Leinster Academy 22-23

[Observingprop123]

Are we expecting any Debuts on the SA tour? Even if top spot isn't locked up don't think we will send any senior lads down.

[whiscash02]

Ireland U19 Men Squad

Theo Bishop (IQ Rugby/Hartpury College)
Tadhg Brophy (Leinster/Newbridge College) - srumhalf
David Colbert (Leinster/Dublin University FC) - fullback/ring
Adam Deay (Leinster/Lansdowne FC) - TH Prop
Ethan Graham (Ulster/Ballynahinch RFC)
Sean Hopkins (Connacht/Ballina RFC)
Ben Howard (Leinster/St Michael’s) - LH Prop
Stephen Kiely (Munster/Old Crescent RFC)
Tom Larke (Leinster/Old Wesley RFC) - Outhalf
Mark Lee (Ulster/Rainey Old Boys RFC)
Ben McFarlane (Ulster/Methody)
James McKillop (Ulster/Foyle College)
Jack Murphy (Leinster/Pres Bray) - Outhalf
Sean Naughton (Leinster/Kilkenny College) - Outhalf
Luke O’Connor (Leinster/Lansdowne FC) - lock/blindside
James O’Loughlin (Leinster/Naas RFC) - lock
Jake O’Riordan (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)
Oisin Pepper (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)
Jacob Sheahan (Munster/UCC RFC)
Charlie Sheridan (Leinster/Naas RFC) centre
Stephen Smyth (Leinster/Kilkenny College) - hooker
Zac Solomon (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins RFC)
Josh Stevens (Ulster/Methody Belfast)
Richard Whelan (Leinster/Cistercian Roscrea) - backrow​

No players who played in the Leinster, Munster or Ulster Senior Cup finals if I'm correct

[naraic]

Are we expecting any Debuts on the SA tour? Even if top spot isn't locked up don't think we will send any senior lads down.

I'm sure there will be debuts but I'm not sure who will get the opportunity.

I'd say theres room for someone like Prendergast to get a chance.

[Ruckedtobits]

Glad to see 6 Ulster lads and four Munster. Beginning to see a better spread from development in other Provinces.

[cormac]

Are we expecting any Debuts on the SA tour? Even if top spot isn't locked up don't think we will send any senior lads down.

Diarmuid Mangan. Sam Prendergast and Rory McGuire are the only players in the academy who've yet to make their Leinster senior debuts.

[Serb]

They’ll probably all be in the travelling squad, but something would have to go wrong to see any of them on the pitch.

Year one props don’t tend to play at all (some of our props were fully contracted before making their debut if I remember correctly), so would think McGuire is out. Clarkson and Abaladze will be used instead. I can’t remember if Lasisi moved over to tighthead? He might feature if so.

We’re light enough on locks, but we’ll likely send Molony on tour, and he’ll probably feature alongside Deeny. The bench spot is unclear, we could choose from Soroka, Ruddock or Mangan.

Similarly for 10, you’d have to think this is Harry Byrne’s tour to start both games at 10 with Tector or Frawley on the bench. That said, I’d probably be the least concerned with Prendergast featuring versus the other two, but I don’t see it happening.

[mildlyinterested]

IRELAND U19 v Japan U19, Lakelands, Wednesday 22nd March, 2023, KO:2.40pm
15. David Colbert (Leinster/Dublin University FC)
14. Stephen Kiely (Munster/Old Crescent RFC)
13. Charlie Sheridan (Leinster/Naas RFC)
12. Tom Larke (Leinster/St. Columbas College/Old Wesley RFC)
11. Oisin Pepper (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)
10. Jack Murphy (Leinster/Presentation College Bray) vice captain
9. Jake O’Riordan (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)

1. Ben Howard (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
2. Stephen Smyth (Leinster/Kilkenny College) captain
3. Adam Deay (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
4. James O’Loughlin (Leinster/Naas RFC)
5. James McKillop (Ulster/Foyle College)
6. Mark Lee (Ulster/Rainey Old Boys RFC)
7. Josh Stevens (Ulster/Methodist College)
8. Richard Whelan (Leinster/Cistercian College Roscrea)

Replacements
16. Zac Solomon (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins RFC)
17. Sean Hopkins (Connacht/St Muredach’s College/Ballina RFC)
18. Theo Bishop (IQ Rugby/Hartpury College)
19. Luke O’Connor (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
20. Jacob Sheahan (Munster/UCC RFC)
21. Tadhg Brophy (Leinster/Newbridge College)
22. Sean Naughton (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
23. Ben McFarlane (Ulster/Methodist College)
24. Ethan Graham (Ulster/Ballynahinch RFC)

[sunshiner1]

Seems to be some excitement about the Ulster boys on this team which is a good thing. Hope they do well

[tighthead]

