Leinster Academy 22-23

[hugonaut]

IRELAND MEN’S SEVENS Squad (HSBC New Zealand Sevens, FMG Stadium Waikato, January 21-22, 2023):

Niall Comerford (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Billy Dardis (Terenure College)(capt)
William Goddard (IQ Rugby)
Ed Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Terry Kennedy (St Mary’s College)
Liam McNamara (IQ Rugby)
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC)
Bryan Mollen (UCD RFC)
Chay Mullins (Connacht/IQ Rugby)
Aaron O’Sullivan (UCD RFC)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Leinster)

Is it just a matter of time before Comerford and Smith are released from the academy?
It feels like an accounting trick to have them there when the focus seems to be on 7s and haven't seemed near a Leinster or even A squad in a couple of years.

Comerford is gone already. Andrew Smith played for the Leinster side vs Chile in November, he's a slightly different scenario.

[mildlyinterested]

I'd say Smith will go down the full-time 7's route.

[Morf]

I hope I'm wrong Hugo and fair enough for calling me on an inaccurate generalisation.

It irks me when 7s is talked about as a route to 15s when it seems it has more often been the route out of 15s for academy players to either only play 7s or leave the academy with little impact in Leinster XV squads.

[cormac]

Thought Comerford had already been released? He's not in the list of academy players on the Leinster website.

[mildlyinterested]

I hope I'm wrong Hugo and fair enough for calling me on an inaccurate generalisation.

It irks me when 7s is talked about as a route to 15s when it seems it has more often been the route out of 15s for academy players to either only play 7s or leave the academy with little impact in Leinster XV squads.

Some players use 7's to develop and come back to 15s: JOB, Keenan, Turner.

Others are more suited to 7's and don't come back: Dardis, Kelly, Comerford.

[mildlyinterested]

Thought Comerford had already been released? He's not in the list of academy players on the Leinster website.

thats my understanding yes.

[Serb]

Is it just a matter of time before Comerford and Smith are released from the academy?
It feels like an accounting trick to have them there when the focus seems to be on 7s and haven't seemed near a Leinster or even A squad in a couple of years.

It might come sooner than you think — I don't think Comerford is in our academy anymore.

Smith is still in there, but he hasn't featured in a game for us since March 2021. Smith started against Connacht two years ago in Jan 2021, and featured off the bench against Ospreys in March. We lost both those games at home in two of our worst performances of that season.

Edit: I missed an entire page of replies

[mildlyinterested]

Given the back three players being added this season and coming out of school, there is going to be pressure on.

Sub Academy
Hugh Cooney(U20/Blackrock/Clontarf)
Andrew Osborne(U20/Naas/Naas)
Henry McElrean(U20/St. Michaels/Terenure)
James Nicholson(U20/St. Michaels/UCD)
David Colbert(U19/Gonzaga/DUFC)
Ruben Moloney(U19/Blackrock/UCD)

Coming out of school this year:
Jules Fenelon(U19/St. Michaels)
Hugo McLaughlin(U19/Gonzaga)
Finn Treacy(U19/Pres Bray)
Paidi Farrell(U18/Tullamore RFC)

[Serb]

Any idea who the top picks of that bunch might be? I think back three definitely feels like an area where we lack real talent coming through.

Max O'Reilly has had some decent outings, Russell is having a bit of a break out season this season with 7 tries in 6 starts, but I'm not sure how good that pair really are, and they are probably the best of what we've got (obviously this is based off a handful of games at best).

I guess it's interesting that we also have the least amount of back three players on the books of all the provinces, and that includes Tommy O'Brien who has been injured all season. We've had to field Turner at wing at times this season (vs Connacht).

[mildlyinterested]

Any idea who the top picks of that bunch might be? I think back three definitely feels like an area where we lack real talent coming through.

