Any word on the Academy?

[Blow in]

There's some quality younger players knocking around the AIL at the moment

[Bayern]

There's some quality younger players knocking around the AIL at the moment

any names?

[UlsterNo9]

Shea O’Brien is a quality young player who was knocking around the AIL..... never to see a minute thus far for Ulster

Big step up.

[MightyRearranger]

Watched the game yesterday, McNabney made a couple of decent carries and looked physical, but the Welsh pack was comfortably out-gunned, so not the stiffest of tests. He was brought off at around the 60 minute mark. Thought Gleeson looked a cut above in the back row and was made man of the match.

Ireland's discipline and defence in the backline were both pretty shocking, they'll need to improve significantly if they're to challenge for the trophy. That the Welsh commentator seemed delighted when they secured a try bonus point (while still 2 scores behind), despite being ahead at half time speaks volumes about what their expectations must have been going into the game.

[Cormac]

Thought the back row looked a little unbalanced. Ireland struggled to slow down Welsh ball far too often. Three starters were all a bit similar as if they were trying to shoehorn in their three best players. Not sure that really worked even in a game where the Irish pack were a good bit superior. May need a rethink against better teams.

Backline were all over the shop defensively. Bad reads, poor spacing, overloading one side. Good bit of work to be done there. The no.14 had a game to forget, both with and without the ball.

[Jetstream]

"Telly favourite Danny O’Carroll admits he’s taken aback that his son Jamie – who has played Mrs Brown’s Boys grandson, Bono, since he was a wee lad – is now a towering giant playing rugby for Ulster Youths.
And, so promising is 16-year-old Jamie at rugby, he was recently contacted out of the blue on Instagram by Ireland star Tom O’Toole to reveal he was impressed with his progress and marked him as one for the future.

“I think Jamie is 6ft 1ins, I don’t know where he gets his height, knowing what my family is like,” says Danny, whose wife and Jamie’s mother Amanda Woods plays Betty Brown in the hit show.

“He will only turn 17 in July but he’s playing Under 18s for Ulster. As big as he is, he is quite small on the team because they’re big brutes there. He has a big two months coming up, he’s aiming for his first real cap for Ulster with Inter Pros"

Wee Brendan himself would make a great scrum half.

[Big-al]

Best of luck Danny!!

I’m assuming with that height he’s a frontrower or back?

[volvo]

Best of luck Danny!!

I’m assuming with that height he’s a frontrower or back?

Been playing 6 for club and 8 for U18's

[Bayern]

Ireland U20s:
15. Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster)
14. James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)
13. Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster)
12. John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)
11. Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)
9. Fintan Gunne (Terenure/Leinster)

1. George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(captain)
3. Paddy McCarthy (DUFC/Leinster)
4. Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)
5. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster)
6. James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)
7. Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster)
8. Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)

Replacements:

16. Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
17. George Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster)
18. Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)
19. Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
20. Jacob Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
21. Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster)
22. Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht)
23. Rory Telfer (Queen’s University/Ulster).

[solidarity]

Yet again a pretty grim representation.

[solidarity]

Yet again a pretty grim Ulster representation.

[jean valjean]

Yet again a pretty grim Ulster representation.

You can say that again.

[MightyRearranger]

100% increase in representation in the 23 from last week. At this rate we'll have 16 for the England game.

[solidarity]

Yet again a pretty grim Ulster representation.

You can say that again.

[Jetstream]

Watched under 20's match. The No 10 Prendergast was superb. Not sure about McNabney. Some good carries but seemed to disappear for a lot of the match. The side showed plenty of grit to come back and beat the French.