The UAFC

Just watching Scarlets East U16 V Scarlets West U16 on S4C.

Now I know it's not a fair comparison, but Christ these guys are playing an infinitely better game than anything we are seeing at schools level.

I don't know how these teams are organised, or if the boys normally play for local clubs, or what, but they look better organised than some senior teams with whom I am familiar.

BR wrote:Just watching Scarlets East U16 V Scarlets West U16 on S4C.

Now I know it's not a fair comparison, but Christ these guys are playing an infinitely better game than anything we are seeing at schools level.

I don't know how these teams are organised, or if the boys normally play for local clubs, or what, but they look better organised than some senior teams with whom I am familiar.

BR suggest if you can get it, that you take a look at the Leinster Schools final on Paddy's Day, it looks more like decent Pro12 level compared to our usual schools final, then we wonder why their academy is thriving. I blame MCB.

BaggyTrousers wrote:

BR wrote:Just watching Scarlets East U16 V Scarlets West U16 on S4C.

Now I know it's not a fair comparison, but Christ these guys are playing an infinitely better game than anything we are seeing at schools level.

I don't know how these teams are organised, or if the boys normally play for local clubs, or what, but they look better organised than some senior teams with whom I am familiar.

BR suggest if you can get it, that you take a look at the Leinster Schools final on Paddy's Day, it looks more like decent Pro12 level compared to our usual schools final, then we wonder why their academy is thriving. I blame MCB.

I blame Inst

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BR wrote:Just watching Scarlets East U16 V Scarlets West U16 on S4C.

Now I know it's not a fair comparison, but Christ these guys are playing an infinitely better game than anything we are seeing at schools level.

I don't know how these teams are organised, or if the boys normally play for local clubs, or what, but they look better organised than some senior teams with whom I am familiar.

It may not be the universal practice throughout Wales but in Cardiff most schools seem to play inter schools' sports' matches during the week which allows the pupils to play for their club teams at weekends. My understanding would be that the local clubs and the WRU have more 'say' in how all under-age rugby is organised than the schools ; ie unlike here where winning the Schools' Cup in The Holy Grail and nothing else matters.

To be fair to the schools who are the traditional big hitters in the Ulster Schools Cup competition , this fixation is not a purely Ulster phenomenon. Indeed, especially in Leinster, winning the Junior (JCT) and Senior Cup (SCT) are a far 'bigger deal' and engender rivalries which are verging on the toxic. However , despite the Leinster schools' also gearing their season towards winning cups they are still able to constantly produce a bigger number of good players than our schools do.

The WRU , possibly in conjunction with individual schools/institutions , have recently begun to place rugby development officers (HUBs) in schools/ colleges and universities throughout Wales in an attempt to improve playing standards and increase the level of participation.

Mcb very likely to play a similar style to Ulster next year I'd say.

BaggyTrousers wrote:

BR wrote:Just watching Scarlets East U16 V Scarlets West U16 on S4C.

Now I know it's not a fair comparison, but Christ these guys are playing an infinitely better game than anything we are seeing at schools level.

I don't know how these teams are organised, or if the boys normally play for local clubs, or what, but they look better organised than some senior teams with whom I am familiar.

BR suggest if you can get it, that you take a look at the Leinster Schools final on Paddy's Day, it looks more like decent Pro12 level compared to our usual schools final, then we wonder why their academy is thriving. I blame MCB.

I caught a bit back when it was on Setanta. I have to say though, these boys (16 year olds) looked a step above that.

dublane wrote:Mcb very likely to play a similar style to Ulster next year I'd say.

Doak and Clarke have to go somewhere right?

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Russ wrote:

dublane wrote:Mcb very likely to play a similar style to Ulster next year I'd say.

Doak and Clarke have to go somewhere right?

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Doak meet with Wells two weeks ago.

It won't happen.


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Sniffer Clarke and Nasty Wells have a lot more in common. They'd make a beautiful coaching ticket at MCB.

BaggyTrousers wrote:
BR suggest if you can get it, that you take a look at the Leinster Schools final on Paddy's Day, it looks more like decent Pro12 level compared to our usual schools final, then we wonder why their academy is thriving. I blame MCB.

The best two Dublin teams are in the RDS Final. Belvo have 11 boys back from last years Senior Cup win and fought off Clongowes on a wet, dank cold miserable Donnybrook.
Rock are a team full of big muscular individuals. They powered away in the early second half against a lighter but smart Gonzaga in the other semi. Better game to watch than the first semi.

I reckon Belvo have the edge in handling the football over the Rock.
The final should to be a belter.

Quarter finals and Semis played on artificial pitches and a female referee on show. We're light years behind.

Russ wrote:

BaggyTrousers wrote:

BR wrote:Just watching Scarlets East U16 V Scarlets West U16 on S4C.

Now I know it's not a fair comparison, but Christ these guys are playing an infinitely better game than anything we are seeing at schools level.

I don't know how these teams are organised, or if the boys normally play for local clubs, or what, but they look better organised than some senior teams with whom I am familiar.

BR suggest if you can get it, that you take a look at the Leinster Schools final on Paddy's Day, it looks more like decent Pro12 level compared to our usual schools final, then we wonder why their academy is thriving. I blame MCB.

I blame Inst

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I blame them both

lw7 wrote:

BaggyTrousers wrote:
BR suggest if you can get it, that you take a look at the Leinster Schools final on Paddy's Day, it looks more like decent Pro12 level compared to our usual schools final, then we wonder why their academy is thriving. I blame MCB.

The best two Dublin teams are in the RDS Final. Belvo have 11 boys back from last years Senior Cup win and fought off Clongowes on a wet, dank cold miserable Donnybrook.
Rock are a team full of big muscular individuals. They powered away in the early second half against a lighter but smart Gonzaga in the other semi. Better game to watch than the first semi.

I reckon Belvo have the edge in handling the football over the Rock.
The final should to be a belter.

Quarter finals and Semis played on artificial pitches and a female referee on show. We're light years behind.

Final Belvedere 10 Blackrock 3

Only Score - At 21 mins the Belvo 10 threaded a low googly needle ball inside the Rock 22 to the goal line and much vaunted running Rock fullback made a horlicks attempt to grab the football. Belvo pounced.
Intense 2nd half. Rock threw the Kitchen sink. Rock were camped on the Belvo line at the very end of the match. Belvo sandbagged manfully and Blackrock were held up over the line as the final play in the game.
The weather conditions were a lot worst than in Belfast.
Not as entertaining as previous finals.