The UAFC

Movements reported by the42: https://www.the42.ie/article.php?id=6361363 Prop Ed Byrne leaving Leinster, moving to either Ulster, Munster or the Premiership. Also, Ireland u20s Jack Murphy (out-half, son of Richie) and Wilhelm de Klerk and Sam Berman (centres) apparently joining Ulster (presumably ...

Movements reported by the42: https://www.the42.ie/article.php?id=6361363 Ed Byrne leaving Leinster, moving to either Ulster or Munster. Also, Ireland u20s Jack Murphy (out-half, son of Richie) and Wilhelm de Klerk and Sam Berman (centres) apparently joining Ulster (presumably the academy) in the sum...

So Dan was innocent? Shall we bring him back? There was clearly something wrong, but I'm not convinced it was Dan that was the problem. Or at least not the whole problem. This Ulster team peaked two seasons ago in that semi-final against the Stormers. The following season started well enough, but s...

It's not unusual for players on development contracts to turn out for their AIL clubs.

JTA at pre season training with Ulster according to his Insta. Anyone know if just training with the squad until he heads off to WC with Samoa? I believe that's the case. He doesn't appear to have signed for any club yet. What a waste. Hope he gets sorted soon We only have two NIQs, when we're allo...

This board is starting to get me down with the relentless negativity. Where does the attitude come from that we're entitled to expect Ulster to be better than they are? It's not like there's been a period within living memory where we've been consistent champions. We act like we're Man U fans drunk ...

We have Scott Wilson in the academy, and Cameron Doak, Joe Mawhinney and Jack Boal, who got game time for the As this season. But front rowers tend to need a bit more development time than most positions, so no idea if any of them are ready for pro level. The other option is bringing in someone with...

After a trawl of Wikipedia, here's all the Irish-qualifies tightheads I could find playing outside of Ireland. Super Rugby Oli Jager, 27, Crusaders, ex-Blackrock College Premiership Bryan O'Connor, 24, Gloucester, ex-Ireland u20 Conor Kenny, 26, Newcastle, ex-Connacht Championship Corrie Barrett, 24...

Even if JTA does re-sign, he'll be going to the World Cup with Samoa. With O'Toole off with Ireland and Marty Moore unlikely to be fit, that leaves Milasinovich as our only tighthead for the early part of the season. If James French can give us a bit of cover until we get our internationals back, I ...

Again with the negativity. No, we're nowhere near overhauling Leinster, but they have an unparalleled player recruitment pipeline, and changing coaches isn't going to fix that. That's a very long-term project. The fact is, we're overachieving. We're the second best team in Ireland, and that's withou...

The big issue in the early part of the season is the World Cup. We'll have a depleted squad, and players will need to be rested after the tournament is over. Loosehead: Warwick, O'Sullivan, Reid. Only Kitshoff is likely to be involved in the World Cup. Hooker: (Stewart), Andrew, (D. Moore). Herring ...

As I understand it, if one province offers another province's player a contract, the province he's with has to be given the opportunity to match the offer. The story I was told, can't vouch for its accuracy, is that Jude Postlethwaite was upgraded from the academy to a development contract a year ea...

Payne's departure has come up before, but I really don't think that's the issue. Don't forget, we were having defensive collapses in the last ten minutes last season when he was still here - we've only got a grip on that in the later part of this season. A bigger issue this season has been what's ha...

There's no amount of weight training can make you taller if you don't have the genes for it. My nephew's year didn't have the raw material to produce any pros. But the previous crop put three into to the academy and one of those into the senior team, from not a particularly big school, that's only e...

I thought the Leinster academy was really adding value etc (maybe still the case) however there has been mentionings on podcasts etc of elite level coaching etc in private schools paid for “in house” (not Leinster or Irfu, as anyone would think). Add in potential rugby scholarships etc. This is cle...