Any word on the Academy?

[kingofthehill]

Iain Henderson Ireland senior debut, November 2022, over 10 years ago.

Since then 52 forwards have been capped by Ireland, the split by birth demographic as follows (can give further breakdown if required - ask how you want it shown)

Outside the island of Ireland - 14no. ( of that 4no. moved here as kids - all 4no. had Irish parents)
Connacht - 2no.
Munster - 12no.
Leinster - 24no.

Appreciate it's rude and it's crude but even by fluke there should have been someone of international standard come through in the last ten years. Even Connacht is hands down beating us. Whilst I don't think we are doing a tap at grass routes level to encourage it, numbers would say we are actually doing something to discourage it!

Yes, I get the private schools in Dublin have so much funding, but why are we Munster beating us 12no. to 0 ?

We can blame the current coaches and signings all we want (rightly so both should be under scrutiny), but you cannot polish a turd.

What's the plan to produce even 5no. international forwards over the next decade?

Genuinely appalling

Bring back Willy Anderson …….


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[StandUp]

Don’t mention Willies. Snapper will have his snapper out.

[Dave]

Don’t mention Willies. Snapper will have his snapper out.

And his willy....

[UlsterNo9]

Rhys O'Donnell back..

where's he playing these days?

Inst

[UlsterNo9]

Bring back Willy Anderson …….


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He'd get a game presently!

Do we know much about this Gavin Hogg Academy Manager character?

He came with no real pedigree at professional level.

[Dave]

Bring back Willy Anderson …….


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He'd get a game presently!

Do we know much about this Gavin Hogg Academy Manager character?

He came with no real pedigree at professional level.

Sounds like a made-up rugby name for a computer game.

[Bayern]

Ireland U20s Squad

Prop
George Morris (Gonzaga/Lansdowne/Leinster)
George Hadden (Gorey RFC/Clontarf/Leinster)
Ronan Foxe (Tullamore RFC/Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)
Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock/DUFC/Leinster)

Hooker
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock/UCD/Leinster)(captain)
Conall Henchy (Crescent/DUFC/Munster)
Danny Sheahan (PBC/UCC/Munster) - u19

Lock
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (St. Michaels/DUFC/Leinster)
Charlie Irvine (Wallace/Queen’s University/Ulster)
Evan O’Connell (Castletroy/UL Bohemians/Munster) - u19
Joe Hopes (CampbellQueen’s University/Ulster) - u19

Backrow
Jacob Sheahan (PBC/UCC/Munster) - u19
Diarmuid Mangan (Newbridge/UCD/Leinster)
Ruadhán Quinn (Crescent/Old Crescent/Munster)
James McNabney (Cambridge/Ballymena/Ulster)
Brian Gleeson (Rockwell/Garryowen/Munster) - u19

Scrumhalf
Jack Oliver (Castletroy/Garryowen/Munster)
Oscar Cawley (Naas/Naas/Leinster)
Fintan Gunne (St. Michaels/Terenure/Leinster)

Outhalf
Sam Prendergast (Newbridge/Lansdowne/Leinster)
Matthew Lynch (Terenure.DUFC/Leinster)
Harry West (Ballina RFC/Buccaneers/Connacht)

Centre
Sam Berman (St. Michaels/DUFC/Leinster) - u19
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht) - u19
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock/Clontarf/Leinster)
John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)

Back Three
Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby)
James Nicholson (St. Michaels/UCD/Leinster)
Rory Telfer (Coleraine/Queen’s University/Ulster)
Henry McErlean (St. Michaels/Terenure/Leinster)
Noah Sheridan (Wicklow RFC/Clontarf/Leinster)​

[Neill_M]

Friday, 3 February: Wales v Ireland, Colwyn Bay, 7pm Virgin Media / BBC iPlayer / S4C
Friday, 10 February: Ireland v France, Musgrave Park, 8pm RTÉ / BBC iPlayer
Friday, 24 February: Italy v Ireland, Stadio Comunale di Monigo, 7.15pm RTÉ / BBC iPlayer
Friday, 10 March: Scotland v Ireland, Scotstoun Stadium, 7.15pm RTÉ / BBC iPlayer
Sunday, 19 March: Ireland v England, Musgrave Park, 5pm Virgin Media / BBC iPlayer

[So It Is]

16 Leinster
7 Munster
4 Connacht
4 Ulster
1 Exile

Is this par for course or are we normally as poorly represented in recent years?

Are either of the locks 1st team potential?

[Big-al]

16 Leinster
7 Munster
4 Connacht
4 Ulster
1 Exile

Is this par for course or are we normally as poorly represented in recent years?

Are either of the locks 1st team potential?

Ulster have had a couple of seasons with very good representation. Last season 5 or so of the u20 pack were Ulster players, including the captain. With Postlewaithe & Carson in the centre whenever fit.

[Jackie Brown]

Where have they gone? Why aren't they fast tracked? By the time we blood fellas in their mid twenties it's too late and we end up with average muck like Greg Jones

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[Gerald the Mole]

Academy has gone backwards

[Dave]

Dammit. We need forwards. That's where they are going wrong.

[Bart S]

:

Dammit. We need forwards. That's where they are going wrong.

[Bayern]

Three NTS ulster props failed to make irish u20 squad:

Jack Boal, Cameron Doak, Joe Charles.