Route to the top

[Stuka]

Hi lads,

Just wondering what sort of numbers these days are coming into the Provincial and Ireland set up via the traditional route of Fee-Paying schools?

I know in the past Private fee paying schoolboys dominated the Leinster, Munster and Ulster squads and therefore the Irish team.

Is that still the case?

[munster#1]

Not sure too many private fee paying students have played for munster. Certainly, they did not dominate the munster team.

The munster team has long been known as the working man's team, because most of their players come from modest backgrounds.

This is more the case for ulster and leinster.

[simonokeeffe]

Not sure too many private fee paying students have played for munster. Certainly, they did not dominate the munster team.

The munster team has long been known as the working man's team, because most of their players come from modest backgrounds.

This is more the case for ulster and leinster.

would hardly call the Leinster academy a modest background

[OTT]

Bit harsh on POM, MOD, Stringer, ROG, Frankie, Zeeeeebz, DOC, TOL, Leamy

I would think they were pretty prominent over the last few years to Munster rugby.

(I stopped looking after 3 schools and left out all the extras like Duncan Williams Frank Murphy etc)

[Oldschoolsocks]

Not sure too many private fee paying students have played for munster. Certainly, they did not dominate the munster team.

The munster team has long been known as the working man's team, because most of their players come from modest backgrounds.

This is more the case for ulster and leinster.

would hardly call the Leinster academy a modest background

When the hall hops, kick it hard

[simonokeeffe]

partially as there were no good tv shows to download from last night I checked it out and 21 of Munster's 27 Munster produced senior players went to private schools

[Ruckedtobits]

partially as there were no good tv shows to download from last night I checked it out and 21 of Munster's 27 Munster produced senior players went to private schools

That's no use Simon, nobody wants to hear such facts which screw about with "the working-class" reputation.

[johng]

I would have guessed as much. They do make a big deal of that whole doctors and dockers thing in Limerick. Not that thereis no truth in it, just overstated

[dropkick]

Currently in the academy (besides the exiles and Leinster schools players) only 1 player did not go to one of the Munster schools.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Currently in the academy (besides the exiles and Leinster schools players) only 1 player did not go to one of the Munster schools.

? What exactly does that mean?

[dropkick]

Currently in the academy (besides the exiles and Leinster schools players) only 1 player did not go to one of the Munster schools.

? What exactly does that mean?

If you take away the 5 players who have been recruit from outside Munster, there are 19 Munster lads left.

Of those left, 18 players came through the schools and only one came via the youths. So if you're not going to one of the few schools in Munster, chances are slim of getting into the academy. The schools do recruit some of the best youths but Munster still need to cast a wider net.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Currently in the academy (besides the exiles and Leinster schools players) only 1 player did not go to one of the Munster schools.

? What exactly does that mean?

If you take away the 5 players who have been recruit from outside Munster, there are 19 Munster lads left.

Of those left, 18 players came through the schools and only one came via the youths. So if you're not going to one of the few schools in Munster, chances are slim of getting into the academy. The schools do recruit some of the best youths but Munster still need to cast a wider net.

Thx dropkick. So when the school recruit from the youths, do they pay a scholarship or something similar. In Leinster I know that Blackrock College have paid scholarships before, not sure if they still do.p though.

[Ruckedtobits]

That process has been severely stalled in Leinster by the prohibition of players figuring in Schools Cup until they have been in the School for something like 18 months. Although it is rumoured that Roscrea have objected, it appears to have softened the cough of Rock and possibly Clongowes and Michaels.

Its only a pity they can't apply the same in AIL to Tarf and Lansdowne!

[olaf the fat]

Not sure too many private fee paying students have played for munster. Certainly, they did not dominate the munster team.

The munster team has long been known as the working man's team, because most of their players come from modest backgrounds.

This is more the case for ulster and leinster.

Love It!

