The Leinster thread

[King_D'Arcy]

Darcy, as an Irish player who has played his entire career in Ireland, would be foolish to finish his career abroad as if he did so he'd lose out on a massive tax rebate when he eventually does call it quits. He'd have to be offered truly astonishing money from a foreign club to make it worth his while financially.

Players receive their rebate after 10 years of playing for a club so D'Arcy woulda gotten his back in 08

 

[munstermuffin]

Players receive their rebate after 10 years of playing for a club so D'Arcy woulda gotten his back in 08

False. They must finish playing in Ireland also and only qualify after 10 years being pro in this country

 

[osullie6]

False. They must finish playing in Ireland also and only qualify after 10 years being pro in this country

From looking around the internet it seems to be that the way it works is that the player has to finish their career in Ireland, and if they do they get a rebate of some of their income tax they paid during their most profitable years as a professional player in Ireland up to a maximum of ten. So it doesn't look like they only qualify for it after ten years of being a professional.

But you are right in that they definitely have to end their career here, (I think there's some restriction as well that they can't retire through injury or something like that, it came up in an article when I Googled it).

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I know that Leinster generally win everything at that level, with the odd success from the others; but 16 players in a squad good? Is Irish age grade rugby really well served by basically picking the entire Leinster side, and then the best from the rest? A lot of those Leinster kids will get lost in the system at a guess, because there's too much input, and even allowing for overflow the experience will be wasted. Is Barry Daly really that much ahead of Robert Henshaw, Stephen MacAuley or Rory Scholes, to pick three talented players who are far closer to first team reckoning, for instance? I've honestly no idea, it just looks really weird and unhelpful, and was curious to see what you guys thought.

You'll also note two of the guys I named are U19 this year - atm, Ireland only have 4 guys returning next year. Given how good this year's U19s are, and the advantages in returning players, I'm slightly surprised they haven't axed some of the squad guys in favour of younger bucks too.

Also, Van Der Flier should really be a winger with that name. What's the story there? Immigrant parents, over at school, shameless poach?

16 is a massive representation. Truthfully, I think some are very lucky to be there.

The u18s and u19s have some excellent players. For the most part though, the bigger talents are still in school. I fully expect guys like Dan Leavy, Brian Byrne, Edward Byrne and Gavin Thornbury to go straight into the u20s team next year. Again, all are Leinster men.

Don't know what the craic is with van der Flier. I'd never flagged him as one to watch while in school.

 

[Peat]

16 is a massive representation. Truthfully, I think some are very lucky to be there.

The u18s and u19s have some excellent players. For the most part though, the bigger talents are still in school. I fully expect guys like Dan Leavy, Brian Byrne, Edward Byrne and Gavin Thornbury to go straight into the u20s team next year. Again, all are Leinster men.

Don't know what the craic is with van der Flier. I'd never flagged him as one to watch while in school.

I had a feeling you might say that.

Osullie - I'll say outright what I hinted at/was thinking but wanted to see what others thought; I am very dubious that all of those 16 players are the best available. A lot of them are but we must have been talking some very tight margins for some of them; I'm fairly sure Conor Finn played more U20 rugby in the 6N than Daly did f'instance. Going by my admittedly incomplete knowledge, there seem to be a lot of tight calls that a Leinster man won; not only do I think its better for Ireland if the tight calls are resolved in a) not sending provincial U20 subs over and b) didn't go Leinster's way every time, which it seems to.

Although that said, it's not just Leinster. Munster having both hookers looks slightly odd, although I believe that's due to injury, while continuing Ulster's domination of the fly-half slot to the point of having two from Ulster in the squad two years in a row - well, I'm not complaining that much, but it'd be hypocritical of me not to point it out. I guess its unfair to leave out arguably more talented players due to province, but that's life. A bit of ruthlessness at international level doesn't go amiss.

Back to snoopy - I know nothing about Thornbury, but have obviously seen a bit of the other three and rate what I've seen.

Weird. He seems to be a 7 as well, about the third in the squad. Weirder still... that said, England are taking three opensides as well...

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

A lot of the marginal calls, aren't likely to make it as pro players so I wouldn't be too concerned at the "Leinster bias". My preference would be for younger players to be brought in those instances though. Some of the wingers were quite poor in the 6 Nations. In my opinion, bringing a talented u19 player in place of an average winger would be preferable since the younger player would benefit from the experience and is more likely to go pro at a later date anyway.

 

[Peat]

A lot of the marginal calls, aren't likely to make it as pro players so I wouldn't be too concerned at the "Leinster bias". My preference would be for younger players to be brought in those instances though. Some of the wingers were quite poor in the 6 Nations. In my opinion, bringing a talented u19 player in place of an average winger would be preferable since the younger player would benefit from the experience and is more likely to go pro at a later date anyway.

