The IRISH RUGBY thread

[Dinny Breen]

I thought it a strange performance from Munster who despite being outmatched could have gotten something from the game but too many errors when in great positions combined with some cute hoorism (tackling the ref to prevent a try) stopped them from ever getting back into it after their very poor start. Zebo's exclusion was a strange one which cost Munster dear. Would still fancy Leinster in the final though.

Think Leinster would beat the pick of Munster and Racing at the minute....playing great stuff

Well, Munster are missing Tyler B, Chris Farrell, Jaco Taute, Chris Cloete, Tommy O'Donnell

I think Cloete was missed very badly yesterday.

Tadhg Beirne will be a good signing but the disparity in the schools and academy between Munster and Leinster is very apparent. Munster are just not producing backs like Ringrose, Larmour etc. They'll always be 'hard to beat' but when you come up against elite teams in big matches, that's not enough.

Schools, schools, schools.
You know yourself. Leinster can comfortably have a club academy, as well as a schools academy.
Not as many schools in Munster, nor is it near the level of the money-racket that Leinster schools is.
A lot more fee paying schools in Dublin alone, than in Munster. Patrician College Newbridge is the only non fee-paying school that enters THE Leinster Schools Senior Cup.

Ha!

[Donnellys Hollow]

I thought it a strange performance from Munster who despite being outmatched could have gotten something from the game but too many errors when in great positions combined with some cute hoorism (tackling the ref to prevent a try) stopped them from ever getting back into it after their very poor start. Zebo's exclusion was a strange one which cost Munster dear. Would still fancy Leinster in the final though.

Think Leinster would beat the pick of Munster and Racing at the minute....playing great stuff

Well, Munster are missing Tyler B, Chris Farrell, Jaco Taute, Chris Cloete, Tommy O'Donnell

I think Cloete was missed very badly yesterday.

Tadhg Beirne will be a good signing but the disparity in the schools and academy between Munster and Leinster is very apparent. Munster are just not producing backs like Ringrose, Larmour etc. They'll always be 'hard to beat' but when you come up against elite teams in big matches, that's not enough.

Schools, schools, schools.
You know yourself. Leinster can comfortably have a club academy, as well as a schools academy.
Not as many schools in Munster, nor is it near the level of the money-racket that Leinster schools is.
A lot more fee paying schools in Dublin alone, than in Munster. Patrician College Newbridge is the only non fee-paying school that enters THE Leinster Schools Senior Cup.

Ha!

No wonder Naas CBS have passed them out. Have the Dominican College taken up football instead?

[Hound]

I believe Skerries play Senior Cup and is not fee paying, but they may not be in the top tier, certainly never get near the business end.

Do the fee schools use money raised from parents to employ full time rugby coaches, is that where the advantage comes from re fee paying schools? Though I think the fact they put so much emphasis on rugby as the be all and end all in those schools plays a big part too

[Dinny Breen]

The following schools are invited to attend the Leinster Schools Senior Cup, they can decline and go via the league and Vinnie Murray Cup route

All fee paying

St Michaels Ballsbridge
Blackrock College
Old Belvedere, Dublin City
Clongowes Wood, Clane, Kildare
Terenure
St Marys, Templelogue

The following Schools compete in the Leinster Schools Senior League 1A, 2 sections, top 4 in each section qualify for their league quarter-finals and the Leinster Senior Cup. Those who don't qualify go via the Murray Cup. Winners and runners-up of the Murray Cup qualify for the Senior Cup.

Fee paying

Gonzaga, Ranelagh
Roscrea
St Andrews, Booterstown
Old Wesley, Ballinteer
CUS, Dublin City
St Gerards, Bray
Newbridge College
Castleknock
Kings Hospital, Palmerstown
Monkstown CBC, Monkstown

Non-fee paying

Pres Bray
Kilkenny
St Fintans, Sutton

Top 5 teams in League 1B qualify for Vinnie Murray Cup

Fee Paying

High School, Rathgar
Wilson's Hospital, Multyfarnham

Non fee paying

Mount Temple, Clontarf
Skerries Community School
De la Salle, Churchtown
St Pats, Navan
Newpark, Blackrock

The schools above are the ones who could have won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup this year, 18 Fee paying and 8 non-fee paying but realistically only the top 6 plus the odd outlier such as Roscrea, Newbridge, Kilkenny and St Fintans last year.

