Leinster Academy 2021-22

[mildlyinterested]

Neil Francis on academy changes

The whole academy system is now being reviewed and it will be streamlined – significantly.

Peter Malone is no longer the director of the Munster Academy and Peter Smyth, the head of elite player development, is currently seconded to the Munster Academy. Nobody knows how long he'll be there or what the next step will be.

The plan currently being proposed is for a national academy based, say, in Athlone or even Blanchardstown. All the provincial academies would be discontinued and all the talent would be schooled in the national academy.

At the end of the season the talent would be farmed out.

If Munster need a prop or Ulster need a centre they are picked out of the national academy, irrespective of where they live or were brought up or whether they always dreamed of playing in blue, red etc.

Some of the provinces have had slim pickings from their academies in recent years – others (like Leinster) have been spectacularly successful in sustained excellence in the quality of players that they have produced.

Go through the Leinster team when it is announced on Friday and see how many in the squad are academy graduates.

This, in theory, is an efficient way of distributing talent throughout the four provinces – but it will do serious damage to Leinster who have already provided too much talent for everyone else.

This is all very, very unlikely.

youd hope so.

[ronk]

It would be an exceptionally bad way of developing talent for several reasons, one of the most obvious being that academy players often get senior caps.

You’d get a big Munster academy, not a big Leinster one.

Also worth pointing out that Athlone is marginally closer, over worse roads and public transport than Cork and Limerick. And further away from Dublin and Belfast. It doesn’t have an airport either. i.e. it would increase travel times and costs.

[Ruckedtobits]

Sounds like an idea from the Minutes of an IRFU Committee meeting of c. 2007-8 or an idea from the Munster Reps on the IRFU c.2021 as to how to derail the production rate of the Leinster Academy. Whichever, it's a cr@p idea and hopefully will be seen as such. Absolutely no integrity in the idea.

One practise which was initiated by the Leinster Academy was the effective integration of the Academy players with Senior players in training post MO'C. This accelerated development by encouraging competition and ensured that nobody could rest on their reputation at any point in the week's training. Other Academies, and not just in Ireland, have followed this pattern in recent years and the evidence is now apparent in places as far apart as Toulouse, Exeter, Munster and Clermont.

The idea of isolating a single group of National Academy players away from all such interaction with senior players is madness and even Francis should be able to recognise that the idea is both unworkable and detrimental to player development. The French tried it for a full decade in Marcoussis, the National Centre for Rugby just outside Paris and it proved unsuccessful.

[erskinechilders]

Is there any truth in Peter Smyth being seconded to the Munster academy position?

[mildlyinterested]

Is there any truth in Peter Smyth being seconded to the Munster academy position?

Yep he coached Munster A to a win over Leinster.

[neiliog93]

End of provincial rugby if it happens. Identity is key to the provinces.

[mildlyinterested]

Doing a review of the academies and you'd probably say only Tom Clarkson is the best academy prospect at his position in the leinster academy when comparing to the other provinces.

Obviously theres been quite a few top talents leave the leinster academy early in recent seasons but it is probably at it's weakest talent-wise in some time.

[leinsterforever]

Doing a review of the academies and you'd probably say only Tom Clarkson is the best academy prospect at his position in the leinster academy when comparing to the other provinces.

Obviously theres bee quite a few top talents leave the leinster academy early in recent seasons but it is probably at it's weakest talent-wise in some time.

Maybe Joe McCarthy alongside Ahern in the second row and Andrew Smith on the wing.

[mildlyinterested]

Doing a review of the academies and you'd probably say only Tom Clarkson is the best academy prospect at his position in the leinster academy when comparing to the other provinces.

Obviously theres bee quite a few top talents leave the leinster academy early in recent seasons but it is probably at it's weakest talent-wise in some time.

Maybe Joe McCarthy alongside Ahern in the second row and Andrew Smith on the wing.

Not for me at the minute.

Probably take Izzy at lock based on his improvement to date and his athletic upside and size.

Aaron Sexton ahead of Smith.

[backrower8]

Doing a review of the academies and you'd probably say only Tom Clarkson is the best academy prospect at his position in the leinster academy when comparing to the other provinces.

Obviously theres bee quite a few top talents leave the leinster academy early in recent seasons but it is probably at it's weakest talent-wise in some time.

Maybe Joe McCarthy alongside Ahern in the second row and Andrew Smith on the wing.

Not for me at the minute.

Probably take Izzy at lock based on his improvement to date and his athletic upside and size.

Aaron Sexton ahead of Smith.

Haven’t seen enough of Sexton yet but talk from Ulster that while his freakish speed dazzles his rugby smarts haven’t caught up yet.

Watching his amazing speed across the ground against the A’s last week, he reminds me of Derek O’Connor who was on our school team in the early 80s. He held the Irish 100m, 200m & 400m records at different stages. Was only white man in final of US College track finals in his first year of running the 400m. Made 200m semis of European Championships very young. His career declined rapidly as he couldn’t come to terms with being away from home on scholarship in the US.

When our out-half kicked ahead and Derek set off, referees would frequently call a late offside decision supposedly for being in front of the kicker. Our Captain would try and explain to the referee that the fastest Irishman in history was playing on the left wing and to think again before whistling.

As for leading academy talent, I think that both Jack Boyle (LH) & Lee Barron (Hooker) in sub-academy may well meet your criteria when they enter the Academy proper. Barron, a 6’3” baller, excites most by way of his darts.

[mildlyinterested]

Boyle has that potential, once he fills out.

Tom Stewart(Ulster) looks a level above Barron to me in terms of prospect.

[dropkick]

It would be a shame if Aaron Sexton doesn't master the basics. He could be another Jonny May if he does. His teammate, McIlroy, looks a talent.

[mildlyinterested]

It would be a shame if Aaron Sexton doesn't master the basics. He could be another Jonny May if he does. His teammate, McIlroy, looks a talent.

Standard of coaching he is receiving appears to be excellent with Soper so I think he will get there.

[Purist98]

Rumour that Will Hickey didn't make the 20s squad and has signed for Ospreys

[mildlyinterested]

Rumour that Will Hickey didn't make the 20s squad and has signed for Ospreys

Yeah had heard that he was cut from sub academy. Wonder where the ospreys came from? Hope it works out for him.

[EnergiaPark70]

Very suprising to see Will Hickey cut very good captain material and leadership skills . Has great work rate and hunger .

[Purist98]

I presume they have to carry a smaller sub academy group this year than usual, and rate Hernan higher maybe?

[mildlyinterested]

Presumably rate Hernan higher as a 7 and Soroka higher as a 6/8.

Very difficult to make leinster sub academy as a backrow. And not sure exactly what hickey does outstandingly better than anyone else. Tough but won't be the last talent backrow not to make leinster academy.

[mildlyinterested]

Very suprising to see Will Hickey cut very good captain material and leadership skills . Has great work rate and hunger .

Need more than that to make leinster academy.

[Keith]

Doing a review of the academies and you'd probably say only Tom Clarkson is the best academy prospect at his position in the leinster academy when comparing to the other provinces.

Obviously theres bee quite a few top talents leave the leinster academy early in recent seasons but it is probably at it's weakest talent-wise in some time.

Maybe Joe McCarthy alongside Ahern in the second row and Andrew Smith on the wing.

I see Joe McCarthy has been identified as being qualified for the USA. Could have a few MLR teams after him.