Ulster Squad 2018/19

[Columbo]

Interesting from BaggyTrousers on another thread, it sounds like we're aiming for a squad of 41 next yr plus academy. My current count (of full/development contracts), and please let me know if I have anything wrong, is as follows:

Prop (8): McCall - Warwick - O'Hagan - Herbst - Moore - Ah You - Kane - van der Merwe (Project)
Hooker (3): Best - Herring - Andrew
Lock (4): Henderson - O'Connor - Treadwell - Browne
Back Row (7): Rea - Ross - Henry - Murphy - Reidy - Coetzee (NIQ) - Deysel (NIQ)
Scrum-half (3): Cooney - Shanahan - Cairns
Out-half (1): McPhillips
Centre (4): Marshall - McCloskey - Cave - Addison
Wing (4): Gilroy - Stockdale - Lyttle - Busby
Full-back (3): Ludik - Nelson - Owens

That's a total of 37, and includes a few boys who have been rumoured to be on their way out (Hond, Ross), or who haven't been given any meaningful gametime this season (O'Hagan, Browne, Cairns, Busby, Owens) and may end up leaving. On the other hand it doesn't include any academy promotions - we'll definitely see Timoney, and possibly Curtis, Stewart, Dalton, O'Toole?

Stick all that in the mix, hopefully we have another 3-4 unannounced signings... Carberry (I think he'll end up here) plus a couple of others?

[Cornerfleg]

Not a Top Shagger in sight....

[Tender]

Lowry?

Please tell me Rodders is leaving

[TopPoster]

That squad looks shocking. Shockingly shyte.

[Cornerfleg]

Need to get Ron Jeremy in there if we're gonna compete in Europe.

[Cornerfleg]

That lot might struggle to complete a Captains run ...

[Columbo]

Lowry?

Please tell me Rodders is leaving

Bear in mind this doesn't include academy boys...

and there are some quite good ones in there, notably Lowry (by all accounts, haven't seen him play myself) as well as the ones I mentioned who got a bit of gametime this year.

Actually was quite impressed looking down the academy list there, a lot of really promising guys who are still really young, for example still 19: O'Toole, Clarke, Dalton, McCusker, Hall, Dunleavy, Lowry, Hume, in all seriousness, and barring a drastic loss of form, that is a hell of a crop to come online in the next couple of years..

(I'm trying to see the positives )

[TopPoster]

If I were Dan the Man I’d be concerned enough with that squad going into a pre-season friendly against Rotherham Titans never mind going up against a Racing or Clermont in the SDC - Christ it’ll be a bloodbath. For the sake of the squad’s physical and my mental wellbeing lose the match on Sunday and hope to get drawn against some Russian part timers in the NSSDC.

[Dave]

I better go and repent. Looks like the door is closing sooner than expected...

[UlsterNo9]

Back row could be an area of strength next year in comparison to the rest of the squad......

#thingsineverwouldhavesaidin2016

[Cornerfleg]

I better go and repent. Looks like the door is closing sooner than expected...

Yip ... someone beat you to trap 2 ...

[Dave]

I better go and repent. Looks like the door is closing sooner than expected...

Yip ... someone beat you to trap 2 ...

It's ok I will just leave it on the ground.

Sorry it's not white.

[Cornerfleg]

[Silverstu]

I think the main strength of the squad is going to come from the academy and there are some really talented lads coming through. We have 9 players in the Irish U20's World Cup squad with Lowry likely to be added giving us 10. An all Ulster 9-13 potentially Stewart, Lowry, Curtis and Hume, the pack has Clarke, O'Toole, Dalton, Dunleavy, Agnew and Hall.

Rea Jr should be coming through as well in the back row and McBurnley hopefully will break through at hooker as well.
It might be a tough watch at times next season with the young guys having to step up, we could do with at least one quality signing in the front 5 to add a more grit to the squad but longer term we'll be better for it. But a lot depends on those young guys making the step up - the ones blooded this year certainly have looked capable.

[Dave]

You can add in: O'Toole, McBurney, Dalton, Curtis and Stewart as lads who looked reasonable with limited game time.

Second row looks like a problem area. Are Regan/McCusker ready to step up?

Loosehead is a mess. Will O'Hagan get his debut before he turns 25?

Any outside backs coming through?

The way things are going I can see 4/5 Leinster players coming up here.