IRELAND U19 v Japan U19, Lakelands, Wednesday 22nd March, 2023, KO:2.40pm
15. David Colbert (Leinster/Dublin University FC)
14. Stephen Kiely (Munster/Old Crescent RFC)
13. Charlie Sheridan (Leinster/Naas RFC)
12. Tom Larke (Leinster/St. Columbas College/Old Wesley RFC)
11. Oisin Pepper (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)
10. Jack Murphy (Leinster/Presentation College Bray) vice captain
9. Jake O’Riordan (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)

1. Ben Howard (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
2. Stephen Smyth (Leinster/Kilkenny College) captain
3. Adam Deay (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
4. James O’Loughlin (Leinster/Naas RFC)
5. James McKillop (Ulster/Foyle College)
6. Mark Lee (Ulster/Rainey Old Boys RFC)
7. Josh Stevens (Ulster/Methodist College)
8. Richard Whelan (Leinster/Cistercian College Roscrea)

Replacements
16. Zac Solomon (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins RFC)
17. Sean Hopkins (Connacht/St Muredach’s College/Ballina RFC)
18. Theo Bishop (IQ Rugby/Hartpury College)
19. Luke O’Connor (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
20. Jacob Sheahan (Munster/UCC RFC)
21. Tadhg Brophy (Leinster/Newbridge College)
22. Sean Naughton (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
23. Ben McFarlane (Ulster/Methodist College)
24. Ethan Graham (Ulster/Ballynahinch RFC)

Is Alan Spicer with the U19 or is he still U18.

[mildlyinterested]

IRELAND U19 v Japan U19, Lakelands, Wednesday 22nd March, 2023, KO:2.40pm
15. David Colbert (Leinster/Dublin University FC)
14. Stephen Kiely (Munster/Old Crescent RFC)
13. Charlie Sheridan (Leinster/Naas RFC)
12. Tom Larke (Leinster/St. Columbas College/Old Wesley RFC)
11. Oisin Pepper (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)
10. Jack Murphy (Leinster/Presentation College Bray) vice captain
9. Jake O’Riordan (Munster/St. Munchin’s College)

1. Ben Howard (Leinster/St Michael’s College)
2. Stephen Smyth (Leinster/Kilkenny College) captain
3. Adam Deay (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
4. James O’Loughlin (Leinster/Naas RFC)
5. James McKillop (Ulster/Foyle College)
6. Mark Lee (Ulster/Rainey Old Boys RFC)
7. Josh Stevens (Ulster/Methodist College)
8. Richard Whelan (Leinster/Cistercian College Roscrea)

Replacements
16. Zac Solomon (Ulster/Belfast Harlequins RFC)
17. Sean Hopkins (Connacht/St Muredach’s College/Ballina RFC)
18. Theo Bishop (IQ Rugby/Hartpury College)
19. Luke O’Connor (Leinster/Lansdowne FC)
20. Jacob Sheahan (Munster/UCC RFC)
21. Tadhg Brophy (Leinster/Newbridge College)
22. Sean Naughton (Leinster/Kilkenny College)
23. Ben McFarlane (Ulster/Methodist College)
24. Ethan Graham (Ulster/Ballynahinch RFC)

Is Alan Spicer with the U19 or is he still U18.

He is u18.

[ronk]

Some interesting discussion of problems with development pathways in England.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... -catch-up/

Some of it it is shocking. Cutting back budget from such a successful program,

[johng]

Problem with that is... No one will admit to having a torygraph sub to post the article.

[riocard911]

Problem with that is... No one will admit to having a torygraph sub to post the article.

There's a solution to the firewall problem. This is it:

https://archive.ph/

Pop the url of the paywalled article in the little window, press return, click the box to prove you're not a robot, and there's the full text plus pics in front of you!

[mildlyinterested]

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/meet-the-a ... e-2022-23/

FYI Sam Prendergast born in 2003, not 2004.

[riocard911]

Here's the full article, which I just retrieved by the above method:

England's pathways system was destroyed and left them playing catch-up

Although England's junior teams are starting to get back on track, the impact of some costly decisions are still being felt

By Daniel Schofield, Deputy Rugby Union Correspondent 21 March 2023 • 7:30am

Photo: Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt have all found success in Ireland after being let go by England Credit: Geoff Pugh

Why do empires fall? Australian author Max Barry argues it is not for lack of power. It is the opposite. “Their power lulls them into comfort. They become undisciplined. Those who had to earn power are replaced by those who have known nothing else.”

And so it is with the Rugby Football Union who for years boasted a world-leading coach and youth development programme, with the England Under-20s winning the Junior World Championship three times in four years and providing a steady pipeline of talent to the senior team. Through neglect, complacency and almost willful sabotage the foundations of English rugby were allowed to crumble and now the consequences are being felt. A run of three successive two-win Six Nations campaigns is not a blip. It is a trend. Particularly when the England Under-20 team also finished fourth, below Italy.

