Ulster Bank League 2013-2014 talk/gossip/rumours

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

turtleshead wrote: »

Agree would rate Cronin over Haugh, dont think Cronin is leaving either so I expect Haugh to be playing alot of Sunday rugby. Seems like Garryowen have gone back to their old attitude of sign everyone, we mightnt need them but at least no-one else will have them!

turtleshead wrote: »

That is a massive amount of players to lose, they could struggle next year, have the made any signings?

Ya Cronin looks a good player, played very well when i've seen him play in few derbys and was very good. Munster may have a say tho which is very harsh on Cronin. G'owen lost a lot to lads going abroad in fairness. 9 i'd nearly argue they won't have.

Bohs will try pull lads heading into UL and LIT as they always do but ya i think they'll struggle a whole lot. Could be a downward spiral straight to D2!

ormond lad

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Ya Cronin looks a good player, played very well when i've seen him play in few derbys and was very good. Munster may have a say tho which is very harsh on Cronin. G'owen lost a lot to lads going abroad in fairness. 9 i'd nearly argue they won't have.

Bohs will try pull lads heading into UL and LIT as they always do but ya i think they'll struggle a whole lot. Could be a downward spiral straight to D2!

Bohs always get a few heading to UL, not so much LIT. Will not pull as many as in 1B but they wont go straight down to 2A

Any news on Lower Divisions, 2A/2B and the other provincial competitions that start season off?

turtleshead

ormond lad wrote: »

Bohs always get a few heading to UL, not so much LIT. Will not pull as many as in 1B but they wont go straight down to 2A

Any news on Lower Divisions, 2A/2B and the other provincial competitions that start season off?

Havent heard much to be honest, couple of Munsters 2nds lads off to Bruff thats about it. I am sure it will all come out in the next couple of weeks

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

OC have added Luke Russell from YM to there squad, lot 2 backrowers, 1 to Thomond, 1 to YM afaik. Thomond look to be signing a 13 from YM and have resigned Tom Burke from UL Bohs. Old wesley still talking to Tadhg Bennett apparently. After that i haven't heard, what the story with Nenagh?

shaungil

Anything evercome of the rumoured Wesley/bective merger.

Clontarkf have apparently signed Martin Martin Provizers from skerries. He's a Latvain international but has only played 2 seasons of rugby.

ormond lad

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

OC have added Luke Russell from YM to there squad, lot 2 backrowers, 1 to Thomond, 1 to YM afaik. Thomond look to be signing a 13 from YM and have re-signed Tom Burke from UL Bohs. Old wesley still talking to Tadhg Bennett apparently. After that i haven't heard, what the story with Nenagh?

Thomond looking a lot around Limerick for players. Will be v strong this year
Nenagh have lost a few outside backs to emigration. Not sure on many others we've leaving this season.
no news on signings but believe that the club are looking to sign a halfback, primarily a 10.

shaungil wrote: »

Anything evercome of the rumoured Wesley/bective merger.
Clontarkf have apparently signed Martin Martin Provizers from skerries. He's a Latvain international but has only played 2 seasons of rugby.

Havent heard much more but don't think its happening for next season or two at the least, from talking to few people up in Bective

lurtz

whats that lad lespierre like? serious specimen

ormond lad

lurtz wrote: »

whats that lad lespierre like? serious specimen

Attacking wise very very good. Not so great defensively at division 1 level. IIRC he played quite a bit in 2nds league, def played v us once in league and could have played the 2nd game against us.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

ormond lad wrote: »

Attacking wise very very good. Not so great defensively at division 1 level. IIRC he played quite a bit in 2nds league, def played v us once in league and could have played the 2nd game against us.

He hardly played after Christmas, only scored two tries for 1st and left before the end of the season. Very quick, no skills and poor defense!

lurtz

I saw on a recruitment agency a while back that a cork 1a team were looking for a centre or 10 and an dublin 1a team were looking for an 8,expect maybe to see some new southern hemisphere faces

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

lurtz wrote: »

I saw on a recruitment agency a while back that a cork 1a team were looking for a centre or 10 and an dublin 1a team were looking for an 8,expect maybe to see some new southern hemisphere faces

Oh really, must be Con in Cork as Dolphin have more than their share of Centres and Keeshan at 10. Any news on additions to Tarf, Lansdowne, Belvo or Marys?

lurtz

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Oh really, must be Con in Cork as Dolphin have more than their share of Centres and Keeshan at 10. Any news on additions to Tarf, Lansdowne, Belvo or Marys?

tarf seem to be splashing on youth with bryan byrne,mcfarland and roopnairnesingh all rumoured to be going there

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

lurtz wrote: »

tarf seem to be splashing on youth with bryan byrne,mcfarland and roopnairnesingh all rumoured to be going there

Are all the current squad still there? Tarf'll be stronger again next season. Get Fitzpatrick at 10 from the 1st fixture and ye'll be in a solid position straight away.

lurtz

david joyce from trinity meant to be going theere as well

bamboozle

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Are all the current squad still there? Tarf'll be stronger again next season. Get Fitzpatrick at 10 from the 1st fixture and ye'll be in a solid position straight away.

