Munster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread IV

total former

C'mere, spotted Donnacha O'Callaghan on TV on Saturday - is he a) injured at the moment and b) contracted for next season?

I thought he was contracted but hadn't heard about any injury.

Cookiemunster

total former wrote: »

C'mere, spotted Donnacha O'Callaghan on TV on Saturday - is he a) injured at the moment and b) contracted for next season?

I thought he was contracted but hadn't heard about any injury.

Contracted until 2016. Not injured AFAIK just not picked.

case885

thomond2006 wrote:

Are we going to have a smaller senior squad next year? It looks that way with the announced comings and goings.

Academy player's may have more game time than this season. Fellas like Fitzgerald, madigan, Quinlan, burke.

athtrasna

case885 wrote: »

Academy player's may have more game time than this season. Fellas like Fitzgerald, madigan, Quinlan, burke.

Quinlan 's kick for the under 20 s today was phenomenal, and under such pressure.. Keatley had better watch out!

RecordStraight

athtrasna wrote: »

Quinlan 's kick for the under 20 s today was phenomenal, and under such pressure.. Keatley had better watch out!

He should just watch. Might learn something.

The Lost Sheep

thomond2006 wrote: »

Are we going to have a smaller senior squad next year? It looks that way with the announced comings and goings.

Believe so. With world cup we'll have more games with no internationals playing so good chance to get more of younger guys playing pro12.
Much cheaper as well and cost probably an issue as well.

thomond2006

Year is when contract ends.

HOOKERS

Mike Sherry 2015
Damien Varley 2015 - RETIRING
Duncan Casey 2016
Niall Scannell 2017
Kevin O'Byrne 2016
Eusebio Guinazu 2015

Max Abbott Year 1

PROPS

James Cronin 2016
Dave Kilcoyne 2017
Peter McCabe undisclosed

BJ Botha January 2016
Stephen Archer 2018
John Ryan 2016
Alan Cotter 2015 - LEAVING (AIX-EN-PROVENCE)
Martin Kelly 2015 - RETIRING

Niall Horan Year 2
Rory Burke Year 2
Brian Scott Year 1

LOCKS

Paul O'Connell 2016 - LEAVING (TBC/Toulon)
Donnacha Ryan 2017
Donncha O'Callaghan 2016
Dave Foley 2017
Billy Holland 2016

Sean McCarthy Year 2
John Madigan Year 2
Darragh Moloney Year 1

FLANKERS

Peter O'Mahony 2018
Dave O'Callaghan 2016
Sean Dougall 2015 - LEAVING (PAU)
Tommy O'Donnell 2016
Barry O'Mahony 2015 - LEAVING (TBC/RETIREMENT)
Shane Buckley 2016
Jordan Coghlan 2016 - ARRIVING

Ryan Murphy Year 3

NUMBER EIGHTS

Robin Copeland 2016
Paddy Butler 2015 - LEAVING (TBC)
CJ Stander 2016
Jack O'Donoghue 2018

SCRUM-HALVES

Conor Murray 2016
Cathal Sheridan 2016
Duncan Williams 2017
Tomas O'Leary 2017 - ARRIVING

Jack Cullen Year 2
Ryan Foley Year 1
Jame Glynn Year 1

FLY-HALVES

Ian Keatley 2017
JJ Hanrahan 2015 - LEAVING (NORTHAMPTON SAINTS)
Tyler Bleyendall 2017
Johnny Holland 2017

Gearoid Lyons Year 2

CENTRES

Ivan Dineen 2015 - LEAVING (TBC)
Cian Bohane 2017
Denis Hurley 2016
Andrew Smith 2015 - LEAVING (TBC)
Francis Saili 2017 - ARRIVING

Rory Scannell Year 2
Dan Goggin Year 1

WINGERS

Simon Zebo 2016
Keith Earls 2016
Gerhard Van Den Heever 2016
Johne Murphy 2015 - LEAVING (TBC)
Andrew Conway 2016
Luke O'Dea 2015
Ronan O'Mahony 2017
Darren Sweetnam 2017

Alex Wootton Year 2
Greg O'Shea Year 2

FULLBACKS

Felix Jones 2017

David Johnston Year 2
Stephen Fitzgerald Year 1

Updated list with today's news. Interestingly there was no mention of either Luke O'Dea or Guinazu leaving, so maybe both are staying on?

