The Official Irish Rugby Thread

[Uncle fester]

Ah fuck sake

Dan Leavy: Ireland & Leinster flanker retires at 27 because of injury


Ireland and Leinster flanker Dan Leavy has been forced to retire because of a long-standing knee problem.

The 27-year-old has been battling with the injury sustained against Ulster two years ago and has now been advised by specialists to hang up his boots.

Leavy won 11 caps for Ireland and made 79 appearances for Leinster.

"I have done everything I can to come back from the knee injury but unfortunately I can't do any more or ask any more of my body," he said

Crazy he only has 11 caps. Wonderfully belligerent player.

[Uncle fester]

Never really saw Rowntree as Head Coach material
Good luck to him

Graham Rowntree will replace the departing Johann van Graan as Munster head coach in July.
The former England prop, who is currently forwards coach with the Irish province, is promoted to the top post on a two-year deal.
"I am hugely honoured to be taking over the role of head coach for a club of this calibre," said the 50-year-old.
"It is one that means so much to me and my family. I get to work with an incredible group of staff and players."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61081839

Forwards have been solid enough considering the personnel issues in the front row. Need to get him some decent back up though and recruit better.

[Ludeen]

I see Munster have signed Antoine Frisch from Bristol, looks to be a good signing and just what was needed at 12.
Himself and Fekitoa could be formidable. Is Pat lamb a secret agent :

[Uncle fester]

Yeah, it's an interesting signing. Potentially Irish qualified as well but doubt he'll be getting capped.

As long as he's better than Scannell, that'll do.

[Camroc2]

Yeah, it's an interesting signing. Potentially Irish qualified as well but doubt he'll be getting capped.

As long as he's better than Scannell, that'll do.

He is Irish qualified from the day he was born through his Dublin granny.

[Uncle fester]

You know what I mean.

[Uncle fester]

Tarf and the gick in the AIL final.

[laurent]

Tarf and the gick in the AIL final.

Found it's on TG4 (and tested VPN+Live which will work :) )

Will be in clontarf Gear in front of the telly :)

[laurent]

And We are Champions :)


Just to messy to get there for a sunday game but would have loved to.

Big Thought for Ukraine as well with Soroka Brothers (Ivan today and Alex Yesterday

[Uncle fester]

10 years since tragedy struck the Spence family.
Good interviews here.
https://www.the42.ie/nevin-spence-5868541-Sep2022/

[Uncle fester]

Knew he had a tough time after playing but Jesus...
‘Rugby gave me good stuff and good times, but when it crashed, that was brutal’

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... by-ulster/

[salanya]

Bless his beard for sticking at it, but if Ross Byrne isn't even making his kicks, what is the point to him?

Frawley better stay fit and healthy, as he's needed at 10.

[fishfoodie]

Bless his beard for sticking at it, but if Ross Byrne isn't even making his kicks, what is the point to him?

Frawley better stay fit and healthy, as he's needed at 10.

I told youse; we have to invest in cryonic research to freeze Sexy after each game.

I'm still hoping Harry will step up, because otherwise we're buggered.

[Kawazaki]

Never really saw Rowntree as Head Coach material

Your observation is ageing well.

[SaintK]

Never really saw Rowntree as Head Coach material

Your observation is ageing well.

[fishfoodie]

Well at least financially things are in reasonable order. It probably helps to have the team winning, as it's easier selling tickets to watch your team win.

The Irish Rugby Football Union says it remains optimistic the four provinces will survive the financial crisis engulfing the English club game.

Wasps and Worcester have each been suspended from the Premiership after entering administration.

The IRFU reported a 5.9m euro (£5.17m) profit for the year ended 31 July.

While the governing body forecasted deficits for the next three years, it expects Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connacht to pull through.

"I don't really want to comment on the specific clubs, but it's really important for professional rugby that you operate with the funds you have with certainty," said IRFU chief executive Kevin Potts.

"I don't believe it will have any impact here as long as - and I believe it will be the case - the four provinces and ourselves operate our models on a sustainable basis."

He added: "Obviously we have sympathy for all of the players who are coming out of contract or losing their jobs because of this but in a strange way it might have a deflating impact, perhaps, on player costs in general.

