Leinster Hookers in 2019

[mildlyinterested]

Interesting to see what the academy does about this position going forward:

Graduating
Ronan Kelleher(21/St. Michaels/Lansdowne)

In Academy
Dan Sheehan(20/Clongowes/DUFC)

Sheehan is having an excellent season for DUFC and I would be surprised if he wasn't in the academy next season. Physically he is quite large for a hooker, listed at 6'3, 112kg.

Academy Candidates
Declan Adamson(U20/Clontarf)
Sean Molony(U20/Blackrock/UCD)
John McKee(U19/Campbell/Old Belvedere)

McKee has featured off the bench for Ireland u20 and also captained Ireland u19 earlier in the season. Originally from Ulster, him returning north can't be ruled out. Adamson has had an excellent season for Clontarf and was involved with Ireland u20 during the 6 nations, recently traveled with Connacht for the Cara Cup. Molony has struggled with injury this season and has fallen behind other players at his club.

Sub Academy Candidates
Bobby Sheehan(U19/Clongowes/UCD) - younger brother of academy hooker Dan and quickly became first choice for UCD this season as a 18 year old.
Ethan Baxter(U19/St. Gerards/Old Belvedere) - converted openside who has played both 7 and 2 off the bench for his club.
Luke Thompson(u19/Wicklow RFC/Lansdowne) - converted openside, has yet to play AIL.
Gavin O'Brien(U19/St. Marys/St. Marys) - has played some AIL this season.
Mark Nicholson(U19/Wicklow RFC) - 1st choice for Leinster U19 earlier this season, still in school.
Levi Vaughan(U18/Terenure) - prop/hooker who may play for Ireland u18 this easter.

[TrapperChamonix]

Whats the rationale for converting back rows to hookers? Is it as simple as "you're not big enough to make it as a backrow but you could bulk up to be a hooker". I know its been done before (Richardt Strauss etc) but it seems strange logic to me. If you can bulk up to be a hooker why cant you bulk up as a back row.

[mildlyinterested]

Suppose the rationale is that better athletes play backrow at underage level and especially if they lack height, they may be better suited to playing hooker at pro level, especially if they have to bulk up a lot and may lose the athleticism that allows them to play backrow.

Leinster have identified hooker as a position that needs prioritizing at underage level and moving props and backrows to hooker seems to be what they've identified.

[hugonaut]

Interesting to see what the academy does about this position going forward:

Graduating
Ronan Kelleher(21/St. Michaels/Lansdowne)

In Academy
Dan Sheehan(20/Clongowes/DUFC)

Sheehan is having an excellent season for DUFC and I would be surprised if he wasn't in the academy next season. Physically he is quite large for a hooker, listed at 6'3, 112kg.

Sheehan seems to be doing very well alright - actually saw him listed recently at 115kg [just over 18st in old money], and in person he's a big dude. I saw him in a couple of run-outs with the Celtic Cup side early in the season and he's got real quickness off the blocks as well, carries very powerfully. Good to see a big hooker in the mix – we haven't had one since Birch [who got a lot of stick for his throwing but who was a big factor in our 2007-08 Celtic League win].

There's a lot to do with mentality and competitive edge in the making of a top quality hooker though. It's a very physically difficult role in the scrum, and a very mentally difficult role at the touchline.

[mildlyinterested]

I'm certainly optimistic on him given how well he has gone this season.

Intrigued by his brother too who quickly became UCD's 1st choice hooker this season when given his chance as a 18 year old.

He also unsurprisingly fits the big hooker mold, although i'm unsure if he is quite as mobile as Dan.

agree that a lot of being a top class hooker, is between the ears.

[ronk]

Whats the rationale for converting back rows to hookers? Is it as simple as "you're not big enough to make it as a backrow but you could bulk up to be a hooker". I know its been done before (Richardt Strauss etc) but it seems strange logic to me. If you can bulk up to be a hooker why cant you bulk up as a back row.

At junior level with junior scrums the outstanding athletes are usually back rows. Even where they think they’ll eventually switch they may delay it to round out their game. In the amateur era hookers had a hard time keeping up with play so the best ones learnt to get ahead of the ball and were given a free role. Hence why Keith Wood would crop up fielding kicks. Modern era that’s harder.

Most hookers are either extra backrow or extra props with some blurring of the lines.

[mildlyinterested]

current standout Ireland u20 hooker, Dylan Tierney Martin is a converted backrow.

it's something I think Leinster should have tried with several players over the years but either the player wasn't interested or leinster didn't pursue it.

With the renewed focus on developing hookers, they are certainly looking at it more and more.

[ronk]

current standout Ireland u20 hooker, Dylan Tierney Martin is a converted backrow.

it's something I think Leinster should have tried with several players over the years but either the player wasn't interested or leinster didn't pursue it.

With the renewed focus on developing hookers, they are certainly looking at it more and more.

Ive seen it happen with guys who were trying to make the academy, it usually happens early.

I think Harris-Wright was an early convert. Byrne has a twin in the front row, do he was there early Cronin came over as a hooker. Strauss played both until he joined us. Tracey is a converted prop.

The scrum laws change a few years ago mitigated against converting backrows for a while.