Max O'Reilly has had some decent outings, Russell is having a bit of a break out season this season with 7 tries in 6 starts, but I'm not sure how good that pair really are, and they are probably the best of what we've got (obviously this is based off a handful of games at best).

I guess it's interesting that we also have the least amount of back three players on the books of all the provinces, and that includes Tommy O'Brien who has been injured all season. We've had to field Turner at wing at times this season (vs Connacht).

Osborne and McElrean are real attacking talents, i'd expect both to make academy and impress for the 20s. Cooney too.
McElrean starts this break: https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1 ... F5Z8qxOCFg

Moloney has had injury issues this season but he could be someone to watch next year for the 20s as a power winger. Moloney: https://twitter.com/GifsLeinster/status ... F5Z8qxOCFg

McLaughlin was electric last year in schools rugby and is certainly one to watch. McLaughlin: https://twitter.com/GifsLeinster/status ... F5Z8qxOCFg

Farrell is very young but was electric for the irish u18 clubs side. Farrell: https://twitter.com/GifsLeinster/status ... F5Z8qxOCFg

Lots of talent there, the most in years IMO, without mentioning Colbert and Fenelon who both missed last seasons SCT due to injury.

[desperado]

Any idea who the top picks of that bunch might be? I think back three definitely feels like an area where we lack real talent coming through.

Max O'Reilly has had some decent outings, Russell is having a bit of a break out season this season with 7 tries in 6 starts, but I'm not sure how good that pair really are, and they are probably the best of what we've got (obviously this is based off a handful of games at best).

I guess it's interesting that we also have the least amount of back three players on the books of all the provinces, and that includes Tommy O'Brien who has been injured all season. We've had to field Turner at wing at times this season (vs Connacht).

What about Cosgrove?, better than Max no?

[naraic]

I hope I'm wrong Hugo and fair enough for calling me on an inaccurate generalisation.

It irks me when 7s is talked about as a route to 15s when it seems it has more often been the route out of 15s for academy players to either only play 7s or leave the academy with little impact in Leinster XV squads.

7s has two important roles.

1. Development to an extent.
2. Its a backup career for players who don't make it as a professional xvs player.

Theres 180 ish professional non academy contracts in the provinces and an additional 20 sevens contracts.

If a player doesn't make it as a professional rugby player its a nice back up plan.

Comerford is gone. He left the academy at the end of his second year and took a sevens contract. He now has 55 caps as a sevens player.

[brotheroffrank]

IRELAND MEN’S SEVENS Squad (HSBC New Zealand Sevens, FMG Stadium Waikato, January 21-22, 2023):

Niall Comerford (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Billy Dardis (Terenure College)(capt)
William Goddard (IQ Rugby)
Ed Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Terry Kennedy (St Mary’s College)
Liam McNamara (IQ Rugby)
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC)
Bryan Mollen (UCD RFC)
Chay Mullins (Connacht/IQ Rugby)
Aaron O’Sullivan (UCD RFC)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Leinster)

Is it just a matter of time before Comerford and Smith are released from the academy?
It feels like an accounting trick to have them there when the focus seems to be on 7s and haven't seemed near a Leinster or even A squad in a couple of years.

Comerford is gone already. Andrew Smith played for the Leinster side vs Chile in November, he's a slightly different scenario.

he was certainly a different scenario in that Match anyhow...had a shocker that day...hopefully got a years worth of handling mistakes out of his system...could be great on the 7's circuit if he cuts out the errors shown that day...

