Academy 2018/2019

[Dave Cahill]

Not hugely accurate there Dave...

Nu metal as a genre died out. Not just Linkin Park

More than happy to be corrected on that!

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[Laighin Break]

Taller isn't stronger, taller isn't more powerful, taller isn't faster and taller isn't better at rugby. Its just taller. In certain positions height can be a potential advantage, but thats all it is.

Me thinks you doth protest too much. If you are a fast, excellent young rugby player, then being taller brings the potential to develop more size and power and be better a version of yourself. Its just factual.

George Smith 5'11", Neil Back 5'10", David Pocock 6', Michael Hooper 6', Serge Betson 6', Keith Gleeson 6' and the greatest I ever saw, JP Rives 5'10" all managed to have decent careers

Being tall does not bring the potential to develop more size and power, it just means you're tall. Most world class weightlifters, certainly in the 109kg class (where most backrow rugby players would reside) are less than 6' - in a lot of cases considerably so. Rugby's obsession with size has gone the way of bootcut jeans and Linkin Park - popular at the turn of the century, but since re-evaluated

Which is probably why weighlifting classes are based on weights instead of heights

[backrower8]

Being tall does not bring the potential to develop more size and power, it just means you're tall. Most world class weightlifters, certainly in the 109kg class (where most backrow rugby players would reside) are less than 6' - in a lot of cases considerably so. Rugby's obsession with size has gone the way of bootcut jeans and Linkin Park - popular at the turn of the century, but since re-evaluated

Referencing players who haven't played in the last 10 years isn't that relevant when addressing conditioning for the era we are now in, but if you say so....who am I to argue?

I haven't said that sub 6 footers can't be great players, just that in my opinion it helps most players in the back-row, to be 6ft plus but not taller than 6ft 3-4, as typically they have the potential to become more powerful than their typical sub 6 foot opponent, if they get the right S&C development. Of course its not all about power, but in general terms it helps to be a certain size and shape for certain positions and Scott Penny is borderline in his physique for his position in this era.

I still think we'll see those bootcut jeans come back though...I am kind of counting on it!

[johng]

There are different typed of jeans?

[ronk]

Weightlifting is by weight grade. Shorter lifters have less work to do with more muscle. Huge advantage.

Cloete does okay. Strauss was good too. Some people make a big deal about it but it only matters in a few positions.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Academy Update

Prop
Jack Aungier(Year 2/Suttonians RFC/Terenure) - started at 3 for Terenure.
Michael Milne(Year 1/CC Roscrea-Birr RFC/UCD) - bench for Irish 20's, came on at TH Prop.

Guiseppe Coyne(U20/Blackrock/DUFC) - started at 1 for DUFC.
Harry Noonan(U19/Greystones RFC/Old Weseley) - bench for Old Wesley.

Hooker
Ronan Kelleher(Year 2/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - started at 2 for seniors.
Dan Sheehan(Year 1/Clongowes/DUFC) - didnt play this weekend.

Declan Adamson(U20/Clontarf/Clontarf) - stated at 2 for Clontarf.
Richie Bergin(U20/St. Marys/UCD) - bench for UCD.
Bobby Sheehan(U19/Clongowes/UCD) - started at 2 for UCD, 1 try.
John McKee(U19/Campbell/Old Belvedere) - bench for Old Belvedere.

Lock
Oisin Dowling(Year 2/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - didn't play this weekend.
Jack Dunne(Year 1/St. Michaels/DUFC) - bench for seniors.
Ryan Baird(Year 1/St. Michaels/DUFC) - started at 4 for DUFC.

Charlie Ryan(U20/Blackrock/UCD) - started at 4 for Irish 20's.
Brian Deeny(U19/Wexford/Clontarf) - bench for Irish 20's.
Cian Prendergast(U19/Newbridge/UCD) - bench for UCD.

Backrow
Scott Penny(Year 1/St. Michaels/UCD) - started at 7 for Irish u20's, 1 try.

Martin Moloney(U20/Athy RFC/Old Belvedere) - started at 6 for Irish u20's.
Ronan Watters(U20/St. Marys/St. Marys) - bench for Irish u20's, came on at 6.
Ruadhan Byron(U20/Belvedere/Clontarf) - bench for Clontarf.
Reuben Pim(U20/Kilkenny/DUFC) - bench for DUFC.