Only confirmed departure is Flanagan and he only really had a run of games towards the end of the season (gone to mont de Martin)

Local lad mick Kearney is back with Clontarf but in not sure if he will see much ail action.

Clontarf had a dreadful season with injuries, next season is the 1000 anniversary of the battle of Clontarf, fixture with the babaas lined up.

Still with half the Irish u20s with lansdowne and half the Leinster academy with ucd it will be hard to look beyond those two.

bamboozle

lurtz wrote: »

tarf seem to be splashing on youth with bryan byrne,mcfarland and roopnairnesingh all rumoured to be going there

Is roopnaireasingh any use? Never heard of him.

lurtz

bamboozle wrote: »

Only confirmed departure is Flanagan and he only really had a run of games towards the end of the season (gone to mont de Martin)

Local lad mick Kearney is back with Clontarf but in not sure if he will see much ail action.

Clontarf had a dreadful season with injuries, next season is the 1000 anniversary of the battle of Clontarf, fixture with the babaas lined up.

Still with half the Irish u20s with lansdowne and half the Leinster academy with ucd it will be hard to look beyond those two.

how is kearney playing for tarf next year? just to play 1a?
its easy to say that lansdowne and ucd would be the best but realistically the rep guys are away for huge parts of the season and plus theyre invariably younger and much less experienced than other wily AIL campaigners which counts for alot

bamboozle

lurtz wrote: »

how is kearney playing for tarf next year? just to play 1a?
its easy to say that lansdowne and ucd would be the best but realistically the rep guys are away for huge parts of the season and plus theyre invariably younger and much less experienced than other wily AIL campaigners which counts for alot

I think with Muldowney and Clarke coming in as 2nd row competition Kearney getting some ail game time might not be the worst idea in the world, I still reckon he will be in most match day squads as back five cover though.

Last season plenty of fringe connacht players were sent out to ail clubs to get game time, Anderson, Jarvis, loxton, Moore, pod.

Actually wouldn't be surprised to see Dave Moore popping up at one of the Dublin clubs following his release from connacht, he played with belvo last season.

lurtz

bamboozle wrote: »

Is roopnaireasingh any use? Never heard of him.

yeah he is a good player,played leinster 19s and 20s. Utility back with a great boot and a mazy runner

bamboozle wrote: »

I think with Muldowney and Clarke coming in as 2nd row competition Kearney getting some ail game time might not be the worst idea in the world, I still reckon he will be in most match day squads as back five cover though.

Last season plenty of fringe connacht players were sent out to ail clubs to get game time, Anderson, Jarvis, loxton, Moore, pod.

Actually wouldn't be surprised to see Dave Moore popping up at one of the Dublin clubs following his release from connacht, he played with belvo last season.

yeah I know what you're saying. Moore will probably stay with belvo,unless lansdowne offer him something cos cooney might be playing less.
Has gannon been released? he was playing with stradbrook towards the end of the season

bamboozle

lurtz wrote: »

yeah he is a good player,played leinster 19s and 20s. Utility back with a great boot and a mazy runner



yeah I know what you're saying. Moore will probably stay with belvo,unless lansdowne offer him something cos cooney might be playing less.
Has gannon been released? he was playing with stradbrook towards the end of the season

Think I saw on connacht thread gannon was involved in preseason training with connacht

ormond lad

Leinster Senior League and Shield fixtures have been made with groups below
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/domestic/9980

Senior League Cup
Section A
Old Belvedere, Blackrock, UCD, Lansdowne, Old Wesley
Section B
Trinity, Clontarf, Terenure, Bective, Marys

Senior League Shield
Section A
Seapoint, DLSP, Suttonians, Skerries, Naas

Section B
Navan, Barnhall, Tullamore, Boyne, Greystones

Good comp that gives sides plenty of games in lead up to start of AIL. Shame they don't do that in Munster

