Leinster Squad 22-23

[Keith]

it was Soroka.

Brilliant news. Word was that he had agreed a contract down south.

Just shows once again how desperate lads are to stay here and fight for their place, despite the depth of talent in the squad. We take the environment that's been created for granted.

[deco]

it was Soroka.

Brilliant news. Word was that he had agreed a contract down south.

Just shows once again how desperate lads are to stay here and fight for their place, despite the depth of talent in the squad. We take the environment that's been created for granted.

Very true and a credit to the Leinster brains trust. He obviously has the smarts not to be tempted by easier routes to make the first team elsewhere. I wonder does Cullen have a dire-lights reel of ex Leinster players careers that he's shows at the Monday review sessions.

[XyzFoo]

Just shows once again how desperate lads are to stay here and fight for their place, despite the depth of talent in the squad. We take the environment that's been created for granted.

Easy for fans to do, but it must be apparent to players that no one leaves Leinster to get better.

I have kids here in the Uk and there is good data from OFSTED on the "value added" at various key stages by schools. I have no idea how it is measured or if it is reliable, but I would imagine that were it possible to measure valued added in provincial academies the choice of staying at Leinster would be an easy one to make.

[allezlesverres]

Private schools? Are there no rugby playing private schools in Ulster/England/Scotland/S Africa? Weird, I was sure they were littered with them.

Can't speak to the others but can say there isn't a single one in Ulster.

[Ruckedtobits]

Private schools? Are there no rugby playing private schools in Ulster/England/Scotland/S Africa? Weird, I was sure they were littered with them.

Can't speak to the others but can say there isn't a single one in Ulster.

What about Campbell, Methody, Coleraine, BRA, Royal School Armagh.?

[Oldschoolsocks]

I always thought a ‘private school’ was where fees need to be paid, but I’ve been reliably informed that they’re actually fee paying schools and that they in fact subsidise the rest of us plebs who just went to non-fee paying schools.

A real rugby guy would probably get it..

[mildlyinterested]

Kelleher pictured training today.

[ExtremelyInterested]

LH Prop
Cian Healy(35/Belvedere/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Ed Byrne(29/Clongowes/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Andrew Porter(27/St. Andrews/UCD) - central contract until 2025
Michael Milne(24/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
--
Marcus Hanan(23/Clane RFC/Old Belvedere) - Academy Yr 3
Jack Boyle(21/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 2

Hanan to be released, Healy to retire?

TH Prop
Michael Alaalatoa(31) - signed contract in 2023
Tadhg Furlong(30/New Ross RFC/Clontarf) - central contract until 2025
Vakh Abdaladze(27/Coolmine RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Tom Clarkson(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Temi Lasisi(22/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 2
Rory McGuire(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1
Paddy McCarthy(19/Blackrock/DUFC) - incoming

Hooker
Tadgh McElroy (26/Dundalk RFC/Lansdowne) - signed contract until end of 2023
Ronan Kelleher(25/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract until 2025
Dan Sheehan(24/Clongowes/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
John McKee(23/Campbell/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2023
--
Lee Barron(22/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Academy Yr 2
Gus McCarthy(19/Blackrock/UCD) - incoming

McElroy to stay/leave?

Lock
Ross Molony(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Jason Jenkins(27) - signed contract in 2022
James Ryan(26/St. Michaels/UCD) - central contract until 2025
Brian Deeny(23/Wexford RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Joe McCarthy(22/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Conor O'Tighearnaigh(20/St. Michaels/UCD) - incoming

Its possible Deeny signed a 2 year deal out of the academy, unlikely though.

Backrow
Rhys Ruddock(32/Exile/St. Marys) - signed contract in 2022
Jack Conan(30/St. Gerards/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2023
Josh Van Der Flier(29/Wesley/UCD) - signed central contract until 2026
Will Connors(26/Clongowes/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Max Deegan(26/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
Caelan Doris(25/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2022
Ryan Baird(23/St. Michaels/DUFC) - signed contract in 2022
Scott Penny(23/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Martin Moloney(23/Athy RFC/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2022
Alex Soroka(22/Belvedere/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2023
--
James Culhane(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1
Diarmuid Mangan(20/Newbridge/UCD) - Academy Yr 1
Liam Molony(19/Blackrock/DUFC) - incoming

Its possible Moloney signed a 2 year deal out of the academy, unlikely though.

Scrumhalf
Jamison Gibson Park(31) - signed contract in 2022
Luke McGrath(30/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Nick McCarthy(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Cormac Foley(23/St. Gerards/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2023
--
Ben Murphy(21/Pres Bray/Old Wesley) - Academy Yr 2
Fintan Gunne(19/St. Michaels/Terenure) - incoming

Outhalf
Jonathan Sexton(37/St. Marys/St. Marys) - central contract until the World Cup
Ross Byrne(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Ciaran Frawley(25/Skerries RFC/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Harry Byrne(23/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
--
Charlie Tector(21/Kilkenny/Lansowne) - Academy Yr 1
Sam Prendergast(20/Newbridge/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 1

Sexton is retiring.

