Rumour Mill

[dropkick]

Rumours going around that offers have being made to Dooley and/or Ed Byrne by Connacht fans but so far it seems more wish fufilment rather than anything concrete.

Edit: You'd imagine that Ulster would be after one of these two as well.

Edit: Munster probably want both.

More likely Munster want all three.

It's unlikely Munster want a loosehead or hooker. Well stocked in those departments.


If Connacht offer Dooley a chance, he should grab it.

[sunshiner1]

by paddyor

It'll be one or the other not both. Not sure it makes any sense. Ulster is the main opening at 1 in all 3 of the otehr provinces. And tbh I think it'd be a good move for one of them. They're only getting gametime on account of Healy and McGrath being with ireland.

And just as I say that Jack is out for 4-6 weeks after hip surgery.

I think it will be Ed Byrne he's 25 years old and coming into his prime. He's fighting it out for 3rd choice Loosehead with Dooley which is not really where he wants to be. He could walk into the Ulster first team in that position. As for Connacht they had Conan O'Donnell there but they're moving him back to Tighthead so will want someone to be their second choice LH and fight against Buckley.

I can't see JVDF or Leavy going anywhere.

edit: Will Connors was offered a Connacht contract last season and turned it down. He's played bugger all rugby for us in the first season so I could see him going to Connacht this time if they offered him a contract. Munster might be in for him too. TOD is 31 and crocked so getting a young IQ backrower in makes sense.

[mildlyinterested]

Will Connors tore his ACL in pre season

[R-Dog]

You couldn't blame either of The Byrne twins for moving on for game time. They came out of school the same year as Leavy and both were as highly rated. Injury aside they struggle to make the Leinster H Cup bench where Leavy would be in the mix for a Lions tour if there was one this year.

[sunshiner1]

by mildlyinterested » December 4th, 2018, 6:51 am

Will Connors tore his ACL in pre season

Yeah forgot about that. It's still interesting if he moves though. Scott Penny is breathing down his neck and he's got SOB, Leavy and JDVF in front of him. You'd feel he could be the one to go. All guess work though.

[mildlyinterested]

You couldn't blame either of The Byrne twins for moving on for game time. They came out of school the same year as Leavy and both were as highly rated. Injury aside they struggle to make the Leinster H Cup bench where Leavy would be in the mix for a Lions tour if there was one this year.

Wouldnt blame either for leaving but neither are as talented as Leavy, which is why they haven't broken into the HCup side.

[Ruckedtobits]

You couldn't blame either of The Byrne twins for moving on for game time. They came out of school the same year as Leavy and both were as highly rated. Injury aside they struggle to make the Leinster H Cup bench where Leavy would be in the mix for a Lions tour if there was one this year.

Wouldnt blame either for leaving but neither are as talented as Leavy, which is why they haven't broken into the HCup side.

Both are front-row players, who traditionally and physiogically, reach their playing pinnacle at a later age than back-row forwards e.g. some suggest at c. 27-32 y-o-a compared to c. 23-28 yoa. Previous comparisons of 6N players suggests that these ages are pretty accurate. Second-rows have the latest, and longest, cycle of playing maturity at international level and c. 29-35 is not a bad estimate.

However, and it is a big caveat, recent S&C trends to make front-five forwards more dynamic and better ball carriers, may have increased the injury rate to a point which will limit their longevity. The stats are beginning to build, but the case is not yet conclusive.

[leinsterforever]

Could Milne and/or Coyne be ready to step up during the World Cup if one of Dooley and Byrne left (or just got injured)? Or are they too early on in their development?

I suppose Bent could cover across if Abdaladze and Aungier were ready to start and bench respectively

[Jonny tight lips]

The question should be why should leinster need to see if academy players are ready. Leinster currently supply the two first choice looseheads to the national team, we understand that and as such have developed a squad containing 4 looseheads so we can field a team during internationals. Now some might say that when leinster players who have a shout of playing international but can’t get into the provincial team for the good of team Ireland they should be moved on but nobody is suggesting that Byrne or Dooley are of that caliber. The only reason these would be moving would be to help other provinces fill squad holes that they have. So why I might be able to stomach leinster having problems for the good of the nation why would I be interested in leinster having problems for the good of helping rivals? This is bullshit and should be stopped from happening, you can only push fans too far before enough is enough, this year we replaced 157 international caps and an uncapped player who was a club legend with just academy players. The IRFU should be rewarding this effort instead of punishing it. If other provinces keep getting the Leinster Milk for free they will never raise their own cows, if a few years in the challenge cup is what the other provinces need to get them to start bringing through players then so be it.

[ronk]

We signed Tomane.

And last year we signed stars in Lowe and Fardy. So we have been allowed some level of replacement in some positions.

[Jonny tight lips]

We signed Tomane.

And last year we signed stars in Lowe and Fardy. So we have been allowed some level of replacement in some positions.

Tomane is squad player at best, hardly cover for what left. Lots of years one and two academy players promoted early

[ronk]

He has decent international pedigree. Lowe has some issues in his first year too.

Isa is as high a bar as can be set for comparison, but Lowe is the guy for that in any case.

