The UAFC

UlsterAreBrill wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 3:12 pm

MightyRearranger wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:02 pm Forgot that this tour was on, explains why QUB got an even bigger humping than usual at the weekend. Unsure of the value of a game like this, compared with just letting the guys play for their AIL sides, I doubt a game like this with scratch sides is going to be a step up from that in terms of standards.

Other than Hopes, are there any of the Ulster lads there people think it's worth keeping an eye on? Given how much of the Queens team is made up from the Ulster academy, I find the fact that they're struggling in AIL 1B slightly worrying. You'd expect anyone ready to push for Ulster selection to stand out at that level.

Therein lies your answer

Young lads thrown in the deep end - their team is entirely made up of students. There’s a fairly big jump between 1B/2A as well

Doesn’t help that Instonians have poached about two thirds of their team either over the years. Lost Whitten, Dillon and McMaster to them this season

Neill_M wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 6:47 pm Development Head Coach, Gavin Hogg, has named his side to take on their Munster counterparts at Newforge Sports Complex on Friday 22nd December. (KO: 3.30pm)

The match is open to the public, with free entrance to the match. Car parking will be available and limited to a first-come, first-serve basis.

The team features of mixture of players from Ulster Rugby's Development players such as Reuben Crothers and Conor McKee, with some game time for Ulster Rugby Academy players and Pathway talents.

Development Head Coach, Gavin Hogg, will be assisted by Neil Doak, Willie Faloon and Jonny Graham.

Ulster Development Team
(15-9) Bradley McNamara, Ben McFarlane, Rory Ellerby, Johnny Scott, Rory Telfer, Reece Malone, Conor McKee

(1-8) Jack Boal, Henry Walker, Cameron Doak, Mark Lee, Adam McNamee, Reuben Crothers, Josh Stevens (C), Adam Montgomery

Replacements: Zac Solomon, Jacob Boyd, Tom McAllister, Ryan Connolly, Jamie Jackson, Ryan Davies, Ethan Graham, Michael Burnette

Munster Development team
(15-9) Jed O’Dwyer (Old Crescent RFC), Sean Condon (UCC RFC), Harry Long (Shannon RFC), Gordon Wood (Garryowen FC) (C), Josh Costello (Shannon RFC), Tom Wood (St Munchin’s College), Jake O’Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC)

(1-8) George Hadden (Garryowen FC), Adam Wrona (UCC RFC), Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC), Éanna McCarthy (UCC RFC), Conor Ryan (UCC RFC), Kamil Nowak (Cork Constitution FC), David Nowak (Cork Constitution FC), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC)

Replacements: Darragh O’Connell (Muskerry RFC), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC), Matt Burke (Shannon RFC), Oisín Toland (Old Crescent RFC), Jacob Sheahan (UCC RFC), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC), Kyle Read (Garryowen FC), Eoghan Smyth (Midleton RFC), Aaron Quirke (UCC RFC).

Neill_M wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 6:47 pm Development Head Coach, Gavin Hogg, has named his side to take on their Munster counterparts at Newforge Sports Complex on Friday 22nd December. (KO: 3.30pm)

The match is open to the public, with free entrance to the match. Car parking will be available and limited to a first-come, first-serve basis.

The team features of mixture of players from Ulster Rugby's Development players such as Reuben Crothers and Conor McKee, with some game time for Ulster Rugby Academy players and Pathway talents.

Development Head Coach, Gavin Hogg, will be assisted by Neil Doak, Willie Faloon and Jonny Graham.

Ulster Development Team
(15-9) Bradley McNamara, Ben McFarlane, Rory Ellerby, Johnny Scott, Rory Telfer, Reece Malone, Conor McKee

(1-8) Jack Boal, Henry Walker, Cameron Doak, Mark Lee, Adam McNamee, Reuben Crothers, Josh Stevens (C), Adam Montgomery

Replacements: Zac Solomon, Jacob Boyd, Tom McAllister, Ryan Connolly, Jamie Jackson, Ryan Davies, Ethan Graham, Michael Burnette

Munster Development team
(15-9) Jed O’Dwyer (Old Crescent RFC), Sean Condon (UCC RFC), Harry Long (Shannon RFC), Gordon Wood (Garryowen FC) (C), Josh Costello (Shannon RFC), Tom Wood (St Munchin’s College), Jake O’Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC)