We recruited tall backrows for a while, I dont know if many short ones made it to the academy and we've had space for specialist 7s so there was no push to switch one.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster underage hookers

Jay Harris Wright(1988) was a converted from backrow once he moved to Blackrock.
Tom Sexton(1989) was a hooker all the way up in Belvedere.
James Tracey(1991) is a converted prop.
David Doyle(1991) was a converted backrow.
Bryan Byrne(1993) was a hooker all the way up in Clongowes.
Shane Delahunt(1994) is a converted prop.
Tadgh McElroy(1997) is a converted backrow.
Ronan Kelleher(1998) is a converted prop.
Dan Sheehan(1998) was a hooker all the way up in Clongowes.
Eoghan Clarke(1998) was a prop/backrow in CBC Monkstown.
Declan Adamson(1999) is a converted backrow.

[ronk]

Leinster underage hookers

Jay Harris Wright(1988) was a converted from backrow once he moved to Blackrock.
Tom Sexton(1989) was a hooker all the way up in Belvedere.
James Tracey(1991) is a converted prop.
David Doyle(1991) was a converted backrow.
Bryan Byrne(1993) was a hooker all the way up in Clongowes.
Shane Delahunt(1994) is a converted prop.
Tadgh McElroy(1997) is a converted backrow.
Ronan Kelleher(1998) is a converted prop.
Dan Sheehan(1998) was a hooker all the way up in Clongowes.
Declan Adamson(1999) is a converted backrow.

So more converted backrows than ex-props or specialists.

[mildlyinterested]

Suppose it depends on when they converted to playing hooker and at what age.

McElroy/Adamson moved there once they got involved with Leinster underage, but also continued to play backrow for their club/school. So approx 16.
Harris-Wright moved there for senior cycle so approx 16.
Tracy moved to hooker in the academy, approx 21/22.
Doyle moved there leaving school, approx 18.
Kelleher moved there leaving school, approx 18.
Delahunt move there at u20 level, approx 19.

Specialists in school often are too small for pro level, Sexton being an example, while Bryan Byrne has played hooker most his life and still can't throw consistently.
Dan Sheehan is notable for being a specialist and more than capable physically for pro rugby.

[mildlyinterested]

Current Irish capped hookers:

Rory Best - converted prop
Sean Cronin - converted back
Niall Scannell - specialist
James Tracy - converted prop
Dave Heffernan - coverted backrow
Rob Herring - specialist afaik

[mildlyinterested]

Academy
Ronan Kelleher(U21/St. Michaels/Lansdowne)
Dan Sheehan(U21/Clongowes/DUFC)

Underage
Declan Adamson(U20/Clontarf/Clontarf)
--
John McKee(U19/Campbell/Old Belvedere)
Bobby Sheehan(U19/Clongowes/UCD)
Ethan Baxter(U19/St. Gerards/Old Belvedere)
Mark Nicholson(U19/Wicklow RFC)
--
Lee Barron(U18/St. Michaels)
Ronan Loughnane(U18/Roscrea)
Levi Vaughan(U18/Terenure)
Hugo Fitzgerald(U18/Gonzaga)
--
Scott Barron(U17/Blackrock)

[mildlyinterested]

I wonder if Bryan Byrne being the bench hooker for the Pro 14 semi final and final indicates he will be primary backup hooker next season.

[Jonny tight lips]

I wonder if Bryan Byrne being the bench hooker for the Pro 14 semi final and final indicates he will be primary backup hooker next season.

I don’t see Bryan Tracy being good enough to eventually take over from Cronin who’s 33. I’d be inclined to bite the bullet and have Kelleher as primary back up by Christmas and see if he is. I’ve high hopes for that kid.

[mildlyinterested]

I wonder if Bryan Byrne being the bench hooker for the Pro 14 semi final and final indicates he will be primary backup hooker next season.

I don’t see Bryan Tracy being good enough to eventually take over from Cronin who’s 33. I’d be inclined to bite the bullet and have Kelleher as primary back up by Christmas and see if he is. I’ve high hopes for that kid.

Don't think that's a realistic possibility bar a series of injuries and Kelleher seizing his opportunity ala James Ryan/Jordan Larmour.

[Jonny tight lips]

I wonder if Bryan Byrne being the bench hooker for the Pro 14 semi final and final indicates he will be primary backup hooker next season.

I don’t see Bryan Tracy being good enough to eventually take over from Cronin who’s 33. I’d be inclined to bite the bullet and have Kelleher as primary back up by Christmas and see if he is. I’ve high hopes for that kid.

Don't think that's a realistic possibility bar a series of injuries and Kelleher seizing his opportunity ala James Ryan/Jordan Larmour.

It’s certainly ambitious and perhaps overly so but with Cronin 33 and Bryan and Tracy not showing anything to make me believe they could be the starting hooker in a team that beats Saracens we need to consider our options. We need to have a good idea if Kelleher is gonna be good enough to take over from Cronin or seriously consider a NIQ/NIE. After next year Joe and most likely Fardy will be gone so with only one NIQ who is months away from qualifying for Ireland it should be an easy sell to be the IRFU.

[riocard911]

I played hooker for years and am also of the opinion, that Kelleher needs to be fast-tracked. I'm not worried on this front, as I believe the coaching staff essentially used the end of our Pro 14 campaign, between when we secured the home semi and that match itself, as a pre-season in all but name. Am also therefore very excited to see what player combinations will tog out for Leinster while our internationals are in Nippon.