Jordi packing his bags

[outcast eddie]

GT reporting Jordi is heading up North next season.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... -1.3315629

[mildlyinterested]

Hardly surprising

[RoboProp]

Gibbes was always a fan of his. Best of luck to him.

At this that we'll supplying Ulster's pack and Munster's backs

[Ruckedtobits]

Ulster need players like Jordi. If they can acquire another LHP and get and keep their SA forwards FIT and HEALTHY, Jonno G will have something to make into a very strong pack

1. S van der Merve / AN Other
2. Rory Best / Rob Herring
3. M Moore / W Herbst / R Ah You
4. K Treadwell / A O'Connor
5. I Henderson / P Browne
6. J Dreysell / M Coetzee
7. J Murphy / S Reidy
8. N Timoney / C Henry

That lot have the makings of a hard-nosed Ulster pack like they used have. Decent scrum, good maul and plenty of hard carriers and tacklers in broken play. Irish rugby needs them to be competitive and hard and in certain positions Leinster players will have the opportunity to get top class game time and keep their Irish chances high.

Good move for Jordi and hope he keeps his tax deal and buys some decent property at a reasonable price.

[blockhead]

Sort's the log jam out in 1 swift move.

[OSS]

Gibbes was always a fan of his. Best of luck to him.

At this that we'll supplying Ulster's pack and Munster's backs

We’re already gonna be supplying the Munster 2nd row next between Beirne and Copeland

[wixfjord]

Probably a good move for all involved. Great for Ulster, good for Jordi to get consistent guaranteed game time and we were going to have to lose one anyway, so I'm probably happier it's Jordi than JVDF, Conan, Leavy, Deegan et al.

As someone says above, backlog cleared!

With Heaslip probably winding down next year, we may have him for a good chunk of games, so should be enough experience there for international windows.

[curates_egg]

Gibbes was always a fan of his. Best of luck to him.

The Irish coach is also seemingly a big fan. Has picked him when fit, regardless of form for Leinster.
The 'shiny new things brigade' on here won't think it's a loss. He's a loss for sure: a versatile back row player, who - when fit - seems to do a lot the spectrum of back-row work well. If he can get a bit of luck with injuries and a run of games, he could well make the world cup squad.

When you look at the injury profiles of players in the back row for us, they all seem to struggle (apart from Wolverine): SOB, Locky, Dippy, Murphy, Ruddock...all guys within a few years of each other and all guys who have had lots of lay-offs (or early retirement in Locky's case).
I know, for the shiny new things brigade, even players like VDF are pass-ahy...but let's hope all the shiny new things stay fit and well, and are allowed to contribute (whether through fitness or national team selection restrictions) to our campaigns in the way this generation before them did.

[OTT]

We will miss his ability to play across the backrow. Obviously highly rated by Gibbes and Schmidt and ridiculed by Munster fans. Any one of those factors on their own would be a positive but all three show that Jordi is a very good player.

Dominic Ryan probably stayed a season or two to long for his own good so Jordi is right to go now and hopefully reignite his career in green also.

Undervalued probably because of our backrow riches but a player I like a lot. If it is true I hope he has a great last few months in blue.

[wixfjord]

Obviously highly rated by Gibbes and Schmidt and ridiculed by Munster fans. Any one of those factors on their own would be a positive but all three show that Jordi is a very good player.

[simonokeeffe]

Its a good move for player and country, hes an improvement on most of whats there in Ulster, they still need a lot more of a lot of things in that pack though especially backrow specialists

[Edna Kenny]

The Spaniard signed from the Mexicans

[jimbobjoe]

Great signing for Ulster but I think he'll be missed in Leinster. His versatility and experience allowed almost any combination of backrowers to lineup on any given weekend with seemingly little disruption. He also did this without complaining or making any noise about wanting to play in a preferred position. A cracking team player.

[Logorrhea]

Great signing for Ulster but I think he'll be missed in Leinster.

Yeah that sums it up for me.

He's right up there in my top 10 current Leinster back row players

[cormac]

A real shame to see him leave. He'll be missed.

[deco]

It never fails to amaze me how Leinster fans celebrate a move by one of our players to the opposition.

[Logorrhea]

It never fails to amaze me how Leinster fans celebrate a move by one of our players to the opposition.

Its not celebration. He's gone. Its done. We've lost a top player, in a position we have plenty of cover for. I look forward to seeing the next bunch of kids coming through to take his place.

He has been, and continues to be brilliant for us. I wish him all the best for Ulster and Ireland, except when he plays us. Then I hope he has a mare.

[wixfjord]

It never fails to amaze me how Leinster fans celebrate a move by one of our players to the opposition.

Yeah, the posts above have been positively dancing in the streets deco.
Seriously what are you on about?!

People are disappointed to lose a good player, but happy for Jordi to get a good move. We were always going to have to lose one backrow player so on balance it’s probably better it’s him than a younger guy with an even higher ceiling like VDF, Leavy, Conan, Deegan.

And from a macro view it’s probably a good move for Irish rugby (both the national side and keeping Ulster competitive).

Nobody is ‘celebrating’, everyone is sad to see him go, but a dollop of pragmatism is needed too.

Now, back to the celebrations!

[olaf the fat]

Is this part of the Brexit border deal?

Shame to see him leave us, but good for Ulster and Ireland (and Jordi) Great player

[curates_egg]

It never fails to amaze me how Leinster fans celebrate a move by one of our players to the opposition.

I am certainly not celebrating: I think his loss to the squad is not to be underestimated. A perfect number 20, who can acquit himself well across almost all the skills needed of a back-row player.
That said, if he is to leave, at least by going to Ulster he is still available for Ireland and not going to Mordor. As such, it is as good as it gets.
If he stays fit, I think there would be no surprise to see him in the squad that is brought to Japan.