Scrumhalf
Hugh O'Sullivan(Year 2/Belvedere/Clontarf) - started at 9 for seniors.
Patrick Patterson(Year 1/Blackrock/UCD) - bench for seniors, 1 try.

James Kenny(U21/Gonzaga/Lansdowne) - bench for Lansdowne.
Cormac Foley(U20/St. Marys/St. Marys) - bench for Irish 20's.

Outhalf
Ciaran Frawley(Year 2/Skerries RFC/UCD) - didn't play this weekend.
Harry Byrne(Year 1/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - started at 10 for Irish u20's.
David Hawkshaw(Year 1/Belvedere/Clontarf) - started at 12 for Irish u20's, 1 try.

Conor Kelly(U20/Roscrea/Clontarf) - bench for Clontarf, 1 try.

Centre
Conor O'Brien(Year 3/Mullingar RFC/Clontarf) - started at 13 for seniors.
Jimmy O'Brien(Year 3/Newbridge/UCD) - bench for seniors, came on at 15.
Gavin Mullin(Year 2/Blackrock/UCD) - 24th man for senior team
Tommy O'Brien(Year 2/Blackrock/UCD) - injured.

David Ryan(U20/St. Michaels/UCD) - bench for UCD.
Adam LaGrue(U20/Terenure/Terenure) - started at 13 for Terenure, 1 try.

Back Three
Hugo Keenan(Year 3/Blackrock/UCD) - Irish 7's.
Jack Kelly(Year 3/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Irish 7's.
Michael Silvester(Year 1/Clongowes/DUFC) - Irish 7's.
Aaron O'Sullivan(Year 1/Exile/UCD) - didn't play this weekend.

Hugo Conway(U20/St. Marys/St. Marys) - started at 14 for St. Marys.
Ruairi Shields(U20/St. Marys/St. Marys) - started at 15 for St. Marys, 1 try.

[mildlyinterested]

Of the Ireland u20's, from a Leinster POV, you have to be excited about:
Thomas Clarkson, Charlie Ryan, Brian Deeny, Martin Moloney, Scott Penny, Harry Byrne, David Hawkshaw & Liam Turner.

Want to see more of:
Michael Milne, John McKee, Ronan Watters, Cormac Foley, Rob Russell

Hoping to see some of:
Giuseppe Coyne, Ryan Baird, Aaron O'Sullivan, David Ryan

[mildlyinterested]

The following players have sort of disappeared this season, presumably injured:

Paddy McKenzie(Outhalf/Wicklow/Old Wesley) - u19
Tom Maher(Wing/Blackrock/UCD) - u19
Max O'Reilly(Fullback/St. Gerards/DUFC) - u19

[flustered]

McKenzie tore his ACL before the season started, still in rehab as far as I am aware

[mildlyinterested]

McKenzie tore his ACL before the season started, still in rehab as far as I am aware

likely all three did their ACL's they've been absent that long.

[the spoofer]

McKenzie tore his ACL before the season started, still in rehab as far as I am aware

likely all three did their ACL's they've been absent that long.

Charlie Ward wrecked his hammer. Out for number of months.

[mildlyinterested]

Possible Leinster U20 Props

Tom Clarkson(Blackrock/DUFC)
Harry Noonan(Greystones RFC/Old Wesley)
Charlie Ward(Tullow RFC/Clontarf)
Marcus Hanan(Clane RFC)
Fionn Finlay(St. Michaels)
Luke Rigney(Newbridge)
Ryan McMahon(Clongowes)
Sam Illo(Wesley) - u19

Possible Leinster U20 Hookers

John McKee(Campbell/Old Belvedere)
Bobby Sheehan(Clongowes/UCD)
Ethan Baxter(St. Gerards/Old Belvedere)
Mark Nicholson(Wicklow RFC)
Levi Vaughan(Terenure) - u19

Possible Leinster U20 locks

Brian Deeny(Wexford RFC/Clontarf)
Cian Prendergast(Newbridge/UCD)
Joseph McCarthy(Blackrock)
Alex Soroka(Belvedere) - u19

Possible Leinster U20 Backrows

Anthony Ryan(Clongowes/DUFC)
Jody Booth(St. Michaels/DUFC)
Ed Brennan(Blackrock)
Sean O'Brien(Blackrock)
Jack Cooke(Terenure)
Tom Coghlan(Clongowes)
Mark Hernan(St. Michaels)
Aaron Coleman(Belvedere) - u19
Jack Barry(Gonzaga) - u19

[mildlyinterested]

McKenzie tore his ACL before the season started, still in rehab as far as I am aware

likely all three did their ACL's they've been absent that long.

