Under 18 FIRA European Championship

[simonokeeffe]

I don't think I've ever had occasion to tune to that channel before! It'll have to be DVR though. Well done 3E.

Certainly the first time I can ever recall rugby being on it.

its a sign of things to come for RWC

[ormond lad]

good game from bits I saw(was changing between it and AIL game on RTE). Would really love to see a combined youths and schools squad compete in FIRA next year. Pick best 26 for the youths and best 26 for the schools and after their clash at Christmas 2 combined squads are picked with the stronger playing in the FIRA championship and the next group to play the fixtures the youths team play

[goreyguy]

gap between youths and schools too big..

would end up being majority schools with a few youths in both squads.

[ormond lad]

gap between youths and schools too big..

would end up being majority schools with a few youths in both squads.

read my post again. Of the 52 players who play in the youths v schools game at Christmas(26 in each squad) the best 26 play in fira and the rest play in the fixtures the youths play.
Wouldn't be majority of schools in both squads

[goreyguy]

if you want to combine the squads to have the best possible squad?

well then it should be the best 52 players regardless of if they play schools or clubs..

[ormond lad]

if you want to combine the squads to have the best possible squad?

well then it should be the best 52 players regardless of if they play schools or clubs..

Disagree there. Keep separate interpro championships and separate selections and pick best of both squads.

[goreyguy]

Why? if it's about the top players playing then it should be the top players no matter the background..

otherwise just leave it as is..

[Flash Gordon]

Ireland beat France 11-24 this afternoon in the semi-final of this competition in Poland. Ireland scored three tries to one try.
We play Italy in Final. Italy beat Georgia by 13-15 in the other Semi-Final.

No match report as yet, but selected team was:

15. Jack Power - Blackrock
14. Jordan Larmour - St Andrews
13. Colm Mulcahy - Clongowes
12. Matthew Gilsenan - St Michaels
11. Jacob Stockdale - Wallace High
10 Jimmy O'Brien - Newbridge
9. Rowan Osborne - Clongowes
1. Andrew Porter - St Andrews
2. John Moloney - Clongowes
3. Conan O'Donnell - Summerhill
4. James Ryan - St Michaels
5. Sean O'Connor - Rockwell
6. Will Connors - Clongowes
7. Max Deegan - St Michaels

Bench
16. McIlmurray (Cambell); 17. Kean (Blackrock); 18 Kenny (Garbally); 19. Claffey (Garbally); 20 Jones (St Andrews); 21 Duggan (St Michaels); 22 Kiernan (Pres Cork); 23 O'Meara (St Michaels); 24. McMahon (Rockwell); 25 Nash (Crescent Comp)

You forgot Johnny Guy from Andrew's! What is going on at under 18's level in Munster, there were 3 times as many Andrew's guys on the team as Munster, and Andrew's is a hockey school!!!

sly way of saying theres more Protestants than Munster players

Ah here....! Andrew's is non-denominational and international. Amazing achievement to get 4 players on the squad for the final and 3 starting. Porter is an absolute beast of a player and Larmour is only in 4th year!!!!! (he also has an All Ireland hockey medal! )

[dropkick]

Disappointing end for Ireland but they played well enough. Lineouts was the most disappointing aspect of the game for Ireland. They were vlown out of it at the breakdown but that was purely down to the size of the England pack who were noticeably bulkier than the Irish lads.


Irish player of the tournament for me was Jack Power. James Ryan and Stockdale also look promising. Number 8 Deegan and prop, Conan O'Donnell also look goo along with a few others.

Why? if it's about the top players playing then it should be the top players no matter the background..

otherwise just leave it as is..

But the background is important. The schools players have better coaching etc so the club players need to catch up. The club players could be just as talented or more talented and could lose out to less talented schools players who just have the advantage of being better conditioned etc.

[goreyguy]

which is why they should leave it as it is...

talent is talent.. if you have it and work hard, it doesn't matter your background..

Ryan, Stockdale and Power are the three most talented players in that squad..

[ormond lad]

But the background is important. The schools players have better coaching etc so the club players need to catch up. The club players could be just as talented or more talented and could lose out to less talented schools players who just have the advantage of being better conditioned etc.

