Leinster Senior Squad 2017/2018

[the spoofer]

Loosehead Prop
Cian Healy - Signed central 3yr contract in 2016
Jack McGrath - Signed central 3yr contract in 2016
Ed Byrne - Signed contract in 2017
Peter Dooley - Signed contract in 2016

Hooker
Richardt Strauss - Signed contract in 2017
Sean Cronin - Signed 3yr contract in 2015
James Tracy - Signed contract in 2016
Bryan Byrne - Signed contract in 2017

Sean McNulty - Academy Year 3
Ronan Kelleher - Academy Year 1

Tighthead Prop
Michael Bent - Signed contract in 2016
Tadhg Furlong - Signed contract in 2016
Andrew Porter - Signed contract in 2017

Oisin Heffernan - Academy Year 3
Jeremy Loughman - Academy Year 3
Jack Aungier - Academy Year 1

Lock
Scott Fardy - Signed 2 yr contract in 2017
Devin Toner - Signed central 3yr contract in 2017
Ian Nagle - Signed contract in 2017
Mick Kearney - Signed contract in 2017
Ross Molony - Signed contract in 2016
James Ryan - Signed contract in 2017

Oisin Dowling - Academy Year 1

Backrow
Jamie Heaslip - Signed central 3 yr contract in 2017
Sean O'Brien - Signed central 3 yr contract in 2016
Rhys Ruddock - Signed contract in 2016
Jordi Murphy - Signed contract in 2017
Jack Conan - Signed contract in 2017
Josh Van Der Flier - Signed contract in 2016
Dan Leavy - Signed contract in 2017
Peadar Timmins - Signed contract in 2017
Max Deegan - Signed contract in 2017

Josh Murphy - Academy Year 3
Will Connors - Academy Year 2
Caelan Doris - Academy Year 1

Scrumhalf
Jamie Gibson Park - Signed 3 yr contract in 2016
Luke McGrath - Signed contract in 2017
Nick McCarthy - Signed contract in 2017

Charlie Rock - Academy Year 3
Hugh O'Sullivan - Academy Year 1

Outhalf
Jonathan Sexton - Signed central 4 yr contract in 2015
Cathal Marsh - Signed contract in 2016
Ross Byrne - Signed contract in 2017
Joey Carbery - Signed contract in 2017

Ciaran Frawley - Academy Year 1

Centre
Noel Reid - Signed contract in 2017
Robbie Henshaw - Signed 3yr contract in 2016
Tom Daly - Signed contract in 2017
Garry Ringrose - Signed contract in 2016
Rory O'Loughlin - Signed contract in 2017

Conor O'Brien - Academy Year 2
Jimmy O'Brien - Academy Year 2
Gavin Mullin - Academy Year 1
Tommy O'Brien - Academy Year 1

Back Three
Isa Nacewa - Signed 2yr contract in 2016
Rob Kearney - Signed central 3 yr contract in 2015
Fergus McFadden - Signed 3yr contract in 2015
Dave Kearney - Signed contract in 2016
James Lowe - Signed 3yr contract in 2017
Barry Daly - Signed contract in 2017
Adam Byrne - Signed contract in 2017

Ian Fitzpatrick - Academy Year 4
Hugo Keenan - Academy Year 2
Terry Kennedy - Academy Year 2
Jordan Larmour - Academy Year 2
Jack Kelly - Year 2

66 players by my count, 35 forwards and 31 backs.

[wixfjord]

The more I look at it, the more I'm a wee bit worried by our pack's tight play against the bigger sides?
I'm sure we'll be playing an expansive, open game, but one risk is that we get attacked in scrum and maul.
Fardy is a good lineout, open play and breakdown man, but if we've a pack with Toner, Fardy, Conan, VDF/Leavy, Heaslip as the back 5 that might not be enough to compete against the top sides in tight games.

The other side of this of course is that there's immense pace and ability in open play in our forward pack next year. Should make for some exciting rugby.

[simonokeeffe]

The more I look at it, the more I'm a wee bit worried by our pack's tight play against the bigger sides?
I'm sure we'll be playing an expansive, open game, but one risk is that we get attacked in scrum and maul.
Fardy is a good lineout, open play and breakdown man, but if we've a pack with Toner, Fardy, Conan, VDF/Leavy, Heaslip as the back 5 that might not be enough to compete against the top sides in tight games.

The other side of this of course is that there's immense pace and ability in open play in our forward pack next year. Should make for some exciting rugby.

Good thing weve some really good scrummaging props
I wouldnt worry about physicality of any of those backrowers like for like, may even have SOB for some games too

[mildlyinterested]

Hooker potentially the weakest position in the pack.