It looks like Munster will have a smaller squad next year but many of the players let go have been long term injury casualties this season.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/20717.php#.VW8pvMt0yHs

CatFromHue

What's the story with Sherry?

thomond2006

CatFromHue wrote: »

What's the story with Sherry?

I don't know, unless I've missed an announcement on an extension. I assume, like Bleyendaal, they will keep him on the books and see how his rehab progresses.

total former

Keeping Guinazu would mean 5 senior hookers on the books though, that's not ideal.

balbriggan100

You need to update Paul O'Connell's status also.

Wang King

And Butler is officially gone to Pau also

total former

Is that the first confirmation of Murphy's departure? No surprise, it's been coming since the start of the season, but with him and Dineen gone, you're seriously light on cover in the centre.

Edit: and if Saili only arrives in October and Earls goes to the World Cup, could be an issue.

thomond2006

Wang King wrote: »

And Butler is officially gone to Pau also

Link? I didn't see anything on rugbyrama.

athtrasna

thomond2006 wrote: »

[ Interestingly there was no mention of either Luke O'Dea or Guinazu leaving, so maybe both are staying on?

Talks ongoing with both according to one of the journos on twitter...forgive me for not looking back to see who. Announcements due by the end of the month.

balbriggan100

total former wrote: »

Is that the first confirmation of Murphy's departure? No surprise, it's been coming since the start of the season, but with him and Dineen gone, you're seriously light on cover in the centre.

Edit: and if Saili only arrives in October and Earls goes to the World Cup, could be an issue.

I think Rory Scannell will get a a fair bit of game time at centre next season in Pro12

Wang King

thomond2006 wrote: »

Link? I didn't see anything on rugbyrama.

I think I linked it a week or two ago, it was Coughlan who said it that he had talked to him about Pau, but only after the deal was done (paraphrasing)

thomond2006

balbriggan100 wrote: »

I think Rory Scannell will get a a fair bit of game time at centre next season in Pro12

I assumed they were going to promote him early but he wasn't mentioned with the other development contracts.

Anyone know if Diarmuid McCarthy is signing?

The Lost Sheep

thomond2006 wrote: »

I assumed they were going to promote him early but he wasn't mentioned with the other development contracts.

Anyone know if Diarmuid McCarthy is signing?

DmcC is in 7s squad. Munster may wait to see how 7s go before they look at signing him up to anything. He hasn't been signed yet AFAIK

Fireball07

balbriggan100 wrote: »

I think Rory Scannell will get a a fair bit of game time at centre next season in Pro12

Hopefully, but Saili & Earls are probably our first and second choice 13s, although I'm not sure in which order; Earls could stay on the wing or Saili could be seen as a 12 but we don't have much at 13. Murphy's gone (not that he was great there), Dineen played there a few times, Smith is going... who is left? Bohane if he returns from injury? Dan Goggin?

hendo12

Robbie Henshaw at 13?? Liam Toland mentioned it on Newstalk

slingerz

hendo12 wrote: »

Robbie Henshaw at 13?? Liam Toland mentioned it on Newstalk

Salili would be at 13 Henshaw would be at 12 like he is for Ireland if he was to be signed

slingerz

Fireball07 wrote: »

Hopefully, but Saili & Earls are probably our first and second choice 13s, although I'm not sure in which order; Earls could stay on the wing or Saili could be seen as a 12 but we don't have much at 13. Murphy's gone (not that he was great there), Dineen played there a few times, Smith is going... who is left? Bohane if he returns from injury? Dan Goggin?

Would like to see Bohane get a good run, very unfortunate with a bad knee injury last year in Waterford.

phog

I'm disappointed that Dineen was let go, obviously, he wasn't highly rated but on the occasions he got a run he did well. He's improved his defence too so I thought he'd get a contract extension.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

I'm disappointed that Dineen was let go, obviously, he wasn't highly rated but on the occasions he got a run he did well. He's improved his defence too so I thought he'd get a contract extension.