"In professional sport, if you don't have a sustainable model you are going to run into trouble.

"That [a sustainable model] is what we are determined to ensure is the case here."

The IRFU had predicted a deficit of 4.9m euro (£4.2m) for 2021-22 having endured combined losses of almost 47m euro (£41m) in the previous two years during the pandemic.

The better-than-expected 2021-22 results, announced on Friday, were a result of fans returning to Ireland Test matches sooner than expected after the start of the pandemic, the receipt in arrears of 18m euro (£15.7m) in Irish government assistance for Covid-19 income losses, and a 44.6m euro (£39m) cash injection from CVC Capital Partners' Six Nations deal.

However, CVC's investment comes at a cost of a permanent reduction of 14% of future Six Nations and Autumn Nations Series income.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63603954

[PornDog]

The better-than-expected 2021-22 results, announced on Friday, were a result of fans returning to Ireland Test matches sooner than expected after the start of the pandemic, the receipt in arrears of 18m euro (£15.7m) in Irish government assistance for Covid-19 income losses, and a 44.6m euro (£39m) cash injection from CVC Capital Partners' Six Nations deal.

However, CVC's investment comes at a cost of a permanent reduction of 14% of future Six Nations and Autumn Nations Series income.

That very much takes the shine off what on paper might look like positive news.

[Uncle fester]

Andy Friend gooooooooone

[fishfoodie]

Andy Friend gooooooooone

Just in time for Pat Lam to return

[Uncle fester]

That what folks actually want?
Didn't he get their finances in trouble pay time he was there?

[PornDog]

Frawley out for 3-4 months and Ross Byrne called up for Australia.

I'd imagine he's just additional injury cover and wouldn't expect him to jump ahead of Crowley for the bench spot against Australia.

Question is, would he start ahead of Crowley though if Johnny pulls up?

[earl the beaver]

Bored down for anyone else?

Or at least not able to post.

[Camroc2]

Bored down for anyone else?

Or at least not able to post.

Yep.

Irish Team Vs France :

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Murray; Porter, Herring, Bealham; Ryan, Beirne; O’Mahony, van der Flier.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, O’Toole, Henderson, Conan, Casey, Byrne, Aki.

[iarmhí]

So Murray starts. The team is weaker for Sheehan but still good enough to win

[earl the beaver]

Much as Aki played well on Saturday in the 20 mins or so he was on it does seem a waste to have an out and out 12 on the bench as it means we know McCloskey is coming off unless there's an injury (regardless of how well he is playing) and if there is an injury we likely end up with two 12s in the centre and vulnerable to an outside break.

[HighKingLeinster]

Well lads, hows the lifeboat? Somebody stick the kettle on and pass the chocolate digestives

[PornDog]

Bored down for anyone else?

Or at least not able to post.

Yep.

Irish Team Vs France :

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Murray; Porter, Herring, Bealham; Ryan, Beirne; O’Mahony, van der Flier.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, O’Toole, Henderson, Conan, Casey, Byrne, Aki.

I'm pretty confident too, but I still reckon we can't afford to just give Doris the weekend off. Or at least play someone else in his place.

[CM11]

Completely forgot about this place for an hour or two!

This thread nearly has more posts today than it did for the last 10 months.

Anyway, glad Murray is available. I'd still prefer Casey starting but Murray deserves the spot. Hopefully his personal issues aren't serious and he's playing because everything's OK.

Team well able to win.

[Conspicuous]

I can’t remember an Irish bench with as much impact as this one . Apart from Ross Byrne they’ll all bring speed or huge physicality. Sheehan’s absence will be felt though , no getting around that.

[PornDog]

I can’t remember an Irish bench with as much impact as this one . Apart from Ross Byrne they’ll all bring speed or huge physicality. Sheehan’s absence will be felt though , no getting around that.

Herring's a fine player, I have no worries about him. He's not Sheehan, but he wont be letting us down any. Strangely I'm more nervous about Kelleher, obviously he's a monster about the park, but his darts have never been as good as Sheehan's and his last day out in blue was a disaster for him from touch. Hope he's got it sorted.