To answer Hound's question yes Fee paying schools employ paid coaches, anything from 2 up to 10 covering all age groups, this money is paid across by fees paid and certainly not by the state, that raises a different debate altogether as to why the state are paying fee-paying schools teacher salaries.

They also invest heavily in facilities including gym and 4G pitches. The 6 top schools are effectively mini-academies. They would have 2/3 pitch sessions a week, video analysis and 3 morning gym sessions, some schools would partake in warm-weather training. These 6 schools are producing ready made athletes without Leinster having to spend a cent, this allows Leinster focus on the other schools and the club pathway.

Those 6 schools are successful because of money (always follow the money) and culture, those kids eat, breathe and live rugby generally from 15 years of age when they have a sniff of JCT through to 19 years of age, many burn out and fade away but a good few will go on to Leinster Academies etc.

Personally I don't believe it's healthy system but by jesus is it effective in producing rugby players.

As a side note there close to another 30 teams below those playing in various development leagues etc. So probably close to 60 schools fielding senior rugby teams unheard of 20 years ago.

[Orchard park]

its producing some effective rugby players and hundreds who no longer play any sport.........

serves the purposes the IRFU professional teams want so nobody shouts stop

[Milltown Row2]

Ulster favourites against Munster! Am I missing something here?

[GaillimhIarthair]

Great send off for Muldoon in the Sportsground this afternoon - an absolute gentleman to his boots and hope the coaching gig works out for him at Bristol next season and beyond.

[seafoid]

Great send off for Muldoon in the Sportsground this afternoon - an absolute gentleman to his boots and hope the coaching gig works out for him at Bristol next season and beyond.

Lovely video as well

http://www.the42.ie/john-muldoon-tribute-video-3981970-Apr2018

Up Portumna !

[manfromdelmonte]

Why is the state paying the salaries of teachers in fee paying schools when they use so much ancillary money to pay for rugby coaches?

[LeoMc]

Why is the state paying the salaries of teachers in fee paying schools when they use so much ancillary money to pay for rugby coaches?

Every child is entitled to a State education. The fees are for the extras (coaches), not the basics (education).

[screenexile]

Jees there's some kick up in Leinster about a couple of their lads moving up North!

It'll all be for nought unless Ulster get a decent coach in. . . is there any word on who they've got?

[manfromdelmonte]

Why is the state paying the salaries of teachers in fee paying schools when they use so much ancillary money to pay for rugby coaches?

Every child is entitled to a State education. The fees are for the extras (coaches), not the basics (education).

Then why don't the parents send them to a non fee paying school?

[Walter Cronc]

Jees there's some kick up in Leinster about a couple of their lads moving up North!

It'll all be for nought unless Ulster get a decent coach in. . . is there any word on who they've got?

Serious arrogance in the media regarding this. Ulster are one of the biggest clubs in Europe albeit having a poor season. Going by the story in the Irish Times today it looks like Carberry will have little choice in the matter. If Joe Schmidt tells you to go, you go!

[LeoMc]

Why is the state paying the salaries of teachers in fee paying schools when they use so much ancillary money to pay for rugby coaches?

Every child is entitled to a State education. The fees are for the extras (coaches), not the basics (education).

Then why don't the parents send them to a non fee paying school?

I would assume they want and are willing to pay for the extras.

[seafoid]

Jees there's some kick up in Leinster about a couple of their lads moving up North!

It'll all be for nought unless Ulster get a decent coach in. . . is there any word on who they've got?

Serious arrogance in the media regarding this. Ulster are one of the biggest clubs in Europe albeit having a poor season. Going by the story in the Irish Times today it looks like Carberry will have little choice in the matter. If Joe Schmidt tells you to go, you go!

Irish rugby is not free market. It's more socialist. Ulster need an outhalf and Leinster have a few spares .
The whole thing is geared towards the national team and looking at the trophies collected in the Professional era versus pre it is a good system.