We have people talk about how great it is for our Academy players to be around and training with the senior team.Peg Leg wrote: ↑March 1st, 2022, 10:12 amSeems like a penny pinching exercise by the Italians. The RTE pod last week was very good with Bradley, Tremenjus and Berch, a good exploration of the Italian situation (over 50% of the ep. was dedicated to it. I am no clearer as to what needs to be done, but it is disappointing that they are dismantling the positive legacy of Conor O'Shea's tenure. What are they spending their 6N money on?IanD wrote: ↑February 28th, 2022, 7:08 pmThe National Academy is being scrapped.Theleinsterlad wrote: ↑February 28th, 2022, 2:24 pm https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2022/022 ... y-feature/
Midway through the article it confirms the academy system has been scrapped
Seems to me they are following our setup with the Clubs looking after the younger players themselves.
Now the Italian youngsters are going to be in and around the 2 senior squads instead of hot housed away from the senior squads.
I remember a few seasons ago (I think it was) Zebre had an injury crisis and the recruited players from the semi pro league in Italy for a match. At the time they had no academy to dip into. Look at how much game time players from our Academy ate getting now. They could have benefited as we have.