Youths Rugby

Lost Ormond

Munster under 16 and 18 competitions phase 2 draws have been made.

Structure of these competitions are up with best in country. Shame that Munster dont do enough to keep so many of these playing to 20s. Some may play junior 1/2 at 18 but many may not want/be ready for that and not able to play 20s

54 teams in 16s and 41 in 18s with some clubs entering their 15s into the 16s bowl especially North Munster sides with the main league at that age group hnished,

Lost Ormond

Nearly at knock out stages in the Munster cup/plate/bowl competitions.

Connacht cup draws made and Leagues in/around semi final stage.

Leinster leagues in phase 2 and nearing knock out stages

Hopefully provincial websites have some coverage of these soon enough...

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119961126#Comment_119961126

I'm interested to know more about the Munster competition structures. Are they done in a different way to other provinces? Are the league structures and play offs the same for all grades?

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120234678#Comment_120234678

Up to Under 15 , the leagues and cups are kept at the regional level - North/South/East/West Munster.

At U16 and U18.5 there are full provincial competitions.

Typically they run in 3 phases - Phase one runs roughly from October to December and will be groups of 6 teams , usually loosely based around the geographic regions. So for example you might have two groups comprising the clubs from Clare & Limerick with a few additional teams like Nenagh , Galbally etc. to fill the groups.

Everybody plays everybody once - The standings at the end of this phase determine whether the teams move on to the Cup, Plate or Bowl competition in phase 2 - Again typically top two from each group will move the Cup competition etc.

Some of the regions use this phase as a qualifier for their regional league trophies with the top ranked teams playing League QF/SF knockouts.

Phase 2 is played January - February and will be province wide - Again , usually 4 groups of 6 in each competition.

Top two in this phase will move to a knock-out phase at QF stage , with the finals usually played mid March.

There are also a few additional knock-out competitions for team that don't qualify.

On the completion of the Munster Cups , the regional cups will then be played.

North Munster uniquely have 2 Cup competitions at U16 and U18.5 - The "Open" and "Closed" cups.

The Closed Cup is the standard comp , using the same squads/players as have been playing all season with the club teams.

The "open" cup is the extra one and here , clubs are allowed to use players that have been involved in Schools Junior and Senior cup squads.

Basically , it allows the Limerick clubs in particular get their schools based players back in a club jersey to stay connected to their clubs.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120234678#Comment_120234678

Yeah like Quinn says u13/14/15 there is leagues in North, East, South, West regions. then at 16s and 18.5s there is 6/7 groups in phase 1 which are geographically split up. after that finishes teams enter the cup/plate/bowl in phase 2. generally top 3 in each group enter cup with numbers entering plate/bowl dependent on numbers.

Then its 3 groups of 6 in cup. and there is cup quarter finals and on. There also is a competition in each of cup, plate and bowl for those who dont qualify for the knock out stages.

@quin Nenagh are now a north Munster club and compete with Limerick/clare clubs at all levels

Yeah all provinces operate quite differently. Connacht run a straight league. 18s league finals were actually yesterday with Sligo beating Corinthians in A final 26-23 and Ballinasloe beating Westport in B Final 44-12

16s A final also played Buccs beat Sligo 13-8

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120234851#Comment_120234851

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120234953#Comment_120234953

great info both thank you!

its very interesting that they don't go "full province" until phase 2.

The "cup plate and bowl" just sound like different names for league divisions like premier, div 1 div 2 etc?

are these plays as league style?

i love the idea of the 'open cup'. its a big issue for some leinster teams that they lose contact with the players who attend rugby schools. Something like that would be very beneficial.

and is the "closed cup" the main 'munster cup' that all teams take part in and seen as the major cup competition of the season?

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120235103#Comment_120235103

Yeah full province not until 2nd phase is much better. reduces walkovers as well and teams play locally first and get sense of where theyre at for year. the cup, plate and bowl are played with 2/3/4 groups depending on numbers so teams will play in general about 6/7 games in phase 1 and then if in cup will play 5 group games and then 3 knock out games to win the provincial title.

at 16s level. there is quite a few of the bigger/stronger u15s teams entering the 16s bowl as there league finishes pre christmas or early january so gets those sides more games as well

An open cup in Leinster would be class. really should happen with all clubs including many who dont play youths rugby at all usually.

No the closed cup is not main munster cup. its a North Munster regional cup.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120235103#Comment_120235103

At U13/14/15 the standard cup competitions would be the "main" target for the season with the league not far behind.

At U16 and U18.5 the full "Pan-Munster" (as it used to be called) would be the Premier competition - Phase 1 and Phase 2 are round-robin league style before moving to a knock-out phase.

The introduction of the Plate/Bowl competitions a few years ago basically ensures that every team regardless of standard is guaranteed 10/12+ competitive fixtures as even if you lost all the phase 1 games you then move to a plate/bowl phase 2 with another ~5 games hopefully at a more competitive level for the team.

The Cup competitions usually only have 3 or 4 games in them if you get to a Final as you might only have 10 or 12 teams entering (particularly at U18.5).