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

ormond lad wrote: »

Leinster Senior League and Shield fixtures have been made with groups below
http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/domestic/9980

Senior League Cup
Section A
Old Belvedere, Blackrock, UCD, Lansdowne, Old Wesley
Section B
Trinity, Clontarf, Terenure, Bective, Marys

Senior League Shield
Section A
Seapoint, DLSP, Suttonians, Skerries, Naas

Section B
Navan, Barnhall, Tullamore, Boyne, Greystones

Good comp that gives sides plenty of games in lead up to start of AIL. Shame they don't do that in Munster

Agree, really think Munster could benefit from this, gives a lot more match practice before league starts. Charity cup isn't competitive enough i feel

ormond lad

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Agree, really think Munster could benefit from this, gives a lot more match practice before league starts. Charity cup isn't competitive enough i feel

Yeah. Connacht and Ulster have their senior leagues while Munster have senior cup first round and from last season first round of senior plate along with charity cup. so some clubs will get 3 competitive games while other provinces get several more.
Charity Cup is competitive enough but doesn't give enough games and would be better off in a league format

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

ormond lad wrote: »

Yeah. Connacht and Ulster have their senior leagues while Munster have senior cup first round and from last season first round of senior plate along with charity cup. so some clubs will get 3 competitive games while other provinces get several more.
Charity Cup is competitive enough but doesn't give enough games and would be better off in a league format

Ah the charity cup isn't taken overly serious considering G'owen and others tend to field 21s lads rather than their full strength team, which i am a fan of, but with so little competitive games before game 1 of UBL it appears to be taken lightly. A league structure would definitely of some sort, maybe even similar to how the 21s cup is run, two groups 2 qualifiers out of them than semi and final

ormond lad

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Ah the charity cup isn't taken overly serious considering G'owen and others tend to field 21s lads rather than their full strength team, which i am a fan of, but with so little competitive games before game 1 of UBL it appears to be taken lightly. A league structure would definitely of some sort, maybe even similar to how the 21s cup is run, two groups 2 qualifiers out of them than semi and final

Likes of Garryowen, Munsters don't field full strength side but don't field many 21s lads. When we've played the likes of G'own etc we would beat them if in main they fielded 21s but they don't.
Charity Cup is taken seriously enough considering apart from Senior Cup is only competitive game before league starts.
Any league based structure would be better than what currently exists

mightymonster

Con rumoured to have lost Daragh Lyons and 8 James Ryan to cashel where Brian Hickey is coaching . Cathal O Flaherty is supposed to be joining Highfield and Cathal Quinn Sundays Well .
Centre Niall O Driscoll and wing Cronin Healy are gone to Australia .
Robert Clune Scott Deasey and Brendan Cuttris are Dublin bound with Philip Donnellan and Brian Hayes going abroad for rugby contracts .
con have signed a French prop , Kenneally from bohs for $$ rumoured to be 18kI
And two o suillibhean brothers from dolphin .Ex Clongowes but not near Dolphin squad for most of last season.
Shane O Conor the ex Munster squad second row returns from France he is a good player .
Loosing 11 is tough to deal with so a year of rebuilding looks likely for the coaching team of Tom Mulcahy Terry
Dillon and Mick o Driscoll .Mick Bradley also rumoured to be playing a role .
Dolphin rumoured to have signed a strong Number eight
Is the balance of power on the playing fields of Cork swinging to Dolphin ?

blackdog1

Looks like it dolphin have most of the munster academy on its books. Con also signed joe mcsweenys brother from midleton along with hooker no 8 and centre also their excellent tighthead sweeney.did keneally use to play with con or is that a diff niall keneally? Also anyone know if frank cogan is back.?

mightymonster

blackdog1 wrote: »

Looks like it dolphin have most of the munster academy on its books. Con also signed joe mcsweenys brother from midleton along with hooker no 8 and centre also their excellent tighthead sweeney.did keneally use to play with con or is that a diff niall keneally? Also anyone know if frank cogan is back.?