[riocard911]

The question should be why should leinster need to see if academy players are ready. Leinster currently supply the two first choice looseheads to the national team, we understand that and as such have developed a squad containing 4 looseheads so we can field a team during internationals. Now some might say that when leinster players who have a shout of playing international but can’t get into the provincial team for the good of team Ireland they should be moved on but nobody is suggesting that Byrne or Dooley are of that caliber. The only reason these would be moving would be to help other provinces fill squad holes that they have. So why I might be able to stomach leinster having problems for the good of the nation why would I be interested in leinster having problems for the good of helping rivals? This is bullshit and should be stopped from happening, you can only push fans too far before enough is enough, this year we replaced 157 international caps and an uncapped player who was a club legend with just academy players. The IRFU should be rewarding this effort instead of punishing it. If other provinces keep getting the Leinster Milk for free they will never raise their own cows, if a few years in the challenge cup is what the other provinces need to get them to start bringing through players then so be it.

+1

[Dave Cahill]

He has decent international pedigree. Lowe has some issues in his first year too.

Isa is as high a bar as can be set for comparison, but Lowe is the guy for that in any case.

And his first season was not exactly universally lauded either.

[blockhead]

The question should be why should leinster need to see if academy players are ready. Leinster currently supply the two first choice looseheads to the national team, we understand that and as such have developed a squad containing 4 looseheads so we can field a team during internationals. Now some might say that when leinster players who have a shout of playing international but can’t get into the provincial team for the good of team Ireland they should be moved on but nobody is suggesting that Byrne or Dooley are of that caliber. The only reason these would be moving would be to help other provinces fill squad holes that they have. So why I might be able to stomach leinster having problems for the good of the nation why would I be interested in leinster having problems for the good of helping rivals? This is bullshit and should be stopped from happening, you can only push fans too far before enough is enough, this year we replaced 157 international caps and an uncapped player who was a club legend with just academy players. The IRFU should be rewarding this effort instead of punishing it. If other provinces keep getting the Leinster Milk for free they will never raise their own cows, if a few years in the challenge cup is what the other provinces need to get them to start bringing through players then so be it.

+1

It's the economy stupid.
Munster being good enough to at least get a home QF and fill TP for heino games helps them, a least in some part, pay off their debts to the IRFU.

[Ruckedtobits]

A pervasive rumour throughout the weekend is that Pro 14 Board held discussions last week with CVC, the business Group who have almost finalised Heads of Agreement to buy 36% of Premiership Rugby for c. Stg£220m.

If the four Unions which own Pro 14 are considering selling a shareholding, they should only do so if they are prepared to agree a Broadcasting Contract with Free-to-Air rights in all four countries so that the game, audience and players, will grow.

Neither Unions nor Clubs in Pro 14 need a windfall profit. If money goes to Clubs, it will end up in Players salaries. Let them grow the audience to justify increased salaries. Otherwise, we will just end up like Premiership, EPCR and Super Rugby competitions.

Grow the game first, the rewards will follow and be sustainable.

[Dave Cahill]

A pervasive rumour throughout the weekend is that Pro 14 Board held discussions last week with CVC, the business Group who have almost finalised Heads of Agreement to buy 36% of Premiership Rugby for c. Stg£220m.

If the four Unions which own Pro 14 are considering selling a shareholding, they should only do so if they are prepared to agree a Broadcasting Contract with Free-to-Air rights in all four countries so that the game, audience and players, will grow.

Neither Unions nor Clubs in Pro 14 need a windfall profit. If money goes to Clubs, it will end up in Players salaries. Let them grow the audience to justify increased salaries. Otherwise, we will just end up like Premiership, EPCR and Super Rugby competitions.

Grow the game first, the rewards will follow and be sustainable.

No chance of that happening ever. CVC have no interest in growing the the game whatsoever. They are only interested in "raping" (team director Force India F1 team) the sport for profit.

[paddyor]

A pervasive rumour throughout the weekend is that Pro 14 Board held discussions last week with CVC, the business Group who have almost finalised Heads of Agreement to buy 36% of Premiership Rugby for c. Stg£220m.

If the four Unions which own Pro 14 are considering selling a shareholding, they should only do so if they are prepared to agree a Broadcasting Contract with Free-to-Air rights in all four countries so that the game, audience and players, will grow.

Neither Unions nor Clubs in Pro 14 need a windfall profit. If money goes to Clubs, it will end up in Players salaries. Let them grow the audience to justify increased salaries. Otherwise, we will just end up like Premiership, EPCR and Super Rugby competitions.

Grow the game first, the rewards will follow and be sustainable.

Apparently wasps are losing there 3 Th props to contract buyout as result of the CVC buyout

[arsebiscuits1]

We signed Tomane.

And last year we signed stars in Lowe and Fardy. So we have been allowed some level of replacement in some positions.

Tomane is squad player at best, hardly cover for what left. Lots of years one and two academy players promoted early

Based on 5 starts? Jog on mate.

[offshorerules]

Not sure why people are quick to write of Tomane. Hasn't had a run of games and in my view until he gets that you can't judge.