The Leinster thread

[Leonormous Boozer]

The world cup is too early for Sam. Earmark him for next year's 6n squad I reckon.

Chances are Ulster won't win at the weekend, Ross Byrne and his 13 best mates dealt with Ulster handy after giving themselves a 19 point handicap. When Toulouse and La Rochelle come to town however, it's his chance to prove that he can start a big game. I think he's an excellent bench option in a similar mould to Murray but unlike Murray I wouldn't feel to comfortable if he's needed to start against another Top 4 side, the two French sides are as close as you'll get to that sort of intensity at club level.

 

[Amiga500]

Didn't see it, but from what I gather that was a bit of a literal and figurative damp squib.

We weren't good enough to put enough pressure on to ask a few questions - and (unfortunately for us) I don't really see how that's going to change over the short, medium or long term either. Last season's slip up vs. the Stormers was massive.

 

[collace]

Went down to the game on Saturday. Despite keeping the score within touching distance for an hour Leinster never really had to get out of third gear. Think the most frustrating thing from my point of view was, despite being within 8 points with 20 mins to go, there seemed to be absolutely no sense of urgency or ambition from Ulster. They were ambling up to line-outs and scrums, the ball was glacial slow coming out of rucks - the whole thing just petered out.

 

[big ginger 8]

Leo Cullen issues injury update ahead of trip to South Africa

Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship game against Emirates Lions in Emirates Airline Park.

www.leinsterrugby.ie

Sounds like Baird's injury wasn't a dislocation at least.

No update for VDF or Kelleher is concerning.

 

[big ginger 8]

Leo Cullen names 30 man squad for tour of South Africa - Leinster Rugby

Leo Cullen has named a 30 man squad for the tour of South Africa with games against Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls.

www.leinsterrugby.ie

 

[irisht]

Forwards:

Jack Boyle - academy
Ed Byrne
Michael Milne
Lee Barron - academy
Tadgh McElroy
Vakhtang Abdaladze
Thomas Clarkson
Temi Lasisi - academy
Brian Deeny
Alex Soroka - academy
Jason Jenkins
Conor O'Tighearnaigh*- sub-academy
Liam Molony*- sub-academy
Rhys Ruddock
Will Connors
James Culhane - academy
Max Deegan


Backs:

Fintan Gunne* - sub-academy
Nick McCarthy
Ben Murphy - academy
Sam Prendergast* - academy
Charlie Tector - academy
Dave Kearney
Aitzol King - academy
Ben Brownlee - academy
Liam Turner
Tommy O'Brien
Rob Russell - academy
Chris Cosgrave - academy
Max O'Reilly - academy

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Oh baby babies

 

[big ginger 8]

Jacques Nienaber to Join Leinster Rugby

Leinster Rugby can this afternoon confirm that current South Africa Head Coach, Jacques Nienaber, will join the club after the Rugby World Cup later this year. Nienaber will replace current Senior Coach, Stuart Lancaster, who leaves Leinster at the end of the season to join Racing 92. Speaking...

www.leinsterrugby.ie

Big name get.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

We've lost so many bald coaches, this is huge.

 

[munstermuffin]

Great appointment. Bit different to Leinster style but could be a game changer for them. Like justbwhat rest of us need a meaner Leinster. Leo really guiding that ship well

 

[Amiga500]

Can he fix the largest weakness Leinster have - dealing with a side of extreme forward power - while maintaining all that makes them so strong elsewhere?

 

[irisht]

LH Prop
Cian Healy(35/Belvedere/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Ed Byrne(29/Clongowes/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Andrew Porter(27/St. Andrews/UCD) - central contract until 2025
Michael Milne(24/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
--
Marcus Hanan(23/Clane RFC/Old Belvedere) - Academy Yr 3
Jack Boyle(21/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 2

Healy expected to retire, while Hanan is expected to not join senior squad.

TH Prop
Michael Alaalatoa(31) - signed contract in 2023
Tadhg Furlong(30/New Ross RFC/Clontarf) - central contract until 2025
Vakh Abdaladze(27/Coolmine RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Tom Clarkson(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Temi Lasisi(22/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 2
Rory McGuire(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1
Paddy McCarthy(19/Blackrock/DUFC) - incoming

Hooker
Tadgh McElroy (26/Dundalk RFC/Lansdowne) - signed contract until end of 2023
Ronan Kelleher(25/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract until 2025
Dan Sheehan(24/Clongowes/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
--
John McKee(23/Campbell/Old Belvedere) - Academy Yr 3
Lee Barron(22/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Academy Yr 2
Gus McCarthy(19/Blackrock/UCD) - incoming

Hard to know what will happen with McElroy, looks to have done enough to get extended. McKee expected to graduate to senior squad.