(1-8) George Hadden (Garryowen FC), Adam Wrona (UCC RFC), Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC), Éanna McCarthy (UCC RFC), Conor Ryan (UCC RFC), Kamil Nowak (Cork Constitution FC), David Nowak (Cork Constitution FC), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC)

Replacements: Darragh O’Connell (Muskerry RFC), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC), Matt Burke (Shannon RFC), Oisín Toland (Old Crescent RFC), Jacob Sheahan (UCC RFC), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC), Kyle Read (Garryowen FC), Eoghan Smyth (Midleton RFC), Aaron Quirke (UCC RFC).

Blow in wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:38 pm

UlsterAreBrill wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 3:12 pm

MightyRearranger wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:02 pm Forgot that this tour was on, explains why QUB got an even bigger humping than usual at the weekend. Unsure of the value of a game like this, compared with just letting the guys play for their AIL sides, I doubt a game like this with scratch sides is going to be a step up from that in terms of standards.

Other than Hopes, are there any of the Ulster lads there people think it's worth keeping an eye on? Given how much of the Queens team is made up from the Ulster academy, I find the fact that they're struggling in AIL 1B slightly worrying. You'd expect anyone ready to push for Ulster selection to stand out at that level.

Therein lies your answer

Young lads thrown in the deep end - their team is entirely made up of students. There’s a fairly big jump between 1B/2A as well

Doesn’t help that Instonians have poached about two thirds of their team either over the years. Lost Whitten, Dillon and McMaster to them this season

Was never going to work players want to play not get dropped because some snotty nosed youngster is in the academy.
Whitten was always going to play with his brothers

ljsulster wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 9:47 pm

Neill_M wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 6:47 pm Development Head Coach, Gavin Hogg, has named his side to take on their Munster counterparts at Newforge Sports Complex on Friday 22nd December. (KO: 3.30pm)

The match is open to the public, with free entrance to the match. Car parking will be available and limited to a first-come, first-serve basis.

The team features of mixture of players from Ulster Rugby's Development players such as Reuben Crothers and Conor McKee, with some game time for Ulster Rugby Academy players and Pathway talents.

Development Head Coach, Gavin Hogg, will be assisted by Neil Doak, Willie Faloon and Jonny Graham.

Ulster Development Team
(15-9) Bradley McNamara, Ben McFarlane, Rory Ellerby, Johnny Scott, Rory Telfer, Reece Malone, Conor McKee

(1-8) Jack Boal, Henry Walker, Cameron Doak, Mark Lee, Adam McNamee, Reuben Crothers, Josh Stevens (C), Adam Montgomery

Replacements: Zac Solomon, Jacob Boyd, Tom McAllister, Ryan Connolly, Jamie Jackson, Ryan Davies, Ethan Graham, Michael Burnette

Munster Development team
(15-9) Jed O’Dwyer (Old Crescent RFC), Sean Condon (UCC RFC), Harry Long (Shannon RFC), Gordon Wood (Garryowen FC) (C), Josh Costello (Shannon RFC), Tom Wood (St Munchin’s College), Jake O’Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC)

(1-8) George Hadden (Garryowen FC), Adam Wrona (UCC RFC), Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC), Éanna McCarthy (UCC RFC), Conor Ryan (UCC RFC), Kamil Nowak (Cork Constitution FC), David Nowak (Cork Constitution FC), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC)

Replacements: Darragh O’Connell (Muskerry RFC), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC), Matt Burke (Shannon RFC), Oisín Toland (Old Crescent RFC), Jacob Sheahan (UCC RFC), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC), Kyle Read (Garryowen FC), Eoghan Smyth (Midleton RFC), Aaron Quirke (UCC RFC).

Ryan Connolly and Jamie Jackson both still at school.
Interesting to see Malone, Mcnamee and Burnett all back in the system and does anyone know much about McNamara?

Horse15 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:13 pm

Blow in wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:38 pm

UlsterAreBrill wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 3:12 pm

MightyRearranger wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:02 pm Forgot that this tour was on, explains why QUB got an even bigger humping than usual at the weekend. Unsure of the value of a game like this, compared with just letting the guys play for their AIL sides, I doubt a game like this with scratch sides is going to be a step up from that in terms of standards.