He's a good player but he turns 28 next month and has been injury prone. He was unlucky in 2013/14 not to get more big match opportunities after performing in early season matches.

He knew a year ago he wasn't getting another contract...

total former

Deleted User wrote: »

He knew a year ago he wasn't getting another contract...

Ssshhhh

phog

Deleted User wrote: »

He knew a year ago he wasn't getting another contract...

ah go on post it

thomond2006

Oh yeah I forgot about that. Good point.

Same goes for Johne.

The Lost Sheep

Academy for next season announced
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/20721.php#.VXBr37jbLMx
New players added are:
Ned Hodson (Centre/Cork Con), Ben Kilkenny (Back-row/Young Munster), Steven McMahon (Winger/Garryowen), Liam O'Connor (Prop/Cork Con), Conor Oliver (Back-row/St Mary's), JP Phelan (Prop/UCD), Tomás Quinlan (Outhalf/Cork Con).

thomond2006

Pau confirm arrival of Paddy Butler: http://www.section-paloise.com/actualites/news/301-une-nouvelle-recrue-de-haut-niveau-pour-le-pack-de-la-section

thomond2006

Year is when contract ends.

HOOKERS

Mike Sherry 2015
Duncan Casey 2016
Niall Scannell 2017
Kevin O'Byrne 2016
Eusebio Guinazu 2015

PROPS

James Cronin 2016
Dave Kilcoyne 2017
Peter McCabe undisclosed

BJ Botha January 2016
Stephen Archer 2018
John Ryan 2016

Niall Horan Year 3
Rory Burke Year 3
Brian Scott Year 2
Liam O'Connor Year 1
JP Phelan Year 1

LOCKS

Donnacha Ryan 2017
Donncha O'Callaghan 2016
Dave Foley 2017
Billy Holland 2016

Sean McCarthy Year 3
John Madigan Year 3
Darragh Moloney Year 2

FLANKERS

Peter O'Mahony 2018
Dave O'Callaghan 2016
Tommy O'Donnell 2016
Shane Buckley 2016
Jordan Coghlan 2016 - ARRIVING

Conor Oliver Year 1
Ben Kilkenny Year 1

NUMBER EIGHTS

Robin Copeland 2016
CJ Stander 2016
Jack O'Donoghue 2018

SCRUM-HALVES

Conor Murray 2016
Cathal Sheridan 2016
Duncan Williams 2017
Tomas O'Leary 2017 - ARRIVING

Jack Cullen Year 3
Ryan Foley Year 2

FLY-HALVES

Ian Keatley 2017
Tyler Bleyendall 2017
Johnny Holland 2017

Gearoid Lyons Year 2
Tómas Quinlan Year 1

CENTRES

Cian Bohane 2017
Denis Hurley 2016
Francis Saili 2017 - ARRIVING

Rory Scannell Year 3
Dan Goggin Year 2
Ned Hodson Year 1

WINGERS

Simon Zebo 2016
Keith Earls 2016
Gerhard Van Den Heever 2016
Andrew Conway 2016
Luke O'Dea 2015
Ronan O'Mahony 2017
Darren Sweetnam 2017

Alex Wootton Year 3
Greg O'Shea Year 3
Steven McMahon Year 1

FULLBACKS

Felix Jones 2017

David Johnston Year 3
Stephen Fitzgerald Year 2

Wang King

thomond2006 wrote: »

Pau confirm arrival of Paddy Butler: http://www.section-paloise.com/actualites/news/301-une-nouvelle-recrue-de-haut-niveau-pour-le-pack-de-la-section

Two weeks after I broke the news

Kirk Van Houten

hendo12 wrote:

Robbie Henshaw at 13?? Liam Toland mentioned it on Newstalk

So its starting to be mentioned in the media now.

The Lost Sheep

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Academy for next season announced
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/20721.php#.VXBr37jbLMx
New players added are:
Ned Hodson (Centre/Cork Con), Ben Kilkenny (Back-row/Young Munster), Steven McMahon (Winger/Garryowen), Liam O'Connor (Prop/Cork Con), Conor Oliver (Back-row/St Mary's), JP Phelan (Prop/UCD), Tomás Quinlan (Outhalf/Cork Con).

