Leinster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread XII (The Byrne Supremacy)

Hoping that we hear more about new contract extensions in the coming weeks. Not a fan of how Leinster release info in drips and drabs.

The one player I hope we nail down is Dan Sheehan. Signed a new contract last year, but the duration wasn't divulged. No doubt the IRFU would love one of he or Kelleher to to south.

Is the semi likely to be a quick sell out? Or will there be plenty of tickets still available on the general release?

Saaaad. Depressing.

Cian Tracy reporting that all 3 of Baird, Lowe and VDF are likely to and expected to be fit for Toulouse. For those worried about L.R. in the final, remember it took them 85 minutes to score against Ulster at home. Leinster will win the final with room to spare.

Great news on Baird. Hopefully VDF and Lowe pull through as well.

That Indo article also states that Sean O'Brien looks likely to have an expanded coaching role from next season. He'll take over the defensive side of the game. Leinster still looking to appoint a coach from elsewhere.

The squad travels to South Africa today without Lancaster. He's staying in Dublin to prepare the squad for Toulouse.

Well said. I suppose a slight counter argument is how well Leinster would be able to retain those players in a competitive market, if they were free to play outside of Ireland and still represent.

Don't England players have to play in their domestic league to represent England too?

The BBC article below gives more detail, so the Irish and English system is the same, players have to play for a team within the country, except that England have 11 teams to choose from to our 4.

"Rugby Football Union rules do not allow players based abroad to be selected for England - but an exception was made for former Wasps and Worcester players after those clubs folded."

Well how come Jack Willis who plays for Toulouse played for England in the 6N this year then ?

I think a big thing that the Leinster schools and academy system does that doesn't get accounted for enough (especially by foreign media/analysts) is strongly encourage/grow a great sense of community and support amongst the players. They really, really like being part of the Leinster set up socially.

To the point where if playing opportunities are mostly equal a lot of the guys will accept a lower salary to stay here, rather than ply their trade in a English/French team for more money.

Its a harder to quantify thing than just a salary number so I don't think it gets discussed much. But I've known a couple of guys who were in the system and when offers came in from abroad it was a big factor in their decision making.

Got my tickets for the Semi-final, but site was acting up. Actually think I got them through the public sale link rather than the Leinster link, but who knows, it all seemed the same.

This seems to get overlooked, they usually point to Saracens needing to break the salary cap to keep their homegrown players but that seems tenuous considering the imports they had (and not all those 'homegrown' lads came through the academy. Who are Leicester struggling to keep? They simply aren't producing players in the way Leinster are

Is the traveling squad named? To be honest, I would like to see a combo of Tector and Frawley together and Prendergast and Frawley. I doubt it will be so as this opportunity is a great chance for Frawley to play out half.

I suppose O'Brien is a good option in the 12 shirt too. Jenkins traveling is a risk I'd be hesitant to take. But the options are limited.

There's that but also playing for the team you supported as a child, with easy access for your family and friends to attend, means something.

Community is important in Irish culture, as you said within the Leinster system but also beyond that.

I'd say nearly all Leinster players take some sort of 'hometown discount' to stay with the team, like most Munster players probably did during their peak years.

Some of the changes certain corners are calling for driven mostly out of jealousy risks killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Taking steps to strip away player's connection to their home provinces and you likely end up with more players plying their trade abroad. I can see why foreign coaches and media would be very happy to push this agenda, for anyone Irish it is shortsighted.

Yes. All the better to sell you worse tickets for full price.