Show some ambition and go west, Lam tells rivals' reserves

[Peat]

Why would they? Draft after schools. Still need to develop the boys in the academy.

On the one hand, hurr-durr, yes. I is not clever. On the other - there's still a lot of training and talent identification going on at school level which would be at risk.

Also - a post school draft seems too early. Most players seem to enter academies a year or so at least after school. Post-university would be too late though and rearranging all the academy players halfway through seems quite a lot of disruption. Its not like Connacht aren't already bringing in academy players from Leinster and Munster already.

 

[Feicarsinn]

On the one hand, hurr-durr, yes. I is not clever. On the other - there's still a lot of training and talent identification going on at school level which would be at risk.

Also - a post school draft seems too early. Most players seem to enter academies a year or so at least after school. Post-university would be too late though and rearranging all the academy players halfway through seems quite a lot of disruption. Its not like Connacht aren't already bringing in academy players from Leinster and Munster already.

Well yeah, I mean it's a fairly radical old idea.

But I do agree with you. The Ulster and Leinster academies are at the point where they're turning away good players simply due to a lack of space. Tom Farrell for example (and sorry for the earlier confusion) was very nearly not offered a Leinster deal, with many believing his current academy contract is a direct result of Eoin O'Malley retiring early. I don't know if Munster will ever have the sheer population to ge to that stage, but their academy should be strong for the foreseeable future as well. Connacht's task should be to make sure those players stay in the Irish system and don't end up abroad. Players develop at different rates and all that jazz.