Different Kenneally he is in early 20a.d. Luke Duffy is the centre from.ucc . Who is the number eight ? Surprised at a hooker being signed with O Driscoll and Cudmore in situ .Who is the hooker

blackdog1

mightymonster wrote: »

Different Kenneally he is in early 20a.d. Luke Duffy is the centre from.ucc . Who is the number eight ? Surprised at a hooker being signed with O Driscoll and Cudmore in situ .Who is the hooker

Luke cahill is no 8 im sure former rockwell college.hooker is a young enough lad so dunno if he'll make senior yet..always need hookers they tend to get injured. ...team should be interesting wonder will they get tom gleeson to play..pack should be ok but serious problems inthe backs. No ffullback or wingers if they lose all the players you say.

blackdog1

mightymonster wrote: »

Con rumoured to have lost Daragh Lyons and 8 James Ryan to cashel where Brian Hickey is coaching . Cathal O Flaherty is supposed to be joining Highfield and Cathal Quinn Sundays Well .
Centre Niall O Driscoll and wing Cronin Healy are gone to Australia .
Robert Clune Scott Deasey and Brendan Cuttris are Dublin bound with Philip Donnellan and Brian Hayes going abroad for rugby contracts .
con have signed a French prop , Kenneally from bohs for $$ rumoured to be 18kI
And two o suillibhean brothers from dolphin .Ex Clongowes but not near Dolphin squad for most of last season.
Shane O Conor the ex Munster squad second row returns from France he is a good player .
Loosing 11 is tough to deal with so a year of rebuilding looks likely for the coaching team of Tom Mulcahy Terry
Dillon and Mick o Driscoll .Mick Bradley also rumoured to be playing a role .
Dolphin rumoured to have signed a strong Number eight
Is the balance of power on the playing fields of Cork swinging to Dolphin ?

Hearing o Flaherty and lyons still around don't know about rest.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

Dolphin really strengthening so. Bohs exodus continuing to their 21s apparently. Their gonna significantly struggle, say could be back to back relegation's for them.

That figure for Kenneally has to be a typo! He's not that good, he's a good player but not that good! No AIL player can command that kinda money

mightymonster

blackdog1 wrote: »

Luke cahill is no 8 im sure former rockwell college.hooker is a young enough lad so dunno if he'll make senior yet..always need hookers they tend to get injured. ...team should be interesting wonder will they get tom gleeson to play..pack should be ok but serious problems inthe backs. No ffullback or wingers if they lose all the players you say.

Tom Gleeson is now in Dublin and is starting medical studies at RCSI in September so doubt he will be playing for Con

mightymonster

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Dolphin really strengthening so. Bohs exodus continuing to their 21s apparently. Their gonna significantly struggle, say could be back to back relegation's for them.

That figure for Kenneally has to be a typo! He's not that good, he's a good player but not that good! No AIL player can command that kinda money

That is the figure Ul sources have mentioned take a house car insurance tax and a cash sun into account and you may arrive at such a figure If you look at payments that clubs in D4 and Clontarf are paying some players it is a fact that such a payment of 18k by con is on a pat

blackdog1

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Dolphin really strengthening so. Bohs exodus continuing to their 21s apparently. Their gonna significantly struggle, say could be back to back relegation's for them.

That figure for Kenneally has to be a typo! He's not that good, he's a good player but not that good! No AIL player can command that kinda money

Con don't pay that kinda money, just match fees and maybe accommodation.. only club that pays big money is highfield.

CGD

mightymonster wrote: »

That is the figure Ul sources have mentioned take a house car insurance tax and a cash sun into account and you may arrive at such a figure If you look at payments that clubs in D4 and Clontarf are paying some players it is a fact that such a payment of 18k by con is on a pat

Way off I u think clubs in D4 and Clontarf are paying even a fraction of that money. I know lads are being helped get jobs but most clubs have reduced match fees but no point in letting the facts get in the way o gossip

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

mightymonster wrote: »

That is the figure Ul sources have mentioned take a house car insurance tax and a cash sun into account and you may arrive at such a figure If you look at payments that clubs in D4 and Clontarf are paying some players it is a fact that such a payment of 18k by con is on a pat

Con have paid for Accom, insurance, match fees and sign on bonuses but not all to one player, especially whose not even close to contracted. Scanlon wasn't getting that when with them, just insurance and Acc paid by both Con and Munster. Tarf tend to be able to help lads find work as do plenty other Dublin clubs

mightymonster

blackdog1 wrote: »

Con don't pay that kinda money, just match fees and maybe accommodation.. only club that pays big money is highfield.

Agree but con found themselves in a situation that they needed to get a quality player from somewhere as mentioned earlier they were advertising on a recruitment page for this position and obviously had a budget for this . Agree that such payments are unlike them.

