Ulster Schools Rugby Team of the year.

[handin]

Post your team choice (1-15).

[Jockster]

Is that not the job of the Ulster schools selectors? Didnt see enough games to give any opinions.

Perhaps some well travelled dads or school coaches could comment-particdularly if they think there are any future stars in the making.

[fuzzylogic]

I'd give to to Ballyclare high, havnt seen a schools game all year but Ballyclare a usually an average side (better than the Down Highs, Friends, Portadowns but below CCB, INST etc) but to dump INST out in the cup and go all the way in the final with Methody gets my vote.

[sheepdog1]

Having watched a few games in the schools cup I would suggest thet Holmes (15) at Ballyclare looked very assured under the high ball, ran well and took his kicks throughout the tournament

[fuzzylogic]

First ever post and you clearly didnt read the thread topic sheepdog. Good start

[brianc]

First ever post and you clearly didnt read the thread topic sheepdog. Good start

Jeez Fuzzy, leave him/her alone, dont think I could stand another "Signing Off" thread

[fuzzylogic]

Your right Proms. haha, brilliant



My apologies Sheep.


(Could be me with a signing off thread soon)

[jamsodonnell]

Think this is a relevant thread, especially having noticed that only 2 Ulster schoolboys are selected into the Irish Schools panel of 26. This is ridiculously and indeed unacceptably low. Now I'm making absolutely no comment whatsoever on selection as I am not in any position to do so. The Coach,one of the assistant coaches and the Manager are all from Ulster , so we can knock the usual argument of Southern Bias, on the head. I saw a very poor Ulster Schools performance against Connacht and an improved one against Leinster, but what is going on ? Somebody enlighten me please .

[ulsterham]

Having watched a lot of schools rugby this year, it would be fair to comment that the Ulster schools team was in too many cases picked not on ability, but on what school the individual went to. Too many players excluded as they were not from a big school. Interesting to note that 1 player in the Irish schools squad was not even in the Ulster schools squad. From the many matches I have seen, he more than deserves this honour.

[jamsodonnell]

Ulsterham, in response to your comments re. the selection of the Ulster Schools team, I have not watched a great deal of Schools rugby up until the Semis and Finals, so I can only make this comment to you. It has been a perennial criticism of Schools Selection that the team is selected mainly from the so-called top teams. This probably means the teams which are seeded to come in to the Competition last eg MCB, CCB , RBAI , RSA etc. I am unable to remember the complete selection for the first interpro against Connacht at Dungannon RFC, but I do remember players from Portadown College, Foyle & Londonderry College, Down HS and Wellington College. Not really your "top schools " as you state.

[Snipe Watson]

To save time:

Beattiespastie wrote:
1. Michael LAGAN
2. Oliver McGOLDRICK
3. James HARRISON
4. Dan BINGHAM
5. Marc CAMPBELL
6. Chris GRACEY
7. Rory WINTERS (capt)
8. James GALLAGHER
9. David McELHINNEY
10. Ross EDGAR
11. Rudolph BENADE
12. Conor McKEE
13. Mark GRIBBEN
14. Elliot MOONEY
15. Patrick COLHOUN

[fuzzylogic]

by ulsterham » Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:38 pm

Having watched a lot of schools rugby this year, it would be fair to comment that the Ulster schools team was in too many cases picked not on ability, but on what school the individual went to. Too many players excluded as they were not from a big school.

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm

Ulster Schools v Connacht this season, the team was...

15. Rob Haldane (Campbell College)
14. Neil Burns (Foyle & Londonderry College)
13. John McClure (RBAI)
12. Nathan Brown (RBAI)
11. David Busby (Portadown College)
10. Justin Rea (Down HS)
9. Conor Wright (RS Armagh)
1. Michael Hoey (RS Armagh)
2. Adam Kerr (Ballymena Academy)
3. Sebastian McBrien (Campbell College)
4. Jonathan Darling (Ballyclare HS)
5. Jack Cooke (Captain, Campbell College)
6. Ben Alexander (RBAI)
7. David Marshall (Wellington College)
8. Patrick Anderson (RBAI)

Replacements:
16. Max Montgomery (Bangor GS)
17. Jonathon Craig (Ballyclare HS)
18. Ross Kane (Methodist College)
19. Daniel Dass (BRA)
20. Peter Weir (Wallace HS)
21. Alastair Wright (RS Armagh)
22. Mark Best (Campbell College)

Kinda blows your schools they went to theory out the window.

[Big-al]

Where are all the Methody players that starred in the schools cup final?

[playingadvantage]

Any team would have to be selected from this group, the guys on the 19s who were too old but still at school and anyone else who impressed during the season after the inter pros in September.

[playingadvantage]

A lot of these guys were back at School this year. Pretty sure some of them with Schools named had left but hadn't yet joined a new club.

Head Coach Niall Malone has named two strong teams for the U19 'A' and 'B' Inter-provincial games againast Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday.
Ulster U19 ‘A’ team & replacements v Munster U19 ‘A’, Saturday 17th September 2011 (Thomond Park, Limerick, KO 1pm)
15. Nathan McClatchey (Wallace High School)
14. Nicholas Sterling (Ballymena Academy)
13. Ryan Martin (Methodist College)
12. Mark Gribben (Methodist College)
11. Jordan Heatley (Wallace High School)
10. Robbie Magowan (Royal School Armagh)
9. Glen Baillie (Campbell College)
1. Sam McNabney (Ballymena Academy)
2. Norman Sinclair (Belfast Royal Academy)
3. James Harrison (Methodist College)
4. Grant Bartley (Ballyclare High School)
5. Matthew Rea (Ballymena Academy)
6. Chris Gracey (Methodist College)
7. Stuart Hooks (Royal School Armagh, captain)
8. Rory Winters (Methodist College)
Replacements
16. Marc Logan (Ballyclare High School)
17. Stephen Best (Rainey Old Boys RFC)
18. Oliver McCollum (Methodist College)
19. Antonio McKenzie (Malone RFC)
20. Matthew Keane (Royal Belfast Academical Institution)
21. David Scott (Wallace High School)
22. Conall Doherty (City of Derry RFC)

Ulster U19 ‘B’ team & replacements v Munster U19 ‘B’, Saturday 17th September 2011 (Thomond Park, Limerick, KO 3pm)
15. Timothy McNeice (Royal School, Armagh)
14. Moss Rodgers (Campbell College)
13. Jonny McLaughlin (Dalriada School)
12. Jonny Douglas (Ballyclare High School, captain)
11. Peter Ferguson (Ballyclare High School)
10. Jonny Holmes (Ballyclare High School)
9. Rhys McAuley (Dalriada School)
1. George Hargy (Ballymena Academy)
2. Stuart Smyth (Grosvenor Grammar School)
3. Andrew Clingan (Royal School Dungannon)
4. Thomas Johnston (Royal School Armagh)
5. Matthew McKeown (Down High School)
6. Connor Phillips (Ballynahinch RFC)
7. Eugene McKenna (Clogher Valley RFC)
8. Matthew Cahoon(Grosvenor Grammar School)

Replacements
16. Andrew Cundell (Cambridge House School)
17. A N Other
18. Gary Spence (Ballynahinch RFC)
19. Michael Dawson(Rainey Endowed School)
20. Timothy Small (Cambridge House School)
21. Jonny McMullan (Dalriada School)
22. Jay Malcolm (Malone RFC)