[mildlyinterested]

Ireland U20s Squad

Prop
George Morris (Gonzaga/Lansdowne/Leinster)
George Hadden (Gorey RFC/Clontarf/Leinster)
Ronan Foxe (Tullamore RFC/Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)
Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock/DUFC/Leinster)

Hooker
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock/UCD/Leinster)(captain)
Conall Henchy (DUFC/Munster)
Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster)

Lock
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (St. Michaels/UCD/Leinster)
Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Joe Hopes (Queen’s University/Ulster)

Backrow
Jacob Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
Diarmuid Mangan (Newbridge/UCD/Leinster)
Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster)
James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)

Scrumhalf
Jack Oliver (Garryowen/Munster)
Oscar Cawley (Naas/Naas/Leinster)
Fintan Gunne (St. Michaels/Terenure/Leinster)

Outhalf
Sam Prendergast (Newbridge/Lansdowne/Leinster)
Matthew Lynch (Terenure/DUFC/Leinster)
Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Centre
Sam Berman (St. Michaels/DUFC/Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock/Clontarf/Leinster)
John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)

Back Three
Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby)
James Nicholson (St. Michaels/UCD/Leinster)
Rory Telfer (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Henry McErlean (St. Michaels/Terenure/Leinster)
Noah Sheridan (Wicklow RFC/Clontarf/Leinster)

[mildlyinterested]

No Liam Molony or Andrew Osborne due to injury, other than that pretty much everyone made it that you would expect.

[wixfjord]

This report is GAA focused, but well worth a read on youth development in rugby.
https://killarneyadvertiser.ie/sport/ar ... ng-talent/

Key finding is that coaches and scouts make decisions based on current physical attributes rather than future potential, and so overemphasise bigger, more physically mature players in underage teams and undervalue slower maturing players.

It also makes the point that early maturing players can often develop bad habits at underage level where they're so much further ahead than counterparts. I think we probably see this in rugby in some guys who are incredible at schools level and then find it harder to translate into men's rugby or need to round out their game.

[Flash Gordon]

Ireland U20s Squad

Prop
George Morris (Gonzaga/Lansdowne/Leinster)
George Hadden (Gorey RFC/Clontarf/Leinster)
Ronan Foxe (Tullamore RFC/Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)
Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock/DUFC/Leinster)

Hooker
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock/UCD/Leinster)(captain)
Conall Henchy (DUFC/Munster)
Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster)

Lock
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (St. Michaels/DUFC/Leinster)
Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Joe Hopes (Queen’s University/Ulster)

Backrow
Jacob Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
Diarmuid Mangan (Newbridge/UCD/Leinster)
Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster)
James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)

Scrumhalf
Jack Oliver (Garryowen/Munster)
Oscar Cawley (Naas/Naas/Leinster)
Fintan Gunne (St. Michaels/Terenure/Leinster)

Outhalf
Sam Prendergast (Newbridge/Lansdowne/Leinster)
Matthew Lynch (Terenure/DUFC/Leinster)
Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Centre
Sam Berman (St. Michaels/DUFC/Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock/Clontarf/Leinster)
John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)

Back Three
Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby)
James Nicholson (St. Michaels/UCD/Leinster)
Rory Telfer (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Henry McErlean (St. Michaels/Terenure/Leinster)
Noah Sheridan (Wicklow RFC/Clontarf/Leinster)

4 players from Ulster. There really should be accountability to the IRFU on that level of production given players numbers up there. It's really really poor.

[mildlyinterested]

Possible Academy next season?

Prop
Jack Boyle (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 3
Temi Lasisi (Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - Year 3
Rory McGuire (Blackrock College/UCD) - Year 2
Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock/DUFC) - Year 1

Hooker
Lee Barron (St. Michaels/DUFC) - Year 3
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock/UCD) - Year 1

Lock
Conor O'Tighnearnaigh (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 1

Backrow
Diarmuid Mangan (Newbridge/UCD) - Year 2
Liam Molony (Blackrock/DUFC) - Year 1

Scrumhalf
Ben Murphy (Pres Bray/Clontarf) - Year 3
Fintan Gunne (St. Michaels/Terenure) - Year 1

Outhalf
Charlie Tector (Kilkenny/Lansdowne) - Year 2
Sam Prendergast (Newbridge/Lansdowne) - Year 2

Centre
Ben Brownlee (Blackrock/UCD) - Year 2
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock/Clontarf) - Year 1

Back Three
Chris Cosgrave (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 3
Aitzol King (Balbriggan RFC/Clontarf) - Year 2
Henry McErlean (St. Michaels/Terenure) - Year 1
Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Naas) - Year 1

[hugonaut]

Possible Academy next season?