Lock
Ross Molony(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Jason Jenkins(27) - signed contract in 2022
James Ryan(26/St. Michaels/UCD) - central contract until 2025
Brian Deeny(23/Wexford RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Joe McCarthy(22/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
Conor O'Tighearnaigh(20/St. Michaels/UCD) - incoming

Presumably Deeny will extend his dev contract.

Backrow
Rhys Ruddock(32/Exile/St. Marys) - signed contract in 2022
Jack Conan(30/St. Gerards/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2023
Josh Van Der Flier(29/Wesley/UCD) - signed central contract until 2026
Will Connors(26/Clongowes/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Max Deegan(26/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
Caelan Doris(25/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2022
Ryan Baird(23/St. Michaels/DUFC) - signed contract in 2022
Scott Penny(23/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Martin Moloney(23/Athy RFC/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2022
--
Alex Soroka(22/Belvedere/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 3
James Culhane(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1
Diarmuid Mangan(20/Newbridge/UCD) - Academy Yr 1
Liam Molony(19/Blackrock/DUFC) - incoming

Moloney has been injured most of the season, difficult to know what happens there. Soroka has turned down a move to Munster and is expected to move into senior squad.

Scrumhalf
Jamison Gibson Park(31) - signed contract in 2022
Luke McGrath(30/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Nick McCarthy(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Cormac Foley(23/St. Gerards/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2023
--
Ben Murphy(21/Pres Bray/Old Wesley) - Academy Yr 2
Fintan Gunne(19/St. Michaels/Terenure) - incoming

Outhalf
Jonathan Sexton(37/St. Marys/St. Marys) - central contract until the World Cup
Ross Byrne(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Ciaran Frawley(25/Skerries RFC/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Harry Byrne(23/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
--
Charlie Tector(21/Kilkenny/Lansowne) - Academy Yr 1
Sam Prendergast(20/Newbridge/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 1

Sexton to retire.

Centre
Charlie Ngatai(32) - signed contract in 2022
Robbie Henshaw(29) - central contact until 2025
Garry Ringrose(28/Blackrock/UCD) - central contact until 2025
Liam Turner(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
Jamie Osborne(21/Naas RFC/Naas) - signed contract in 2023
--
Ben Brownlee(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1
Hugh Cooney(19/Blackrock/Clontarf) - incoming

Back Three
Dave Kearney(33/Clongowes/Lansdowne) - signed 2yr contract in 2021
James Lowe(30) - signed contract in 2023
Hugo Keenan(26/Blackrock/UCD) - signed central contract until 2026
Jimmy O'Brien(25/Newbridge/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Jordan Larmour(25/St. Andrews/St. Marys) - signed contract in 2022
Tommy O'Brien(24/Blackrock/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
--
Max O'Reilly(23/St. Gerards/DUFC) - Academy Yr 3
Rob Russell(24/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Academy Yr 2
Chris Cosgrave(21/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Aitzol King(20/Balbriggan RFC/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 1
Henry McElrean(19/St. Michaels/Tereure) - incoming
Andrew Osborne(19/Naas RFC/Naas) - incoming

Kearney expected to leave for the US or retire. O'Reilly expected to be released.

Leaving the province
Sean O'Brien(22/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 3 --> Connacht
Andrew Smith(22/St. Michaels/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 3 --> Connacht

 

[irisht]

Rob Russell, Alex Soroka and John McKee graduate from academy to senior squad.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Three good squad players. All with an outside chance of winning a few caps in the next world cup cycle, stiff competition though.

 

[big ginger 8]

Hoping Soroka gets the start tomorrow. Hasn't been the best year for him with injuries but is someone I've a lot of expectations for.

 

[big ginger 8]

Kelleher and McCarthy to step up rehabilitation programmes this week

Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final against Cell C Sharks in Aviva Stadium

www.leinsterrugby.ie

 

[irisht]

Leinster Rugby Confirm Year One Academy Players for 2023/24

Leinster Rugby have confirmed that eight new players will join the Academy ahead of the commencement of the 2023/24 season.

www.leinsterrugby.ie

Leinster confirm academy entrants.

 

[irisht]

Possible Squad next season?