[happytramp]

I can’t remember an Irish bench with as much impact as this one . Apart from Ross Byrne they’ll all bring speed or huge physicality. Sheehan’s absence will be felt though , no getting around that.

Despite his lack of game time/fitness there's something mildly reassuring about seeing Kelleher's name there on the bench.

[HighKingLeinster]

I can’t remember an Irish bench with as much impact as this one . Apart from Ross Byrne they’ll all bring speed or huge physicality. Sheehan’s absence will be felt though , no getting around that.

Herring's a fine player, I have no worries about him. He's not Sheehan, but he wont be letting us down any. Strangely I'm more nervous about Kelleher, obviously he's a monster about the park, but his darts have never been as good as Sheehan's and his last day out in blue was a disaster for him from touch. Hope he's got it sorted.

Ah here, if we survived years with Rory Best as our starting hooker, who couldnt hit a cows arse with a banjo, then we'll be ok having an elite power athlete like Kelleher coming off the bench against tired, cheese earing surrender monkey frenchies

[CM11]

Murray's Dad in an induced coma after a traffic accident.

Fair dues to the lad for playing. Hope his Dad pulls through.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/con ... 30528.html

[Jim Lahey]

Well lads, hows the lifeboat? Somebody stick the kettle on and pass the chocolate digestives

What happened to PR? Lost my login 3 or 4 months back.

Has Willie finally admitted that Stockdale is shit?

[CM11]

Well lads, hows the lifeboat? Somebody stick the kettle on and pass the chocolate digestives

What happened to PR? Lost my login 3 or 4 months back.

Has Willie finally admitted that Stockdale is shit?

No. He thought he had a shot at the bench for Wales.

PR just suddenly stopped accepting posts. Everything is still there but can't post.

[Camroc2]

Murray's Dad in an induced coma after a traffic accident.

Fair dues to the lad for playing. Hope his Dad pulls through.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/con ... 30528.html

That's awful.

Hope he pulls through.

[Jim Lahey]

Well lads, hows the lifeboat? Somebody stick the kettle on and pass the chocolate digestives

What happened to PR? Lost my login 3 or 4 months back.

Has Willie finally admitted that Stockdale is shit?

No. He thought he had a shot at the bench for Wales.

PR just suddenly stopped accepting posts. Everything is still there but can't post.

Quality

How has he taken Hume's fall from grace also?

[CM11]

What happened to PR? Lost my login 3 or 4 months back.

Has Willie finally admitted that Stockdale is shit?

No. He thought he had a shot at the bench for Wales.

PR just suddenly stopped accepting posts. Everything is still there but can't post.

Quality

How has he taken Hume's fall from grace also?

All down to his injuries. He'll be fine in no time at all.

[Conspicuous]

I can’t remember an Irish bench with as much impact as this one . Apart from Ross Byrne they’ll all bring speed or huge physicality. Sheehan’s absence will be felt though , no getting around that.

Herring's a fine player, I have no worries about him. He's not Sheehan, but he wont be letting us down any. Strangely I'm more nervous about Kelleher, obviously he's a monster about the park, but his darts have never been as good as Sheehan's and his last day out in blue was a disaster for him from touch. Hope he's got it sorted.

I don’t think it’s being disrespectful to Herring, or any other hooker really to suggest Sheehan is playing a different sport to them at the moment. Rob will hit his darts , arrive the rucks early , put in a few tackles and possibly improve the scrum . What he won’t do is carry to the same affect Sheehan will , racking up metres every time he’s given the ball and causing huge panic in the opposition defence . In fact Rob probably won’t carry much at all tomorrow if his stats are similar to previous appearances. So as solid as he is we can’t really overestimate the loss of Dan Sheehan

[Jim Lahey]

Herring is an excellent carrier in heavy traffic tbf, despite not being massive or having gas like Sheehan. His try last summer against NZ for example, was superb, given the amount of work he had to do.

He'll not put in the barnstorming charges in the wider channels that Sheehan would. But maybe AF has accounted for that in his gameplan with one less carrier out wide.

PP have us by 5 points. We really should be winning these type of games so I'd be annoyed if we shit the bed.