Prop
Jack Boyle (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 3
Temi Lasisi (Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - Year 3
Rory McGuire (Blackrock College/UCD) - Year 2
Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock/DUFC) - Year 1

Hooker
Lee Barron (St. Michaels/DUFC) - Year 3
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock/UCD) - Year 1

Lock
Conor O'Tighnearnaigh (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 1

Backrow
Diarmuid Mangan (Newbridge/UCD) - Year 2
Liam Molony (Blackrock/DUFC) - Year 1

Scrumhalf
Ben Murphy (Pres Bray/Clontarf) - Year 3
Fintan Gunne (St. Michaels/Terenure) - Year 1

Outhalf
Charlie Tector (Kilkenny/Lansdowne) - Year 2
Sam Prendergast (Newbridge/Lansdowne) - Year 2

Centre
Ben Brownlee (Blackrock/UCD) - Year 2
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock/Clontarf) - Year 1

Back Three
Chris Cosgrave (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 3
Aitzol King (Balbriggan RFC/Clontarf) - Year 2
Henry McErlean (St. Michaels/Terenure) - Year 1
Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Naas) - Year 1

I think Spicer might go straight into the academy from school. My understanding is that he's in sixth year this year.

It's rare but it still happens occasionally; I think Sam Prendergast did it. Spicer is obviously going to be a pro second row at that size, seems like a waste of time checking his bona fides in the sub academy.

Ryan Baird played in the Senior Cup in Feb 2018 [2017-18 season] and debuted for Leinster 14 months later in April 2019 [2018-19 season]. Obviously 2019 was his U20 year, so he was U19 in his final year in school, but it's the same route from school straight into academy.

[mildlyinterested]

Possible Academy next season?

Prop
Jack Boyle (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 3
Temi Lasisi (Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - Year 3
Rory McGuire (Blackrock College/UCD) - Year 2
Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock/DUFC) - Year 1

Hooker
Lee Barron (St. Michaels/DUFC) - Year 3
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock/UCD) - Year 1

Lock
Conor O'Tighnearnaigh (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 1

Backrow
Diarmuid Mangan (Newbridge/UCD) - Year 2
Liam Molony (Blackrock/DUFC) - Year 1

Scrumhalf
Ben Murphy (Pres Bray/Clontarf) - Year 3
Fintan Gunne (St. Michaels/Terenure) - Year 1

Outhalf
Charlie Tector (Kilkenny/Lansdowne) - Year 2
Sam Prendergast (Newbridge/Lansdowne) - Year 2

Centre
Ben Brownlee (Blackrock/UCD) - Year 2
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock/Clontarf) - Year 1

Back Three
Chris Cosgrave (St. Michaels/UCD) - Year 3
Aitzol King (Balbriggan RFC/Clontarf) - Year 2
Henry McErlean (St. Michaels/Terenure) - Year 1
Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Naas) - Year 1

I think Spicer might go straight into the academy from school. My understanding is that he's in sixth year this year.

It's rare but it still happens occasionally; I think Sam Prendergast did it. Spicer is obviously going to be a pro second row at that size, seems like a waste of time checking his bona fides in the sub academy.

Ryan Baird played in the Senior Cup in Feb 2018 [2017-18 season] and debuted for Leinster 14 months later in April 2019 [2018-19 season]. Obviously 2019 was his U20 year, so he was U19 in his final year in school, but it's the same route from school straight into academy.

Prendergast didnt do it.

Id be surprised if he did, but not shocked as he is obviously going to join at some stage but given he is only turns 18 this year they may not want to rush him.