Ail

[irelandfan123]

Sorry have had a random obsession atm with the AIL
Does anybody ever watch AIL anymore? If so who do you support and how do you rate your team this year? Also when did it become soo unpopular compared to the old days with ROG playing for Cork Con on John Hayes for Shannon?
(I have been reading autobiographies of Irish Rugby players and they all played or coached for AIL teams)

 

[big ginger 8]

I don't have anyone near an obsession but I'd follow the progress of my local club and schools sister club St Marys. I'm also coached by the same head coach and we (my school team) have played the u21's. I'll also probably play for them at some level when I leave school. Won the AIL last year unfortunately not doing very well this year.

I'd say it went into decline as soon as the provinces started playing regularly and internationals no longer played for the clubs.

 

[irelandfan123]

Jonny Sexton's brother is playing for them isn't he? My local AIL team is Ballymena who have done reasonably well this year

 

[big ginger 8]

Yep Jerry loads of talent but a bit of a waster. Believe he got kicked off Ireland u20s.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I don't pay particular interest in the AIL since there are no clubs around where I live and the focus began switching to the provinces around the time I got into the sport in earnest (mid 90s). I'd say it was the advent of a home and away Celtic League that crushed the AIL as a shop window for aspiring internationals.

The AIL can still serve a purpose though. Unheralded players regularly earn contracts with Championship teams in England and from there can make a career for themselves. Since the B&I Cup and A games are now the primary learning ground for academy players, I believe the AILs biggest contribution in it's current state will be to develop coaches rather than players. Bernard Jackman is a recent example - he was director of rugby at Clontarf before getting a role as Grenoble's defence coach.

 

[lucky number 7]

Jackman was also doing a good bit of work with Tullow last year..who are really coming of age in the Junior rugby.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Overhere in Belgium, most of my Irish mates just follow the 4 big Irish teams and then it(s GAA all the way. AIL isn't that popular with them.

 

[irelandfan123]

It is strange cause I was watching a match two years ago Clontarf and Old Belvo on RTE and it was one on the best matches I have ever seen, real nial biting stuff.
I don't believe the provinces use them enough, most of the players are more than capable of playing Provincial rugby. The only person I have seen that has made a transition from AIL to province has been the old belvo 8 Leo something, other than that the academy has took most of the players.

 

[lucky number 7]

It is strange cause I was watching a match two years ago Clontarf and Old Belvo on RTE and it was one on the best matches I have ever seen, real nial biting stuff.
I don't believe the provinces use them enough, most of the players are more than capable of playing Provincial rugby. The only person I have seen that has made a transition from AIL to province has been the old belvo 8 Leo something, other than that the academy has took most of the players.

Auva ,

I've a mate who'd played with Belvo for years and has some serious stories about some of the more famous players. None of which can be divulged unfortunately.

But down in my club we've a **** tonne of blokes who've played high end AIL about 5 or 6 on our firsts and allegedly the intensity up there is on another level entirely.

 

[Groundhog]

Play for De La Salle Palmerston but the AIL team is in the third division, so shite. Apperantly costs 1 million quid a year to keep it going. I went to a lot of Shannon games as a kid they're my dads club (although he never played for the, he played for Munchins at school and Bective when he moved to Dublin). Still prefare Shannon to most Dublin sides bar Marys.

 

[Irishflanker]

It is strange cause I was watching a match two years ago Clontarf and Old Belvo on RTE and it was one on the best matches I have ever seen, real nial biting stuff.
I don't believe the provinces use them enough, most of the players are more than capable of playing Provincial rugby. The only person I have seen that has made a transition from AIL to province has been the old belvo 8 Leo something, other than that the academy has took most of the players.

John Coughlan has gone from playing in the AIL to being one of the first names on the Munster team sheet in the last few years; Sean O'Brien through the club system as well, albeit at a younger age.
Most academy players will also play in the AIL and B&I cup. The real issue for me is that clubs aren't used by the provinces for gametime often enough, players who struggle for gametime or who are returning from injury (have we been rushing players back too often recently?); a player returning from injury will often play for their club for maybe 40 min max, where in my opinion it is a good place to ensure match fitness, build it up through the levels, so to speak, instead of just thrusting them back into action (I am referring to serious injuries here, such as the likes of POC and Fitzy)

 

[irelandfan123]

Auva ,

I've a mate who'd played with Belvo for years and has some serious stories about some of the more famous players. None of which can be divulged unfortunately.

But down in my club we've a **** tonne of blokes who've played high end AIL about 5 or 6 on our firsts and allegedly the intensity up there is on another level entirely.

Ah go on, tell all it would do no harm lol
Well watching it is very different than watching my local first, Jarleth Carey plays at my club, said Ulster A games are not as competitive as the AIL.
I think internationals and more so players like Luke Marshall who are fighting for Hieniken cup games should play in the AIL, it would increase the talent of players coming up and help the become more experienced.
Yer Man Andy Dunn is still playing in the AIL and he was a leinster player, wonder if he makes a living off it.
I played on the Dungannon first pitch this year and we **** all over Dungannon, I was playing on Gilroys wing I was well chuffed lol

 

[irelandfan123]

John Coughlan has gone from playing in the AIL to being one of the first names on the Munster team sheet in the last few years; Sean O'Brien through the club system as well, albeit at a younger age.
Most academy players will also play in the AIL and B&I cup. The real issue for me is that clubs aren't used by the provinces for gametime often enough, players who struggle for gametime or who are returning from injury (have we been rushing players back too often recently?); a player returning from injury will often play for their club for maybe 40 min max, where in my opinion it is a good place to ensure match fitness, build it up through the levels, so to speak, instead of just thrusting them back into action (I am referring to serious injuries here, such as the likes of POC and Fitzy)

I heard Paulie was playing for Young Munster a few years back when he was coming back, came off the bench and all not good enough to start