Centre
Charlie Ngatai(32) - signed contract in 2022
Robbie Henshaw(29) - central contact until 2025
Garry Ringrose(28/Blackrock/UCD) - central contact until 2025
Liam Turner(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
Jamie Osborne(21/Naas RFC/Naas) - signed contract in 2023
--
Ben Brownlee(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1
Hugh Cooney(19/Blackrock/Clontarf) - incoming

Back Three
Dave Kearney(33/Clongowes/Lansdowne) - signed 2yr contract in 2021
James Lowe(30) - signed contract in 2023
Hugo Keenan(26/Blackrock/UCD) - signed central contract until 2026
Jimmy O'Brien(25/Newbridge/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Jordan Larmour(25/St. Andrews/St. Marys) - signed contract in 2022
Tommy O'Brien(24/Blackrock/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Rob Russell(24/St. Michaels/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Max O'Reilly(23/St. Gerards/DUFC) - Academy Yr 3
Chris Cosgrave(21/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Aitzol King(20/Balbriggan RFC/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 1
Henry McElrean(19/St. Michaels/Tereure) - incoming
Andrew Osborne(19/Naas RFC/Naas) - incoming


Dave is expected to leave the province at the end of the season. O'Reilly is expected to be released too.

Leaving the province
Sean O'Brien(22/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 3 --> Connacht
Andrew Smith(22/St. Michaels/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 3 --> Connacht

** Martin Moloney is a Clontarf player

[sunshiner1]

Looking at our run-in this season I wish we had another experience Second-row to call upon to share the load. What do people think? I know this year we got unlucky with McCarthy's injury and Ryan's retirement but having another guy in the second row especially during a RWC year would be a big benefit. Doesn't have to be a big name just a squad player who could do a job while we give COT another season or two to mature and cover what is an attritional position.

[StopTheLights]

Looking at our run-in this season I wish we had another experience Second-row to call upon to share the load. What do people think? I know this year we got unlucky with McCarthy's injury and Ryan's retirement but having another guy in the second row especially during a RWC year would be a big benefit. Doesn't have to be a big name just a squad player who could do a job while we give COT another season or two to mature and cover what is an attritional position.

I’d be in agreement. Remains to be seen who goes to the World Cup, but in a world where Ryan, McCarthy and Jenkins all make the trip, we’d really feel it. Assumedly Soroka would find himself playing at lock next season, in that circumstance. I guess it’s still possible we make a signing. Although the list of experienced locks not going to the World Cup would probably not be a particularly enviable group of players. No disrespect, it’s just not exactly a buyers market in that position.

[ronk]

We could as easily see Jenkins, Molony and Deeny as the main options during the RWC with Soroka also available and COT and Mangan down the depth chart. Ruddock could cover there.

I think sign a joker when we need one, not in case we need one. Certainly not for 1 or 2 games when we might not need them.

And thats assuming that all of Ryan, Baird and McCarthy go to the RWC. McCarthy isn't a cert.

[FtD]

Looking at our run-in this season I wish we had another experience Second-row to call upon to share the load. What do people think? I know this year we got unlucky with McCarthy's injury and Ryan's retirement but having another guy in the second row especially during a RWC year would be a big benefit. Doesn't have to be a big name just a squad player who could do a job while we give COT another season or two to mature and cover what is an attritional position.

I’d be in agreement. Remains to be seen who goes to the World Cup, but in a world where Ryan, McCarthy and Jenkins all make the trip, we’d really feel it. Assumedly Soroka would find himself playing at lock next season, in that circumstance. I guess it’s still possible we make a signing. Although the list of experienced locks not going to the World Cup would probably not be a particularly enviable group of players. No disrespect, it’s just not exactly a buyers market in that position.

Jenkins won't make it. He was called up but not used by them in November, when on great form. Since then he's had a long injury layoff, and RG Snyman has gotten himself healthy.

[sunshiner1]

by ronk

We could as easily see Jenkins, Molony and Deeny as the main options during the RWC with Soroka also available and COT and Mangan down the depth chart. Ruddock could cover there.

I think sign a joker when we need one, not in case we need one. Certainly not for 1 or 2 games when we might not need them.

And thats assuming that all of Ryan, Baird and McCarthy go to the RWC. McCarthy isn't a cert.

I take your point but with the amount of games that Leinster play each season having another player in the squad rather than parachuting someone in makes more sense to me. Also Jenkins has a fairly poor injury profile so having another guy to go strikes me as a plus. And just using London Irish as an example we could probably get the likes of Adam Coleman fairly cheaply.

[mildlyinterested]

I'd be shocked if they signed a NIQ, maybe if an IQ lock came on the market, but there is nothing obvious to me.

They'll likely have these players available during the WC, who can play 2nd row:

Ross Molony(29/St. Michaels/UCD)
Jason Jenkins(27)
Brian Deeny(23/Wexford RFC/Clontarf)
Joe McCarthy(22/Blackrock/DUFC)
Alex Soroka(22/Belvedere/Clontarf)
Conor O'Tighnearnaigh(20/St. Michaels/UCD)
Diarmuid Mangan(20/Newbridge/UCD)

[mildlyinterested]

Dave Kearney has announced he will leave Leinster Rugby at the end of the season.