It is well documented that the current Ireland set-up is spearheaded by the coaches who the RFU jettisoned in 2015. Stuart Lancaster is Leinster's senior coach, Munster are now led by Graham Rowntree while Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and his assistant Mike Catt, are now basking in the glow of a Grand Slam.

What is less well known is that RFU never held an exit interview with Lancaster or his assistants. All that experience and crucial learnings were just left in the ether and are now directly benefiting Ireland. Contrast that with how ferociously the New Zealand Rugby Union protects its intellectual property, particularly when the RFU came sniffing around Wayne Smith, and how it retains contact with all its foreign-based coaches.

Foto: Stuart Lancaster has turned Leinster into arguably the best side in Europe Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Redington

With Eddie Jones winning a Grand Slam in 2016 and another title the year after, the cracks in the English system were not yet coming to surface. Behind the scenes, however, there was turmoil.

In 2016, Dean Ryan was appointed as the Rugby Football Union’s head of international player development. This effectively replaced the role that Lancaster held before he became England head coach in 2011.

Ryan was always a curious appointment. Previously director of rugby with Worcester Warriors and Gloucester, he had little background in development. He was, however, close friends with Nigel Melville, then the RFU’s director of professional rugby and he wasted no time stamping his mark.

England Under-20s coach Martin Haag was let go four months after winning the Junior World Championship in 2016. Two years later, John Fletcher and Peter Walton, the enormously popular coaches of the England Under-18s, were sacked in the middle of a coaching conference, to a chorus of mutiny among current and former players on social media.

Others who left during this period included Kevin Bowring and Richard Shuttleworth within the coaching development programme, Russell Earnshaw, Alun Powell, the head of regional academies who has taken up a similar role with the English Cricket Board, sports psychologist James Bell and strength and conditioning coach Neil Taylor. It amounted to a wholesale gutting of the development pathway as well as a move towards a more structured approach.

“There were huge philosophical differences around what coaching and development looked like,” said Earnshaw, who left his role as RFU performance coach in 2018. “When someone does not know the principles of play or that we are an evasion sport then you probably realise at that point you are going to be on different pages.”

Ryan would argue that his hands were forced by budget cuts. “When I first came we had a £750,000 budget for coach development, now we have nothing,” Ryan said in a newspaper interview in 2019. “The department here has just been squeezed and squeezed.”

Earnshaw says that there are a lot of good people back involved at Twickenham, but the damage caused by letting so much expertise go will take years to rebuild. “Development takes a long time to build but can be destroyed quickly,” he said. “It is not just the expertise, it is the relationships that they have built up with clubs, schools and parents. That level of trust takes years and years to build.”

It was not just the relationships further down the pyramid that were being damaged. Jones’ public spat with Bath owner Bruce Craig, whom he called the “Donald Trump of rugby”, in 2018 was symbolic of a breakdown in relations with Premiership clubs. At least one Premiership club banned England coaches from visiting their training ground, although Borthwick is already mending fences in this regard.

There was little coordination around the programmes for some England Under-20 players, who ended up playing as few as half a dozen matches a season. This is an area that urgently needs to be addressed by next year’s Professional Game Agreement between Premiership Rugby and the RFU. In Ireland, talent is funnelled through the schools and academy system into the provinces and national team. In England, the talent is there – see the recent emergence of Lewis Chessum and Robert Carmichael – but too frequently it ends up being poured through a sieve.

For all the envious glances currently being cast towards Ireland, whose Under-20s sealed their own ‘green sweep’ this weekend, it was not too long ago that England had a world-leading youth programme. It is also worth remembering that Leinster’s playing pool is about the same size as Yorkshire’s.

The implicit assumption that the world’s largest playing pool and financial resources would keep England ahead of the opposition must come to an end.

Size counts for nothing unless you have the structure to harness it.

[whiscash02]

Ireland U19 lose to Japan U19 22 - 19

[mildlyinterested]

Ireland u19 lost 19-22 to Japan u19

[paddyor]

Some interesting discussion of problems with development pathways in England.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... -catch-up/

Some of it it is shocking. Cutting back budget from such a successful program,

£750k is the magic number as that's what they pay Sweeney

[hugonaut]

“There were huge philosophical differences around what coaching and development looked like,” said Earnshaw, who left his role as RFU performance coach in 2018. “When someone does not know the principles of play or that we are an evasion sport then you probably realise at that point you are going to be on different pages.”

Principles of play: https://passport.world.rugby/injury-pre ... s-of-play/

Have to admit to being in Dean Ryan's category here ... I had never seen this diagram.

[naraic]

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/meet-the-a ... e-2022-23/

FYI Sam Prendergast born in 2003, not 2004.

https://www.irishrugby.ie/u20/sam-prendergast/

I don't know which is the more accurate source.

I'll guess Leinster.