When spending the Christmas in deepest Munster I spotted a nice picture in the yearly newsletter of a couple of local boys proudly showing off the Leinster senior cup Well done lads

[ormond lad]

Currently in the academy (besides the exiles and Leinster schools players) only 1 player did not go to one of the Munster schools.

that isn't totally true as there is others who moved to one of the non exempt schools either for the start of their time as a senior cycle student or start of 6th year and even Oliver who came down from leinster. Had played club rugby and represented Leinster at under 18 club level before moving to Blackrock and playing a year of schools rugby

[Oldschoolsocks]

Currently in the academy (besides the exiles and Leinster schools players) only 1 player did not go to one of the Munster schools.

that isn't totally true as there is others who moved to one of the non exempt schools either for the start of their time as a senior cycle student or start of 6th year and even Oliver who came down from leinster. Had played club rugby and represented Leinster at under 18 club level before moving to Blackrock and playing a year of schools rugby

What is a non exempt school, I'm not familiar with that one at all

[ormond lad]

Currently in the academy (besides the exiles and Leinster schools players) only 1 player did not go to one of the Munster schools.

that isn't totally true as there is others who moved to one of the non exempt schools either for the start of their time as a senior cycle student or start of 6th year and even Oliver who came down from leinster. Had played club rugby and represented Leinster at under 18 club level before moving to Blackrock and playing a year of schools rugby

What is a non exempt school, I'm not familiar with that one at all

They are the 78 premier rugby playing schools across the country so the 8 A schools in Munster as well as B schools. In Leinster the big 6, the 14 Section B schools who compete in the league are all part of that figure. Then whatever way they categorize schools in Ulster...

The 78 schools are the schools that there is issues with about playing club rugby etc...

[goreyguy]

Only Steve McMahon is a player, i'm aware of who moved from a club rugby background to a schools background. Question is would he have made the academy setup if he had not moved to Rockwell College and got the improved coaching/support. Unlikely.

Niall Horan - Crescent College Comp
Rory Burke - CBC Cork
Brian Scott - PBC Cork
JP Phelan - Newbridge College(Leinster)
Liam O'Connor - CBC Cork
Sean McCarthy - Rockwell College
John Madigan - CBS Charleville(Munster Clubs)
Darragh Moloney - CBC Cork
Conor Oliver - Blackrock College/SKerries Community College(Leinster)
Ben Kilkenny - St. Munchins
Ollie Lyons - Irish Exile
Jack Cullen - Irish Exile
Ryan Foley - CBC Cork
Tomas Quinlan - CBC Cork
Bill Johnston - Rockwell College
Rory Scannell - PBC Cork
David Johnston - Rockwell College
Dan Goggin - St. Munchins
Ned Hodson - Midelton College
Alex Wootton - Irish Exile
Greg O'Shea - Crescent College Comp
Stephen Fitzgerald - Ard Scoil Ris
Steven McMahon - Rockwell College

[ormond lad]

Only Steve McMahon is a player, i'm aware of who moved from a club rugby background to a schools background. Question is would he have made the academy setup if he had not moved to Rockwell College and got the improved coaching/support. Unlikely.

Not unlikely at all. He moved after been seen while playing for East Munster development squad a year early. He was on East Munster u17 squad with the 94s(hes born in 95) so was in same East Munster squad as Jack O Donoghue and several guys playing regular AIL and who went on to play Munster u18, u19, 20.
He was getting a lot of top quality coaching/support and certainly would have made it

[Oldschoolsocks]

Only Steve McMahon is a player, i'm aware of who moved from a club rugby background to a schools background. Question is would he have made the academy setup if he had not moved to Rockwell College and got the improved coaching/support. Unlikely.

Niall Horan - Crescent College Comp
Rory Burke - CBC Cork
Brian Scott - PBC Cork
JP Phelan - Newbridge College(Leinster)
Liam O'Connor - CBC Cork
Sean McCarthy - Rockwell College
John Madigan - CBS Charleville(Munster Clubs)
Darragh Moloney - CBC Cork
Conor Oliver - Blackrock College/SKerries Community College(Leinster)
Ben Kilkenny - St. Munchins
Ollie Lyons - Irish Exile
Jack Cullen - Irish Exile
Ryan Foley - CBC Cork
Tomas Quinlan - CBC Cork
Bill Johnston - Rockwell College
Rory Scannell - PBC Cork
David Johnston - Rockwell College
Dan Goggin - St. Munchins
Ned Hodson - Midelton College
Alex Wootton - Irish Exile
Greg O'Shea - Crescent College Comp
Stephen Fitzgerald - Ard Scoil Ris
Steven McMahon - Rockwell College

So are students of the private schools very highly represented here! I know Rockwell,CBC, Midleton and PBC are private schools as are Newbridge and Blackrock. No info on the Irish exiles, but it appears that the Munster academy prospects are mostly private educated.

Open to correction as always.