AIL 2022-2023

Doubt Leinster would care what Shannon RFC's views are on what Leinster does with its own players.

The Boyle argument absolutely does stack up. Both Jack Boyle and Ed Byrne are recently back from long term injury.

Leinster wanted to use the London Irish game to give minutes to Ed Byrne from the start, with Marcus Hanan covering him (presumably - I haven't seen the teams). Releasing Boyle to UCD meant he started and played bigger minutes. Both players will presumably go to South Africa.

The three guys you're complaining about here are all Leinster Academy players, not fully contracted players. Boyle - a Year 2 Academy player was left behind as Leinster brought a fully contracted LHP (Ed Byrne) and a Year 3 Academy player (Hanan) to London.

What do you mean by "uncontracted players" were picked ahead of Sean O'Brien? He's an Academy player - Ruadhri O'Connor's tweet stated Alex Soroka (Academy), James Culhane (Academy) and Will Connors (fully contracted) started in the back row in London.

If Leinster did decide to bring some sub-academy backrowers ahead of a guy who they know is leaving that would make the utmost sense. Why invest time in a guy who won't be part of your team next year when you can get a closer look at another young promising player?

Ah come on - the purpose of this game was that Leinster are going to South Africa with this squad of players, who don't get an opportunity to play together that regularly. The rationale here was to give them a run out together ahead of that.

They obviously get gametime with the AIL clubs (and I think tbf academy players across all four provinces are playing increasing numbers of AIL minutes in recent seasons) but Leinster are focused on getting them to play the type of game Leinster want them to play.

Leinster's first priority is obviously just Leinster. They are doing what they feel is in the best interests of themselves and the player's development. It may sound callous to say they aren't concerned about the clubs and who goes up or down, but I think it's probably accurate.

Who are the uncontracted players you keep referencing? The handful of guys like Cormac Daly, Conall Boomer, Colm Hogan etc who've spent some time training with Leinster this season?

Do you ever consider that for those players, this is exactly what they want too?

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill here. These players are Leinster players first and foremost, and the vast majority of them are schools developed players, so it's not like the clubs have any great claim to them beyond their current registration.

I imagine it is quite clearly understood and acknowledged within the clubs that if you have players on your books who are part of the Leinster Academy or senior Leinster squad then those players primary objective is Leinster, and not the club. They're a nice to have for the clubs when they're available, but ultimately Leinster are paying their wages and free to call upon them as they see fit.

I agree with you that the timing (and short notice) of the fixture aren't ideal, but it is what it is.

Yeah, no one is disputing the importance that the players play matches. Leinster's academy players have largely been available to the AIL clubs this season (with the exception of the guys who've been hurt or who've racked up big minutes in the Leinster senior side like John McKee and Rob Russell.

You are hugely under estimating the role that clubs play in Irish rugby. The proposition that the vast majority of these players are schools developed players is hugely disrespectful to all the clubs out there.

I'm not under estimating the role the clubs play, but you're overstating the role these specific clubs have played in this current crop of player's development.

Of the current Leinster Academy, you've 7 lads who's AIL club is UCD. UCD haven't developed those players - in the cases of the players involved they're almost all schools developed players (Jack Boyle - Michaels, Rory McGuire - Blackrock, Diarmuid Mangan - Newbridge, James Culhane - Blackrock, Sean O'Brien - Blackrock, Ben Brownlee - Blackrock & Chris Cosgrave - St Michaels).

The three who are with Lansdowne were only signed to Lansdowne after they joined the Leinster Academy. Of those three; Sam Prendergast came through Newbridge College (and before that Cill Dara RFC), Charlie Tector through Kilkenny College (and I think Enniscorthy) and Temi Lasisi (Enniscorthy RFC).

Of the two Terenure players you've John McKee, who was produced through Campbell College in Belfast, and has played meaningful minutes for Leinster. The other Marcus Hanan is a produce of Clane RFC.

Three are attached to DUFC - where they attend university. They were all schools produced players (Barron - St Michaels, Russell - St Michaels and O'Reilly - St Gerards).

And finally you've three guys with Clontarf - Alex Soroka (developed in Belvedere College), Ben Murphy (Pres Bray) and Andrew Smith (St Michael's).

So in conclusion - not one of the clubs impacted developed any of the current crop of Leinster Academy players. Other clubs did in some instances, but it's predominantly a crop who's development is attributable to the schools system. Clontarf probably have the best argument with Alex Soroka, but he's still predominantly a schools product.

Standard farce at the Aviva of only one gate open going into the ground and a couple of thousand people pushing to try and get through it.

Same thing happened twelve months ago. Amateurish.