The schools overall have better coaching but the top youths players get same level of coaching and are conditioned to same level.

which is why they should leave it as it is...

talent is talent.. if you have it and work hard, it doesn't matter your background..

Ryan, Stockdale and Power are the three most talented players in that squad..

that isn't why what currently occurs should be kept. We have never once sent our best under 18 side to the FIRA competition so why don't we?
Keep the youths and schools picking their best 26-30 and then combine those 60 into an A/B sides and send the top side to FIRA and the rest to play the fixtures the youths have played the last year or two.

[goreyguy]

if you want to send the best possible squads then there should be no limit on schools players in either squad..

is it the best you want or an even number of schools/clubs?

[Flash Gordon]

if you want to send the best possible squads then there should be no limit on schools players in either squad..

is it the best you want or an even number of schools/clubs?

I do think it continues to be an issue that the Irish schools team continues to be dominated by "establishment" schools. The IRFU have done a great job in expanding the club game outside traditional quarters but let's be honest, this team is still dominated by traditional schools, many of which are fee paying. I'd love to see the IRFU really target development and coaching resources in non-traditional schools that maybe don't have the funding to pay for top notch coaches and facilities.

[goreyguy]

More money than ever is being spent in non traditional areas...

Last season the players who entered the academy last year came from: Naas RFC, Birr RFC, Carlow RFC, St. Gerards College, St. Michael's College, Castleknock College and Terenure College/Newbridge.

This years class looks like it could be dominated by St. Michael's College, continuing a trend of them being excellent developers of young rugby talent..

[ormond lad]

if you want to send the best possible squads then there should be no limit on schools players in either squad..

is it the best you want or an even number of schools/clubs?

I do think it continues to be an issue that the Irish schools team continues to be dominated by "establishment" schools. The IRFU have done a great job in expanding the club game outside traditional quarters but let's be honest, this team is still dominated by traditional schools, many of which are fee paying. I'd love to see the IRFU really target development and coaching resources in non-traditional schools that maybe don't have the funding to pay for top notch coaches and facilities.

You want the best but the best of both. After each interpro season finishes pick the best 26 from each of the youths and schools but those 52 then have to try get into the FIRA championship squad of 26 and the squad of 26 that play whatever fixtures the youths have played the last year or two
The schools team is the side that helps promote rugby as still being the sport of an elite few who attend certain schools. Why portray that image when you don't have to.
We have never once sent our best u18 team to the FIRA championships. Why are you against that?

[goreyguy]

you can have the best of both but that may mean 12 youths and 40 schools or 17 youths and 35 schools etc. etc.

if its about the best 52 then it should not be divided down to 26 youths and 26 schools.

less talented youths should not get ahead of more talented schools players purely because they are youths..

so to be clear i'm not against it aslong as that second squad is also the best possible squad too..

[ormond lad]

you can have the best of both but that may mean 12 youths and 40 schools or 17 youths and 35 schools etc. etc.

if its about the best 52 then it should not be divided down to 26 youths and 26 schools.

less talented youths should not get ahead of more talented schools players purely because they are youths..

so to be clear i'm not against it aslong as that second squad is also the best possible squad too..

We need to get it through to people not involved in the sport that we are gone beyond a few private elite schools dominating the sport.
The best schools and youths 26-28 or whatever squads are picked and then they are mixed. That is to keep the schools interpros and youths interpros in September(youths are starting earlier this September as Connacht will be fielding quite different squads in both for the first time) and the best are picked from each interpro championship and then the irish coaches pick the top squad for the FIRA and the rest play the other fixtures.
It should be divided youths and schools for the better of each pathway especially the youths.

[goreyguy]

so some youths get in because they are youths.. and it makes it look better..

[ormond lad]

so some youths get in because they are youths.. and it makes it look better..

No we have 2 strands and pick the best of the 2 strands not to make it look better but to pick the best of both equally. Fairly simple and straightforward

[goreyguy]

if you want the best two squads possible then it should consist of the best 52 players regardless of schools/youth.

otherwise leave it as it is.. which is what will happen so i'm finished with this..