's an obvious solution and there are so many ways of doing it: each province has a quota that players under 23 must play; it could be done positionally; it could be done in terms of identification of specific talents; whatever... Given that it's an obvious solution; that it's organisationally possible; and might actually benefit Irish rugby, yet hasn't even been considered from what I can deduce, it seems fairly clear to me that blocking signing of aged Irish players may well not be something on the IRFU's radar.

Very interesting points. Young player quota is rather intriguing. Is that not age discrimination though? Cracking way of forcing sides to give young guys a chance though. I like it.

[Rooster]

Marshall has held back more potential Irish talent than Ruan ever did.

[rorybestsbigbaldnoggin]

Marshall has held back more potential Irish talent than Ruan ever did.

The nub of the issue, which the IRFU have completely missed.

[Neil F]

Very interesting points. Young player quota is rather intriguing. Is that not age discrimination though? Cracking way of forcing sides to give young guys a chance though. I like it.

Possibly - but no more so than the other forms of discrimination that relates to foreign players. A situation of saying, "You're not getting a new contract because you're from a foreign country," is a law suit waiting to happen... Although maybe they will diminish in the era of May and Rudd!

[Dave]

Marshall has held back more potential Irish talent than Ruan ever did.

The nub of the issue, which the IRFU have completely missed.

Not necessarily the irfu's fault, UR could have shown p the door. I don't think the talent was there to be blocked.

[Cornerfleg]

Very interesting article in the BT from Ruan ... he says along the lines of, if my case is enforced on other NIQ players then fair enough ... what I get from that is ... if other NIQs are given a bye ball then the IRFU are just acting like dicks and everyone knows it, if he had a blue shirt he'd have a contract signed .... well its what we're all thinking isn't it. It will be interesting to see who else they deport due to the Ruan Rule.

The man also says he wants to return to Ulster in some form .... This makes me happy ... just wish he could have seen out his career as a player here, and not had to deport his family as well.

There's a real shower of 'Plastic Paddy' feckwits in D4 ... get the imports in D4 out ta feck NOW I say ... come on Nuci fall on your sword ... or your Ossie passport ... cherrio, all the best ... bog off. Stop blocking the way of local talent ... and if you go back to Australia stop taking up space and work of indigenous Ossies as well.