Dave Cahill wrote:There are two types of clubs in Ireland. Professional Clubs and Amateur Clubs. Professional clubs serve no useful purpose, are a drain on the games resources and should be returned to amateur status. No problem with amateur clubs.
Please tell me who these professional rugby clubs are??? There are no professional rugby in the AIL anymore some players might get a bit of cash but not enough to live on, some clubs have Pro coaches but you can be sure 90%/95% of their players work or in college.
Anyway here is 2 cents worth I played for one of Leinster senior clubs for 10years for all teams in the club and have been involved for the last 3yrs with a junior club so I have seen it from both sides. When I first started the Senior club used to produce 8 senior teams during the cup. During its heyday it used to produce 9 senior teams and have 40 players still left over.
Now this same club struggles to put out 5 senior teams with the 5th team often not been able to get 15 players
Average age player at the club is now probally very early 20's with no player over 23 on the second team J1.
Reasons most clubs in Dublin are in a very small area competing for lesser/lesser amounts of players as people in the mid 20's have to move to the commuter belt to get on the property ladder.
Also people are working much longer hours these days in our celtic tiger - nowadays we very rarely can get the full team together for a training session.
This means clubs in the commuter belts are getting stronger your barnhalls, nass, cill dara etc while the Senior clubs are starting to struggle.
If anyone remembers the old provincial structure here before the AIL it will not work!! What happens to teams in Connaught where 1/2 teams would dominate? AIL definetly though needs to be streamlined as cannot see how teams in the AIL div 3 cannot afford to travel all around the country. The top teams need to play against Diff teams from diff areas with diff styles if they are to learn and progress.
As for the Clubs not producing another Pro rugby player I disagree, remember not everyone starts rugby at 5/6 or decides at 17/18 they want to be a pro rugby player so where do they learn their trade. Remember there alot of fine rugby players who could be pro's but perhaps have good jobs, families that they do not want to risk to give Pro rugby a go. Look at how our Amatuers did against England/scotland who have bigger playing numbers then us. Look at the make up the under 20's grandslam team the fullback for example came through Seapoint club and has huge potential. John hayes started at 18 in club rugby.
With no clubs you would have a much poorer Leinster, who would the academy players play against? Players like J sexton has gone all his experience playing in the AIL playing against experienced players- you only really learn by playing not by watching bloody videos, blackboards.
Anyway could go on and on but will stop there
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