A Club team at U16/U18.5 that is competitive and getting to a SF or Final across the various competitions is likely playing close to 20 competitive games in the season - ~14 for the Munster Cup and at least another 5 or 6 in the regional Cup/Leagues.

mun1

there is a Munster U14 boys cup competition in place for this season also. in a trial format for tis season and then expected to be fully developed for next season (along lines of U16/U18.5).

there are also regional U16 & U18.5 league competitions North & South played in down weeks for Munster clubs.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120236510#Comment_120236510

Yeah the 14s is new. Hopefully North Munster sides will compete next season.

The regional leagues in North are just knock out games based on results/placings from phase 1.

mun1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120236554#Comment_120236554

North munster team will be taking part in U14 munster clubs competition this season.

regional leagues are not based on results/placing from phase 1.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120236784#Comment_120236784

Are they? The group stages dont include them. they are based on the regional league results and the North league still has rounds to go so are north clubs going straight into knockouts??

tabby aspreme

2nd and final, round of U18 women's interpro matches today in Terenure, Connaught v Ulster @ 12.30 Munster v Leinster @2.15

kita99

Japan U 18 team (graduating high-school=in Japan new term of school is april at whole revel) comes to Ireland in coming marach. They have been special hard training in late one month.There are a few foreign students from southern hemisphere receiving scholarship for rugby only. They are powerful.the shedule has been released in Japan.First they have training match with trinity college and after it they'll meet 2 matches with Ireland u18 +u19.The date is decided 1st game 16th and 2nd game 21th.Both are played in Dublin. Detail is yet released. IRFU has not give no message about it. maybe nothing is prepared now. But the opponent is the future's natinal team members.So I think that there is a bit training seesion for the match and selections. In that county, they (players etc ) are ecited for matches against youth team of world no1 country.

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120236510#Comment_120236510

I take it from this that Munster do two year age groups? U14,16,18.5 at mini are they single years?

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120319721#Comment_120319721

No.. there are single year age groups all the way to U16 , the only 2 year gap (actually 2.5) is the jump from U16 to U18.5.

Up to now , the only full province competitions were at U16 and U18.5 , all the rest were at the regional level.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120319721#Comment_120319721

minis is single year. there is under 13 leagues in 3 of the 4 regions and then there is u15 league in north munster.

Strand1970

Connacht has 13 up to 18.5 age groups in single years for boys and 14, 16 & 18 for girls.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120321571#Comment_120321571

Works well. clubs pick and choose which levels they compete in. Biggest clubs compete in all of them and having multiple teams in some age groups with smaller clubs sometimes playing every second age group because of numbers or join together at an age group especially 17s/18.5s

tabby aspreme

When 17's and 18's merge it can be very mismatched, as you may have a 16 yo playing against an 18yo, due to the 18.5 age limit, some players end up playing for 3 years in this age group.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120343827#Comment_120343827

Yes it can but some clubs cant field in 17s and 18s same weekend so need to go to 18s. Bigger clubs can do bth. not many players will play 3 years of 18s

tabby aspreme

Id rather see small clubs merge and field separate 17's and 18's, small clubs lose player's as 16yo player's and their parents, may not like the idea of playing against 18 yo's

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120346213#Comment_120346213

Many clubs dont want that and i think keeping separate identities where possible should be better. better off in some cases keeping a large 18s squad and find games for the weaker players to play than merging for 17s alone when they have more than enough for a good squad at 18s. squad management for coaches is issue there

Lost Ormond

Irish 18s squads named. No full squad listed anywhere yet but clubs releasing names

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120384315#Comment_120384315

Is this for the u18 six nations?

The clubs and schools usually have a game against Italy as well.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120386831#Comment_120386831

Yes both named. Clubs and schools not playing England counties side but are replacing those games with a game against Italy and others. Clubs team beat Italy comfortably in November so hopefully Italians will be stronger even if this is the 2nd/'b' irish side

Lost Ormond

u18 fixtures and times confirmed for 6 nations which is being held in Donnybrook

April 8th, 12th and 16th Ireland play Scotland, Wales and England.

Lost Ormond

Ireland results over past few days

Ireland u18s Clubs and Schools 24 Italy u18s 26

France u19s 52 Ireland u19s 7

Ireland u18 Schools 36 Scotland u18s 20

France u19s v Ireland u19s about to kick off

Ireland u18 Schools 48 Wales u18s 17

Lost Ormond

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/twenty-youths-finals-played-in-energia-park-over-may-bank-holiday/

Lost Ormond

provincial warm ups for interpros really kicking off this week and next

Munster 17s clubs and schools face each other this week and next week Munster u18 clubs and u18 schools play Sale

Connacht 17s and 18s play EIRA today and they play IQ in sportsground at the weekend

Connacht play Leinster at 19s Saturday week and their 18s play Ulster 18s schools in clongowes friday week

Leinster 18s play EIRA tomorrow. 19s play an internal game friday and