Louth native Kearney, who won 185 caps for Leinster and 19 caps for Ireland, across a 14 year career, has scored 55 tries for Leinster, and a further five for Ireland.

The 33-year-old made his Leinster Rugby debut in May 2009 against Dragons in Rodney Parade. His most recent appearance came last weekend in the BKT United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final against Cell C Sharks in Aviva Stadium.

During his time with Leinster, Kearney was part of the squad that won three Heineken Champions Cup, six League titles and a Challenge Cup. He also won the 2014 Six Nations title with Ireland, playing in every minute of the campaign.

[mildlyinterested]

LH Prop
Cian Healy(35/Belvedere/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Ed Byrne(29/Clongowes/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Andrew Porter(27/St. Andrews/UCD) - central contract until 2025
Michael Milne(24/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
--
Marcus Hanan(23/Clane RFC/Old Belvedere) - Academy Yr 3
Jack Boyle(21/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 2

TH Prop
Michael Alaalatoa(31) - signed contract in 2023
Tadhg Furlong(30/New Ross RFC/Clontarf) - central contract until 2025
Vakh Abdaladze(27/Coolmine RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Tom Clarkson(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Temi Lasisi(22/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 3
Rory McGuire(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Paddy McCarthy(19/Blackrock/DUFC) - Academy Yr 1

Hooker
Tadgh McElroy (26/Dundalk RFC/Lansdowne) - signed contract until end of 2023
Ronan Kelleher(25/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract until 2025
Dan Sheehan(24/Clongowes/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
John McKee(23/Campbell/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2023
--
Lee Barron(22/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Academy Yr 3
Gus McCarthy(19/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1

Lock
Ross Molony(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Jason Jenkins(27) - signed contract in 2022
James Ryan(26/St. Michaels/UCD) - central contract until 2025
Ryan Baird(23/St. Michaels/DUFC) - signed contract in 2022
Brian Deeny(23/Wexford RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Alex Soroka(22/Belvedere/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2023
Joe McCarthy(22/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Conor O'Tighearnaigh(20/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 1

Backrow
Rhys Ruddock(32/Exile/St. Marys) - signed contract in 2022
Jack Conan(30/St. Gerards/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2023
Josh Van Der Flier(29/Wesley/UCD) - signed central contract until 2026
Will Connors(26/Clongowes/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Max Deegan(26/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
Caelan Doris(25/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2022
Scott Penny(23/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Martin Moloney(23/Athy RFC/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2022
--
James Culhane(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Diarmuid Mangan(20/Newbridge/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Liam Molony(19/Blackrock/DUFC) - Academy Yr 1

Scrumhalf
Jamison Gibson Park(31) - signed contract in 2022
Luke McGrath(30/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Nick McCarthy(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Cormac Foley(23/St. Gerards/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2023
--
Ben Murphy(21/Pres Bray/Old Wesley) - Academy Yr 3
Fintan Gunne(19/St. Michaels/Terenure) - Academy Yr 1

Outhalf
Ross Byrne(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Ciaran Frawley(25/Skerries RFC/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Harry Byrne(23/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
--
Charlie Tector(21/Kilkenny/Lansowne) - Academy Yr 2
Sam Prendergast(20/Newbridge/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 2

Centre
Charlie Ngatai(32) - signed contract in 2022
Robbie Henshaw(29) - central contact until 2025
Garry Ringrose(28/Blackrock/UCD) - central contact until 2025
Liam Turner(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
Jamie Osborne(21/Naas RFC/Naas) - signed contract in 2023
--
Ben Brownlee(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Hugh Cooney(19/Blackrock/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 1

Back Three
James Lowe(30) - signed contract in 2023
Hugo Keenan(26/Blackrock/UCD) - signed central contract until 2026
Jimmy O'Brien(25/Newbridge/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Jordan Larmour(25/St. Andrews/St. Marys) - signed contract in 2022
Tommy O'Brien(24/Blackrock/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Rob Russell(24/St. Michaels/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Max O'Reilly(23/St. Gerards/DUFC) - Academy Yr 3
Chris Cosgrave(21/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 3
Aitzol King(20/Balbriggan RFC/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 2
Henry McElrean(20/St. Michaels/Tereure) - Academy Yr 1
Andrew Osborne(19/Naas RFC/Naas) - Academy Yr 1

Leaving the province
Jonathan Sexton(37/St. Marys/St. Marys) - retiring
Dave Kearney(33/Clongowes/Lansdowne) -
Sean O'Brien(22/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 3 --> Connacht
Andrew Smith(22/St. Michaels/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 3 --> Connacht

[PeteIRL]

God, you look at that backrow and still, I'm blown away by the quality.

[cormac]

Nick McCarthy has been called up to a USA training squad

https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-mens-eagl ... ed-2023511

[blockhead]

Nick McCarthy has been called up to a USA training squad

https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-mens-eagl ... ed-2023511

That's Grrrrrrrreeeeaaaaaat!

[mildlyinterested]

Nick McCarthy has been called up to a USA training squad

https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-mens-eagl ... ed-2023511

Makes sense given the rumour that he is headed to the states.