Slightly bored so...

Hodson former Midleton College student. Represented Munster at under 18 schools, 19, 20. Played in Munster 7s squad last summer. Finished second season out of school. First season was with UCC, played with Con this season just gone and had been part of sub academy until now.
Ben Kilkenny. former Munchins student. Represented Munster under 18 schools, 19, 20. Played Irish 19s
Steve McMahon. From Dungarvan. Played East Munster u17 development squad as an under 16 before moving to Rockwell winning schools cup in 2012. Been with Garryowen since leaving school. Played Munster u18 Schools, 19s, 20s. Ireland u18 Schools, 19s
Liam O Connor. CBC Cork. Munster u18 schools, u19, 20. Ireland u19. Now playing with Cork Con
Conor Oliver. Skerries and Leinster Youths winning provincial/regional titles w/ Skerries. Moved to Blackrock winning schools cup in 2014. Leinster u19, 20. Ireland u18 Clubs, u19, u20
JP Phelan. Naas mini/Newbridge College school. Leinster u19/20. Has been doing bit of scrum work with S Harty. Represented Munster A with C Oliver in game this season.
Tomas Quinlan. Munster u18 schools, u19, u20. Ireland u20. CBC Cork student. Plays with Cork Con now

roundymac

2017 for Sali. Is that correct.

thomond2006

roundymac wrote: »

2017 for Sali. Is that correct.

Yes, two year contract ending summer 2017: http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/20326.php#.VXFiVct0yHs

total former

roundymac wrote: »

2017 for Sali. Is that correct.

He is contracted until 2017, he arrives once the ITM Cup is finished (so October/November of this year).

Kirk Van Houten

total former wrote: »

He is contracted until 2017, he arrives once the ITM Cup is finished (so October/November of this year).

Saili will arrive before then. Not confirmed yet but likely to be Sept from what I have heard.

total former

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

Saili will arrive before then. Not confirmed yet but likely to be Sept from what I have heard.

Press release just said "end of his contractual commitments", I assumed he'd be contracted to Auckland for the ITM Cup.
His Super Rugby season is going to be over next weekend so would expect him to either be here for pre-season or to arrive after ITM Cup, not sure why he'd arrive in September?

thomond2006

If he can get over in June and get out of the ITM Cup then that would be great. The last three signings to arrive in November have had write off first seasons here due to injury or form (Stander, Van Den Heever and Bleyendaal).

Cookiemunster

I can't find a link, but I'm pretty sure that it was said when he signed that if he didn't make the All Black WC squad (which he obviously won't) them he'd be over late August early September.

shaungil

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Slightly bored so...

Conor Oliver. Skerries and Leinster Youths winning provincial/regional titles w/ Skerries. Moved to Blackrock winning schools cup in 2014. Leinster u19, 20. Ireland u18 Clubs, u19, u20
Last Skerries man contracted to Munste was.........?

Kirk Van Houten

Last Skerries man with Munster - Killian Keane?

shaungil

Killian Keane is correct.

jimmymcelroy

Any sign of the new jersey? I presume they're trying to avoid launching it around the new Irish gear launch

Cookiemunster

jimmymcelroy wrote: »

Any sign of the new jersey? I presume they're trying to avoid launching it around the new Irish gear launch

They won't be launched until mid/late July.

thomond2006

Every day that passes where Toulon don't confirm POC's arrival is another day where I have a tiny fear that POC will sign for Saracens.

Micky Dolenz

thomond2006 wrote: »

Every day that passes where Toulon don't confirm POC's arrival is another day where I have a tiny fear that POC will sign for Saracens.

Ah c'mon on Man, keep those thoughts to yourself, no need to be ruining our day as well.


:pac:

jm08

Really nice piece by Eamonn Sweeney on POC here.


Paul O'Connell - He put the gritty in integrity

http://www.independent.ie/sport/paul-oconnell-he-put-the-gritty-in-integrity-31283105.html