Charlie Ward wrecked his hammer. Out for number of months.

Yeah I think I saw you say that before, possibly elsewhere.

I'd say his aim is to be back for Leinster 20's.

[TrapperChamonix]

Leinster Academy Update

Prop
Jack Aungier(Year 2/Suttonians RFC/Terenure) - started at 3 for Terenure.
Michael Milne(Year 1/CC Roscrea-Birr RFC/UCD) - bench for Irish 20's, came on at TH Prop.

Guiseppe Coyne(U20/Blackrock/DUFC) - started at 1 for DUFC.
Harry Noonan(U19/Greystones RFC/Old Weseley) - bench for Old Wesley.

Hooker
Ronan Kelleher(Year 2/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - started at 2 for seniors.
Dan Sheehan(Year 1/Clongowes/DUFC) - didnt play this weekend.

Declan Adamson(U20/Clontarf/Clontarf) - stated at 2 for Clontarf.
Richie Bergin(U20/St. Marys/UCD) - bench for UCD.
Reuben Pim(U20/Kilkenny/DUFC) - bench for DUFC.
Bobby Sheehan(U19/Clongowes/UCD) - started at 2 for UCD, 1 try.
John McKee(U19/Campbell/Old Belvedere) - bench for Old Belvedere.

Lock
Oisin Dowling(Year 2/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - didn't play this weekend.
Jack Dunne(Year 1/St. Michaels/DUFC) - bench for seniors.
Ryan Baird(Year 1/St. Michaels/DUFC) - started at 4 for DUFC.

Charlie Ryan(U20/Blackrock/UCD) - started at 4 for Irish 20's.
Brian Deeny(U19/Wexford/Clontarf) - bench for Irish 20's.
Cian Prendergast(U19/Newbridge/UCD) - bench for UCD.

Backrow
Scott Penny(Year 1/St. Michaels/UCD) - started at 7 for Irish u20's, 1 try.

Martin Moloney(U20/Athy RFC/Old Belvedere) - started at 6 for Irish u20's.
Ronan Watters(U20/St. Marys/St. Marys) - bench for Irish u20's, came on at 6.
Ruadhan Byron(U20/Belvedere/Clontarf) - bench for Clontarf.

Scrumhalf
Hugh O'Sullivan(Year 2/Belvedere/Clontarf) - started at 9 for seniors.
Patrick Patterson(Year 1/Blackrock/UCD) - bench for seniors, 1 try.

James Kenny(U21/Gonzaga/Lansdowne) - bench for Lansdowne.
Cormac Foley(U20/St. Marys/St. Marys) - bench for Irish 20's.

Outhalf
Ciaran Frawley(Year 2/Skerries RFC/UCD) - didn't play this weekend.
Harry Byrne(Year 1/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - started at 10 for Irish u20's.
David Hawkshaw(Year 1/Belvedere/Clontarf) - started at 12 for Irish u20's, 1 try.

Conor Kelly(U20/Roscrea/Clontarf) - bench for Clontarf, 1 try.

Centre
Conor O'Brien(Year 3/Mullingar RFC/Clontarf) - started at 13 for seniors.
Jimmy O'Brien(Year 3/Newbridge/UCD) - bench for seniors, came on at 15.
Gavin Mullin(Year 2/Blackrock/UCD) - 24th man for senior team
Tommy O'Brien(Year 2/Blackrock/UCD) - injured.

David Ryan(U20/St. Michaels/UCD) - bench for UCD.
Adam LaGrue(U20/Terenure/Terenure) - started at 13 for Terenure, 1 try.

Back Three
Hugo Keenan(Year 3/Blackrock/UCD) - Irish 7's.
Jack Kelly(Year 3/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Irish 7's.
Michael Silvester(Year 1/Clongowes/DUFC) - Irish 7's.
Aaron O'Sullivan(Year 1/Exile/UCD) - didn't play this weekend.

