Any word on the Academy?

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Columbo
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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kingofthehill wrote:
Cockatrice wrote:Where are these under age stars then? Was in New York so decided to pop up to Boston to watch them... Poor very poor hopefully they will get a win today in the second match... but from what I seen not great.
Some interesting selections that’s for sure.

Lewis Finlay is playing for Ballynahinch 2s.
Case for the defence:
- decent season for the As, after a couple of tankings at home by Leinster and Scarlets (in fairness they sent out a strong team), I think they won the last 4 games inc 3 away from home
- academy backs have shown up very well on selection with the senior side: Balacoune (10 apps), Hume (11), Lowry (12), Kernohan (14)
- generally more positive noises around the ‘A’ / academy set-up

Case for the prosecution:
- very poor representation on u-20 squad
- with the exception of EOS, academy forwards have made pretty much zero inroads into the senior side. E.g. despite back row being an area of weakness, all of the current academy back rows have made a combined total of 1 appearance (Hall last season)...

I know we’re supposed to have stronger cohorts coming through - we’d better...
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Silverstu
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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They seemed to go better in the second match 43-15 to Ulster A, Callum Reid started at loose head and McCann started in the back row.

I was wondering about the lack of forwards coming through this season other than EoS- is it because they are still all pretty young and need to mature bit more physically as forward play is more attritional than the backs [EoS is a bit older than the others 23- the others are 20-21]. Also wondering if McFarland is concentrating on getting a core of forwards working in the pack rather than bringing through youngsters there.. or they might not be good enough...


Also Lewis Finley- is he rated or not and what position? I remember him being mentioned before.
Big-al
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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Aaron Hall would have probably been involved with Ulster this season though has been riddled with injury.

Actually thought McBurney could made a breakthrough this season. Too many silly penalties probably.
therealspratt
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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Big-al wrote:Aaron Hall would have probably been involved with Ulster this season though has been riddled with injury.

Actually thought McBurney could made a breakthrough this season. Too many silly penalties probably.
Recurring shoulder injuries with Hall I believe which is concerning. McBurney, I don't know, I'd have him ahead of Andrew every day and Herring quite a few days. He has had a few injuries as well I believe to be fair.
nonplussed
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

Post by nonplussed »

therealspratt wrote:
Big-al wrote:Aaron Hall would have probably been involved with Ulster this season though has been riddled with injury.

Actually thought McBurney could made a breakthrough this season. Too many silly penalties probably.
Recurring shoulder injuries with Hall I believe which is concerning. McBurney, I don't know, I'd have him ahead of Andrew every day and Herring quite a few days. He has had a few injuries as well I believe to be fair.
Hall hurt his shoulder again at U20s camp. Not looking good, reports that he's one failed op away from retirement.

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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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It's Allison that is injured with the u20s, Hall was U20 last season and cryed off injured 40minutes into the 1st game.
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

Post by therealspratt »

Big-al wrote:It's Allison that is injured with the u20s, Hall was U20 last season and cryed off injured 40minutes into the 1st game.
Yup. Hopefully both come good as they'd be tremendous assets but I gotta say it's not looking good for Hall right now. Agnew is another one who seems to have missed most of the season injured. Next season with the way things have been going with I think McCann could be the first to make a decent go at the teams, though there's a question of where considering he's been playing a decent amount at 7 which I didn't see coming.
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Columbo
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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Backs (12) –

Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Ulster)
Chris Cosgrave (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Nathan Doak (Wallace High School/Ulster)
Shane Jennings (Garbally College/Connacht)
Diarmuid Killcommins (Coláiste Bhaile Chláir/Connacht)
Aaron Leahy (CBC Cork/Munster)
Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School/Ulster)
Karl Martin (St. Mary’s School Drogheda/Leinster)
Ben Murphy (Presentation College Bray/Leinster)
Harry O’Riordan (CBC Cork/Munster)
Jamie Osborne (Naas CBS/Leinster)
Cian Whooley (CBC Cork/Munster)

Forwards (14) –

Lee Barron (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Jack Boyle (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Donnacha Byrne (Summerhill College/Connacht)
Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Ulster)
Mark Donnelly (CBC Cork/Munster)
Oscar Egan (Coleraine Grammar School/Ulster)
Will Hickey (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Alexander Kendellen (PBC Cork/Munster)
Diarmuid McCormack (Clongowes Wood College/Connacht)
Oisin McCormack (Garbally College/Connacht)
Darragh Murray (Colaiste Chiaran/Connacht)
George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper School/Ulster)
Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Leinster)
Tom Stewart (Belfast Royal Academy/Ulster)

Solid representation in the 18s squad - 8 Leinster, 7 Ulster, 6 Connacht, 5 Munster. Good to see.