In relation to Clontarf. they have spent big money on players and many of the deals in recent years to guys I know were as much as development contracts when accommodation costs were taken into.account . An added bonus is their pull in the jobs market

Lansdowne budget has fallen as they have a bill for their partial contribution to clubhouse redevelopment to repay . I
am aware of a back that has signed for them who has got a package this year in excess of 10 k and one of his family told
Mr that

So big cash is still around parts of the ail but it is to the minority of players

blackdog1

I think days of clubs paying player's are gone. Most big clubs try and get jobs and accommodation for players where possible but a player would have to be outstanding to get this only club with big money to spend is highfield because they own a car park next to cuh and their div 2 or 3 .how good is this kinneally lad?

mightymonster

blackdog1 wrote: »

I think days of clubs paying player's are gone. Most big clubs try and get jobs and accommodation for players where possible but a player would have to be outstanding to get this only club with big money to spend is highfield because they own a car park next to cuh and their div 2 or 3 .how good is this kinneally lad?

I would like to think you were right about payments but as I said a minority are still cashing in
Kimberly is a good player but not outstanding

bamboozle

mightymonster wrote: »

Agree but con found themselves in a situation that they needed to get a quality player from somewhere as mentioned earlier they were advertising on a recruitment page for this position and obviously had a budget for this . Agree that such payments are unlike them.

In relation to Clontarf. they have spent big money on players and many of the deals in recent years to guys I know were as much as development contracts when accommodation costs were taken into.account . An added bonus is their pull in the jobs market

Lansdowne budget has fallen as they have a bill for their partial contribution to clubhouse redevelopment to repay . I
am aware of a back that has signed for them who has got a package this year in excess of 10 k and one of his family told
Mr that

So big cash is still around parts of the ail but it is to the minority of players

Tarf haventreally been splashing the cash, there's win bonuses, they got jobs for lads and sorted out accommodation. No major money being thrown around the last season or two by any clubs, go back 3 seasons and one D4 team were apparently playing a former pro 100k for a 3 yr deal.

asides from that, i've no problems with teams spending money if they have it, Clontarf bar alone is treated as a seperate entity and turns in a good profit annually.

bamboozle

blackdog1 wrote: »

Looks like it dolphin have most of the munster academy on its books. Con also signed joe mcsweenys brother from midleton along with hooker no 8 and centre also their excellent tighthead sweeney.did keneally use to play with con or is that a diff niall keneally? Also anyone know ifrank cogan is back.?[/f QUOTE]

yes he is

JagerScout

Bryan Byrne joining Tarf. Ed staying with UCD.

val10

Blackdog1 where do you get your information about Highfield paying players?
Those days are long gone.its true they rent out car park but that money is used to service existing loans.match fees were stopped 3 years ago.they have a very good job network so help players get employment.they also help some students out with rent or student fees but the days of paying players is well over

blackdog1

val10 wrote: »

Blackdog1 where do you get your information about Highfield paying players?
Those days are long gone.its true they rent out car park but that money is used to service existing loans.match fees were stopped 3 years ago.they have a very good job network so help players get employment.they also help some students out with rent or student fees but the days of paying players is well over

Highfield are the richest club in cork. Con is broke after building new club house. Highfield cant attract top class players due to their status so they pay 1 or 2 top players each year. .know plenty of people who they've approached over the years . Not huge money but enough 2-4 k a year plenty for quality playing students.

val10

Not getting into too much detail but thighfield do not pay any current players.i think a lot of players use highfield as a bargaining tool with other clubs because their is this image that they are rich.they owe nearly 500,000 to the bank.highfield offer accomdation to a few players which is standard for most clubs.con pay win bonus to every player and also accommodation to a few.dolphin do same.i just wanted to get on record that as i am sick of people going on about these rumours.

Stainalert

Way off the mark re Lansdowne comments - players these days coming for facilities and coaching structures along with help with careers and location

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

In all fairness the days of players being given anything outside of being given aid with job finding, helping with accommodation costs and low match fees are over. Clubs simply cannot afford it despite what many think, 2-4 prominent clubs in Munster have had issues with players not being given what they were promised as the club in the end couldn't keep up with the ever growing tab! The player movement to Dublin is simply down to colleges and the work prospects up there, nothing to do with cash in hand!

mightymonster

Stainalert wrote: »

Way off the mark re Lansdowne comments - players these days coming for facilities and coaching structures along with help with careers and location

and pigs fly....

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

see UCDs danny kenny is training with Munster, serious player should be looked at as a possible permanent fixture in the province. Would be ahead of few lads there already. Niall Kenneally there too as well as Mike Kelliher, Paddy and Willie Ryan. Would like too see Will Ryan and Kenny snapped up

lurtz

interesting to see a lad from richmond given a chance