Hugo Conway(U20/St. Marys/St. Marys) - started at 14 for St. Marys.
Ruairi Shields(U20/St. Marys/St. Marys) - started at 15 for St. Marys, 1 try.

Reuben Pimm is a back row

[mildlyinterested]

Reuben Pimm is a back row

Yep, knew I had made a mistake and forgotten to correct it.

[Jonny tight lips]

With JOB, COB, Jack jelly and Hugo Keenan In year three who do you think will make the senior team next year. You would imagine COB and JOB have done enough and with us loosing two senior centres (If Tom Daly dosent return) there is space there. Keenan looked good in the couple of games before his injury but Jack Kelly has only had the one run out and the fact that he made a point of it saying he lived in France for several years on his Wikipedia page makes me think he’s keeping his options open. I guess a lot will depend on who if any of the seniors move on.
Early graduates I’d imagine Ciaran Frawley, HOS, Penny and maybe Kelleher although in the case of the last two I’d be inclined to keep them in the academy for another year and take some of the pressure of them to play and develop within the academy structure and the squad isint short at 2 or 7 unlike the halfbacks

[mildlyinterested]

Kelly is a year younger than the other three, turns 22 in October. COB is 23 now, JOB is 23 in November and Keenan is 23 in June. He is playing irish 7's at the moment with Keenan. I'd expect all 4 to be at Leinster next season given the RWC.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Rugby to open centre of excellence at Donnybrook

https://t.co/m3Y6WH1q53

The 6,000 square foot building is at the Old Wesley end of the ground incorporating the old Leinster Branch offices and the will house a gymnasium, meeting rooms, changing rooms and offices. It was built at a cost of €1.3 million.

Mick Dawson, CEO of Leinster Rugby, explained the thought process behind the Donnybrook facility and those that will be created in other educational hubs around the province.

“The schools system is fantastic but also there are an awful lot of other kids outside the traditional rugby playing schools who are playing rugby.

“For them to thrive and develop a lot of the time their parents have to drive them to Dublin for extra sessions. The likes of Sean O’Brien and Tadhg Furlong, whose parents were fantastically supportive, we would like to have a centre closer to where they live. We are looking at working with IT Carlow, King’s Hospital and IT Dundalk, where we would partner those people.

“We are nearly finished the one in Donnybrook. We will be able to cater for more of the sub academy, those in their first year out of school, just developing them, giving them better facilities and also our underage teams. We will also be able to cater for the IRFU underage teams and maybe their Sevens programme if they want to train there.

“Donnybrook will cost about €1.3 million. We have been helped by philanthropy, a number of people have contributed towards that cost. It will be known as the Ken Wall Centre of Excellence.”

[LeinsterLeader]

Leinster Rugby to open centre of excellence at Donnybrook

https://t.co/m3Y6WH1q53

The 6,000 square foot building is at the Old Wesley end of the ground incorporating the old Leinster Branch offices and the will house a gymnasium, meeting rooms, changing rooms and offices. It was built at a cost of €1.3 million.

Mick Dawson, CEO of Leinster Rugby, explained the thought process behind the Donnybrook facility and those that will be created in other educational hubs around the province.

“The schools system is fantastic but also there are an awful lot of other kids outside the traditional rugby playing schools who are playing rugby.

“For them to thrive and develop a lot of the time their parents have to drive them to Dublin for extra sessions. The likes of Sean O’Brien and Tadhg Furlong, whose parents were fantastically supportive, we would like to have a centre closer to where they live. We are looking at working with IT Carlow, King’s Hospital and IT Dundalk, where we would partner those people.

“We are nearly finished the one in Donnybrook. We will be able to cater for more of the sub academy, those in their first year out of school, just developing them, giving them better facilities and also our underage teams. We will also be able to cater for the IRFU underage teams and maybe their Sevens programme if they want to train there.

“Donnybrook will cost about €1.3 million. We have been helped by philanthropy, a number of people have contributed towards that cost. It will be known as the Ken Wall Centre of Excellence.”

Hooray! We can create even more players for other provinces to steal

[mildlyinterested]

Ronan Kelleher(Hooker/U21) & Oisin Dowling(Lock/U22) named to start for Lansdowne. James Kenny(Scrumhalf/U21) also named to start.