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kingofthehill
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

Post by kingofthehill »

Columbo wrote:Backs (12) –

Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Ulster)
Chris Cosgrave (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Nathan Doak (Wallace High School/Ulster)
Shane Jennings (Garbally College/Connacht)
Diarmuid Killcommins (Coláiste Bhaile Chláir/Connacht)
Aaron Leahy (CBC Cork/Munster)
Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School/Ulster)
Karl Martin (St. Mary’s School Drogheda/Leinster)
Ben Murphy (Presentation College Bray/Leinster)
Harry O’Riordan (CBC Cork/Munster)
Jamie Osborne (Naas CBS/Leinster)
Cian Whooley (CBC Cork/Munster)

Forwards (14) –

Lee Barron (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Jack Boyle (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Donnacha Byrne (Summerhill College/Connacht)
Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Ulster)
Mark Donnelly (CBC Cork/Munster)
Oscar Egan (Coleraine Grammar School/Ulster)
Will Hickey (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
Alexander Kendellen (PBC Cork/Munster)
Diarmuid McCormack (Clongowes Wood College/Connacht)
Oisin McCormack (Garbally College/Connacht)
Darragh Murray (Colaiste Chiaran/Connacht)
George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper School/Ulster)
Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Leinster)
Tom Stewart (Belfast Royal Academy/Ulster)

Solid representation in the 18s squad - 8 Leinster, 7 Ulster, 6 Connacht, 5 Munster. Good to see.


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Surprising to see no Blackrock or MCB players.


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Big-al
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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Methodys top player are u19
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HammerTime
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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Well they didn't have much of a representation last year either.
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Columbo
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

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kingofthehill wrote:Surprising to see no Blackrock or MCB players.
you’re right, that is weird - also no CCB or Inst?
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Knows nothing
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

Post by Knows nothing »

RBAI and MCB and CCB and RSA were heavily weighted towards u6. So not so many 2001 birthdays.

MCB 10 and 15 made Irish u19 I think.

Wallace will be team to beat next year. All 3 of their Irish school players are L6 this year.
Silverstu
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

Post by Silverstu »

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v France U-18, Six Nations U-18 Festival, Hartpury College, Saturday, April 13, kick-off 2.30pm):

15. Chris Cosgrave (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
14. Jamie Osbourne (Naas CBS/Baas RFC/Leinster)
13. Karl Martin (St. Mary’s School Drogheda/Boyne RFC/Leinster)
12. Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Ulster)
11. Aaron Leahy (CBC Cork/Munster)
10. Nathan Doak (Wallace High School/Ulster)
9. Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper/Ulster)
1. Jack Boyle (St. Michael’s/Leinster)
2. Tom Stewart (Belfast Royal Academy/Ulster)
3. Oscar Egan (Coleraine Grammar/Ulster)
4. Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Leinster)
5. Darragh Murray (Colaiste Chiarán/Buccaneers/Connacht)
6. Will Hickey (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
7. Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Leinster)
8. Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork/Munster) Captain

Replacements
16. Lee Barron (St. Michael’s College/Leinster)
17. George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper School/Ulster)
18. Mark Donnelly (CBC Cork/Munster)
19. Donnacha Byrne (Summerhill College/Sligo RFC/Connacht)
20. Oisin McCormack (Garbally College/Connacht)
21. Ben Murphy (Presentation College Bray/Leinster)
22. Cian Whooley (CBC Cork/Munster)
23. Harry O’Riordan (CBC Cork/Munster)
24. Diarmuid McCormack (Clongowes Wood College/Connacht)
25. Shane Jennings (Garbally College/Connacht)
26. Diarmuid Killcommins (Coláiste Bhaile Chláir/Corinthians RFC/Connacht)

Interesting Nathan Doak is at 10 with Conor McKee at 9
Lurgan Lad
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Re: Any word on the Academy?

Post by Lurgan Lad »

Thanks Silverstu, is Crothers Ulster or Leinster? Looks like we have a decent contingent at this age group.
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