LH Prop
Ed Byrne(30/Clongowes/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Andrew Porter(27/St. Andrews/UCD) - central contract until 2025
Michael Milne(24/Birr RFC-Roscrea/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Jack Boyle(21/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
--
Paddy McCarthy(20/Blackrock/DUFC) - Academy Yr 1

TH Prop
Michael Alaalatoa(31) - signed contract in 2023
Tadhg Furlong(30/New Ross RFC/Clontarf) - central contract until 2025
Vakh Abdaladze(27/Coolmine RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Tom Clarkson(23/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Temi Lasisi(22/Enniscorthy RFC/Lansdowne) - Academy Yr 3
Rory McGuire(21/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 2

Hooker
Tadgh McElroy(26/Dundalk RFC/Lansdowne) - signed contract until end of 2023
Ronan Kelleher(25/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract until 2025
Dan Sheehan(25/Clongowes/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
John McKee(23/Campbell/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2023
--
Lee Barron(22/St. Michaels/DUFC) - Academy Yr 3
Gus McCarthy(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 1

Lock
Ross Molony(29/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Jason Jenkins(28) - signed contract in 2022
James Ryan(27/St. Michaels/UCD) - central contract until 2025
Ryan Baird(24/St. Michaels/DUFC) - signed contract in 2022
Brian Deeny(23/Wexford RFC/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2022
Joe McCarthy(22/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
Alex Soroka(22/Belvedere/Clontarf) - signed contract in 2023
--
Conor O'Tighearnaigh(20/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 1

Backrow
Rhys Ruddock(32/Exile/St. Marys) - signed contract in 2022
Jack Conan(31/St. Gerards/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2023
Josh Van Der Flier(30/Wesley/UCD) - signed central contract until 2026
Will Connors(27/Clongowes/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Max Deegan(27/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
Caelan Doris(25/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2022
Scott Penny(24/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Martin Moloney(24/Athy RFC/Old Belvedere) - signed contract in 2022
--
James Culhane(20/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Diarmuid Mangan(20/Newbridge/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Liam Molony(19/Blackrock/DUFC) - Academy Yr 1

Scrumhalf
Jamison Gibson Park(31) - signed contract in 2022
Luke McGrath(30/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Cormac Foley(24/St. Gerards/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2023
--
Ben Murphy(22/Pres Bray/Old Wesley) - Academy Yr 3
Fintan Gunne(20/St. Michaels/Terenure) - Academy Yr 1

Outhalf
Ross Byrne(28/St. Michaels/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Ciaran Frawley(25/Skerries RFC/UCD) - signed contract in 2022
Harry Byrne(24/St. Michaels/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2022
Sam Prendergast(20/Newbridge/Lansdowne) - signed contract in 2023
--
Charlie Tector(21/Kilkenny/Lansowne) - Academy Yr 2

Centre
Charlie Ngatai(33) - signed contract in 2022
Robbie Henshaw(30) - central contact until 2025
Garry Ringrose(28/Blackrock/UCD) - central contact until 2025
Liam Turner(24/Blackrock/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
Jamie Osborne(21/Naas RFC/Naas) - signed contract in 2023
--
Ben Brownlee(21/Blackrock/UCD) - Academy Yr 2
Hugh Cooney(20/Blackrock/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 1

Back Three
James Lowe(31) - signed contract in 2023
Hugo Keenan(27/Blackrock/UCD) - signed central contract until 2026
Jimmy O'Brien(26/Newbridge/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Jordan Larmour(26/St. Andrews/St. Marys) - signed contract in 2022
Tommy O'Brien(25/Blackrock/UCD) - signed contract in 2023
Rob Russell(24/St. Michaels/DUFC) - signed contract in 2023
--
Chris Cosgrave(22/St. Michaels/UCD) - Academy Yr 3
Aitzol King(21/Balbriggan RFC/Clontarf) - Academy Yr 2
Henry McElrean(20/St. Michaels/Tereure) - Academy Yr 1
Andrew Osborne(20/Naas RFC/Naas) - Academy Yr 1

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Can't wait to beat La Rochelle in whatever match day garbage they put together to match this ****

Leinster Rugby

Leinster Rugby

shop.leinsterrugby.ie

 

[Stade Rochelais]

Can't wait to beat La Rochelle in whatever match day garbage they put together to match this ****

Leinster Rugby

Leinster Rugby

shop.leinsterrugby.ie

As we meet again, Leinster will act as a sparring partner for the double European champion to prepare for the rest of the competition.
This future defeat of Leinster against La Rochelle will be a continuity.
La Rochelle, the black beast of Leinster.