Fullback potentially the weakest position in the backs.

[Ruckedtobits]

The modern interpretation facilitates categorisation of Front Five and Back-row as two distinct units within forwards.

The Front-five are usually responsible for scrum and maul performances. The Back-row have primary responsibility for breakdown and mid-field and wide attack support.

The more I've reviewed our options, the more I'm convinced that Fardy will have to play to an international standard to get a second-row slot for European games, beside Toner. Ryan , Molony, Kearney will be the guys alongside Dev in the key interpro teams (essentially selected by Lucifora / Joe).

The back-row options are awesome and that is no exaggeration. We could select every conceivable combination of three in back-row.

Opensides: JVdF, SO'B, Leavy;
]Blindsides: Rhys, Fardy, Leavy, Jordi, Jack C, Timmons;
+No 8; Jamie, Jack, Jordi, Deegan, Timmons.

All that and we haven't looked at the Academy

[wixfjord]

Great to see Jordi back running yesterday, a forgotten man, mental to think his last game was a vintage performance beating NZ in Chicago!
Hard to see where he fits into that backrow at the moment, but I'm sure there'll be injuries.

[Dave Cahill]

People always under-rate Jordi - his selection for the game against NZ for example was described by someone as poison! Coaches love him though, they always find a way to get him on the field. His return to fitness means that Conan, van der Flier, Leavy and Ruddock will have to up their games to even higher levels

[the spoofer]

People always under-rate Jordi - his selection for the game against NZ for example was described by someone as poison! Coaches love him though, they always find a way to get him on the field. His return to fitness means that Conan, van der Flier, Leavy and Ruddock will have to up their games to even higher levels

He's a great player. Competition is going to be mental this season. It will mean that we can rest props and back row players without a noticeable drop off.

Second row and hooker is a different kettle of fish.

[wixfjord]

People always under-rate Jordi - his selection for the game against NZ for example was described by someone as poison! Coaches love him though, they always find a way to get him on the field. His return to fitness means that Conan, van der Flier, Leavy and Ruddock will have to up their games to even higher levels

He's a great player. Competition is going to be mental this season. It will mean that we can rest props and back row players without a noticeable drop off.

Second row and hooker is a different kettle of fish.

There's quantity at both of those positions though if not quality.
Dev is likely to be the only 2nd row playing for Ireland, meaning we have Fardy, Molony, Ryan, Nagle, Kearney there.
Similarly Cronin is likely to be the only hooker in Irish 23, and even then Scannell may bench, meaning we have Tracy, Strauss, Byrne and a third year academy there in McNulty.

We could really do with someone stepping up at hooker though, probably the weakest position in the squad.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I wonder if we'll see any last minute project player signings to sneak in under the three year rule?

[mildlyinterested]

I wonder if we'll see any last minute project player signings to sneak in under the three year rule?

hopefully not

[neiliog93]

The new project player laws don't come into effect until December 2020, so any project guys brought in in November 2020 for the 2020-21 season would qualify for Ireland after 3 years.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

No you've picked that up wrong. You need to have completed your three year residency before then, not just started it.

[neiliog93]

No you've picked that up wrong. You need to have completed your three year residency before then, not just started it.

Oh that's good. So Lowe may be the last of ours and then the South African loosehead arriving at Ulster. Munster might sneak one more in?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Yeah, but I really wouldn't be surprised if the IRFU were working on others.

[Peg Leg]

No you've picked that up wrong. You need to have completed your three year residency before then, not just started it.

Oh that's good. So Lowe may be the last of ours and then the South African loosehead arriving at Ulster. Munster might sneak one more in?

More likely to see SA teams signing Munster projects.

[neiliog93]

We are entitled to one more NIQ next season anyway. Maybe a hooker? Strauss is done, Cronin is 31 and injury prone. Not convinced by Bryan Byrne. Marcel van der Merwe at the Lions is pretty sick but isn't getting a look-in with the Saffers, 25 years old, 5'10" 17 stone, but very fast and skilful in the loose, very good low centre of gravity.

[johng]

Is it not 3 and a project now?

Ulster have 4. We have 4. Munster have 3 but will add a TH I'd say

[rdsblue]

Senior squad has been updated on Leinster site but Mike Ross is still included. Presumably we can't expect to see Tadgh Furlong until well in to the new season. Could Mike have been given a short term contract?

[leinsterforever]

Senior squad has been updated on Leinster site but Mike Ross is still included. Presumably we can't expect to see Tadgh Furlong until well in to the new season. Could Mike have been given a short term contract?

If Furlong and Porter are late back, there's still Bent and Loughman. Heffernan too