Other than Hopes, are there any of the Ulster lads there people think it's worth keeping an eye on? Given how much of the Queens team is made up from the Ulster academy, I find the fact that they're struggling in AIL 1B slightly worrying. You'd expect anyone ready to push for Ulster selection to stand out at that level.

Therein lies your answer

Young lads thrown in the deep end - their team is entirely made up of students. There’s a fairly big jump between 1B/2A as well

Doesn’t help that Instonians have poached about two thirds of their team either over the years. Lost Whitten, Dillon and McMaster to them this season

Was never going to work players want to play not get dropped because some snotty nosed youngster is in the academy.
Whitten was always going to play with his brothers

It looks a very weak ulster development side compared to the Munster one. A few kids on the ulster side will get a rude awakening. Know a few of the Ulster backs - centres lack pace and McNamara has come from nowhere through Instonians, seems a strange call.

ljsulster wrote:

Neill_M wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 6:47 pm Development Head Coach, Gavin Hogg, has named his side to take on their Munster counterparts at Newforge Sports Complex on Friday 22nd December. (KO: 3.30pm)

The match is open to the public, with free entrance to the match. Car parking will be available and limited to a first-come, first-serve basis.

The team features of mixture of players from Ulster Rugby's Development players such as Reuben Crothers and Conor McKee, with some game time for Ulster Rugby Academy players and Pathway talents.

Development Head Coach, Gavin Hogg, will be assisted by Neil Doak, Willie Faloon and Jonny Graham.

Ulster Development Team
(15-9) Bradley McNamara, Ben McFarlane, Rory Ellerby, Johnny Scott, Rory Telfer, Reece Malone, Conor McKee

(1-8) Jack Boal, Henry Walker, Cameron Doak, Mark Lee, Adam McNamee, Reuben Crothers, Josh Stevens (C), Adam Montgomery

Replacements: Zac Solomon, Jacob Boyd, Tom McAllister, Ryan Connolly, Jamie Jackson, Ryan Davies, Ethan Graham, Michael Burnette

Munster Development team
(15-9) Jed O’Dwyer (Old Crescent RFC), Sean Condon (UCC RFC), Harry Long (Shannon RFC), Gordon Wood (Garryowen FC) (C), Josh Costello (Shannon RFC), Tom Wood (St Munchin’s College), Jake O’Riordan (UL Bohemian RFC)

(1-8) George Hadden (Garryowen FC), Adam Wrona (UCC RFC), Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC), Éanna McCarthy (UCC RFC), Conor Ryan (UCC RFC), Kamil Nowak (Cork Constitution FC), David Nowak (Cork Constitution FC), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC)

Replacements: Darragh O’Connell (Muskerry RFC), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC), Matt Burke (Shannon RFC), Oisín Toland (Old Crescent RFC), Jacob Sheahan (UCC RFC), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC), Kyle Read (Garryowen FC), Eoghan Smyth (Midleton RFC), Aaron Quirke (UCC RFC).

Ryan Connolly and Jamie Jackson both still at school.
Interesting to see Malone, Mcnamee and Burnett all back in the system and does anyone know much about McNamara?

UlsterAreBrill wrote:King, what are your thoughts on Ellerby? Never seen him play but have heard very good reports. Unlucky to miss out on schools rugby last year and a possible academy place

Lots of QUB there too. Lee is Rainey OB, Malone playing 15 for Loughborough last year too afaik

Solomon being so highly rated is an odd one given he’s never playing division 1 AIL I don’t think and currently doesn’t start for Ban

UlsterAreBrill wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:25 am Surprised ROD didn’t get a look in but I assume they are being kept for Senior cup on Saturday. Surprised Stones they have released McNamara for this truth be told

Horse15 wrote:

UlsterAreBrill wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:25 am Surprised ROD didn’t get a look in but I assume they are being kept for Senior cup on Saturday. Surprised Stones they have released McNamara for this truth be told

I think Stones have good backline strength this year so his absence wont make much of a difference. Heard lukas Kenny had a bad leg break with qub so he would have been in team otherwise.

Elerby didn’t do acl and hasn’t played for qub yet this year so odd call too.