You'll notice I did head straight for a pair of U19 wingers in my marginal call there! One of my points thought is they're far more likely to be pro players if not at Leinster; or at least to be given a chance in senior rugby to see how they adapt.

 

[lucky number 7]

Talk of a 17 year old Gorey lad getting picked up by Leinster 19's.

 

[big ginger 8]

Well done. As someone born in December I really hate the age group rules.

 

[lucky number 7]

Well done. As someone born in December I really hate the age group rules.

I'm very late November... Always ****ing hated it.

 

[big ginger 8]

Bloody annoying I unfortunately didn't get selected for training in the Summer. Most of the guys picked at prop are going into 6th year and a good bit over 100kg I'm 90kg what chance did I have?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Talk of a 17 year old Gorey lad getting picked up by Leinster 19's.

Next year's Leinster u19s could be a special group of players so if a 17 year old club player is making it, he must be a hell of a player. I'm not denegrating club players but it's always seemed harder for them to make the breakthrough than for guys coming up the schools route.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I'm 90kg what chance did I have?

Eat more fried food and peanut butter.

 

[big ginger 8]

Eat more friend food and peanut butter

Great tips cheers. Don't worry BG8's got a plan we'll be doing a mass building programme over the summer in school. Then I'm gonna make a list every prop I come up against is getting his head shoved through his ass.

 

[lucky number 7]

Eat more friend food and peanut butter

This ,

the only way to put on weight is eat at a caloric surplus

However I'm afraid of bulking... if I put on a few pounds of fat I freak out and just cut.

 

[profitius]

Eamonn Sheridan joins ROtherham ***ans.

***ans have announced two further additions to their playing squad.
Both players are backs and both arrive at Clifton Lane with a reputation of being highly rated and are expected to be stand-out players in the Championship next term.

Eamonn Sheridan, a big, powerful centre with a turn of pace joins the Clifton Lane outfit from Leinster. At 6' 4" and 17 stone he his certain to add physicality to the ***ans back line.

The 23 year-old has a fine pedigree, having made several appearances for the Leinster 'A' side and achieved 20 caps with Ireland U20's, which included appearances against such sides as Italy, France, Scotland, England, Argentina, New Zealand, Wales, Tonga and Samoa.

Sheridan also has experience of competing in the Magners league with Leinster, alongside his caps for Leinster U18's and U20's and 8 caps for Ireland Under-18 Club Youths.

***ans head coach Andre Bester commented on his new acquisition, "I'm really pleased we have managed to secure Eamonn for next season. I wanted to take him last year but Leinster did not want to release him and then he suffered an injury with a broken leg. He's fine now and I expect him to be a stand-out player for us in the Championship."

http://cornish-pirates.com/rfu_championship_news/rfu_championship_news_25th_may_2012.html

 

[big ginger 8]

Bad news for Fitzgerald. Apparently he's had a setback and will be out another 6 months and won't be offered a central contract but a move abroad is unlikely because of the injury. Leinster are in talks with him but he's pretty much in purgatory.

 

[lynam1104]

Fitzys had such a tough time over the last two years. It's a real shame he's such a talented player just can't seem to get a break.

 

[profitius]

Leinster Academy List 2012/13:

Edward Byrne (Loosehead Prop) 1
Brian Byrne (Hooker) 1
Gavin Thornbury (2nd Row) 1
Tadgh Beirne (2nd Row) 1
Dan Leavy (Flanker) 1
Josh Van Der Flier (Openside Flanker) 1
Jack Conan (Number Eight) 1
Cathal Marsh (Out-half) 1
James Tracey (Loosehead Prop) 2
Tadhg Furlong (Tighthead Prop) 2
Martin Moore (Tighthead Prop) 2
David Doyle (Hooker) 2
Conor Gilsenan (Openside) 2
Jordan Coughlan (Back-row) 2
Luke McGrath (Scrum-half) 2
Collie O'Shea (Centre) 2
Michael Sherlock (Full-back) 2
Andrew Boyle (Wing) 2
Jack O'Connell (Loosehead Prop) 3
Jordi Murphy (Back-row) 3
Ben Marshall (2nd Row) 3
Noel Reid (Out-half/Centre) 3
Darren Hudson (Wing) 3
Sam Coghlan Murray (Wing) 3

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/10073.php

24 man academy this season.

 

[lynam1104]

Strong looking academy good to see a few 2nd rows and props.

Also is Josh Van Der Flier proper 7 or for that matter any use I've never heard anything about him.