Leinster Squad 19-20

[johng]

Presumably mullin and T O'Brien coming up from the Academy .

You have just mentioned Sheehan. Anyone else graduating early?

I'm thinking Harry Byrne and Ryan Baird

[mildlyinterested]

Presumably mullin and T O'Brien coming up from the Academy .

You have just mentioned Sheehan. Anyone else graduating early?

I'm thinking Harry Byrne and Ryan Baird

Graduates to senior squad(to be confirmed): Michael Milne(Y2), Dan Sheehan(Y2), Ryan Baird(Y2), Jack Dunne(Y2), Harry Byrne(Y2), Tommy O'Brien(Y3), Gavin Mullin(Y3).

moved province: Jack Aungier(Connacht), Roman Salanoa(Munster), Oisin Dowling(Connacht).

[johng]

Exactly half the Academy cleared out. Makes a lot of space for input

[johng]

And what does promoting 2 locks do for Dev Toner's renewal options?

[mildlyinterested]

And what does promoting 2 locks do for Dev Toner's renewal options?

seemed fairly certain he'd be moving onto a leinster contract next season when giving a recent interview.

[johng]

Excellent

[mildlyinterested]

Excellent

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/rugby- ... e-22078649

[johng]

Ha. I actually read that. I remember "The body has never felt better, to be honest" quote.

6 senior 2nd rows and 2 in the Academy. (Before any intake) Perfect.

[mildlyinterested]

Y3
Paddy Patterson(Scrumhalf/Blackrock/UCD) - u23
David Hawkshaw(Outhalf/Belvedere/Clontarf) - u22
Michael Silvester(Fullback/Clongowes/DUFC) - u23
Aaron O'Sullivan(Wing/Exile/Blackrock) - u22
Y2
Tom Clarkson(TH Prop/Blackrock/DUFC) - u21
Charlie Ryan(Lock/Blackrock/UCD) - u22
Brian Deeny(Lock/Wexford/Clontarf) - u21
Martin Moloney(Backrow/Athy/Old Belvedere) - u22
Liam Turner(Outside Back/Blackrock/DUFC) - u22
Y1
---

[johng]

Prop
2nd Row
2nd Row
Flanker
Scrum Half
Outhalf/Centre
Centre/Wing
Wing
Wing/Full Back

A good spread. Presumably more front row options incoming e.g Bobby Sheehan.

No glaring holes in the squad.

[mildlyinterested]

Prop
2nd Row
2nd Row
Flanker
Scrum Half
Outhalf/Centre
Centre/Wing
Wing
Wing/Full Back

A good spread. Presumably more front row options incoming e.g Bobby Sheehan.

No glaring holes in the squad.

Possible 2nd year academy players, to be confirmed:
Ronan Watters(Backrow)
Cormac Foley(Scrumhalf)
Rob Russell(Back Three)

Projected incoming:
Marcus Hanan(LH Prop) - u21
Bobby Sheehan(Hooker) - u21
Joe McCarthy(Lock) - u20
Sean O'Brien(Backrow) - u21
Alex Soroka(Backrow) - u20
Mark Hernan(Openside) - u21
Andrew Smith(Back Three) - u21
Chris Cosgrave(Back Three) - u20

[Serb]

Is Hawkshaw a 10 or a 12? I know he played 10 in schools, but from what little I’ve seen of him in the Leinster academy, he seemed to be lining out at 12.

[mildlyinterested]

Is Hawkshaw a 10 or a 12? I know he played 10 in schools, but from what little I’ve seen of him in the Leinster academy, he seemed to be lining out at 12.

He can play both, focused on 12 as a u20 due to depth at 10. But I expect he will play 10 on his return to rugby, his natural position. Where he settles long term, we shall wait and see.

[LeinsterLeader]

Is Hawkshaw a 10 or a 12? I know he played 10 in schools, but from what little I’ve seen of him in the Leinster academy, he seemed to be lining out at 12.

He can play both, focused on 12 as a u20 due to depth at 10. But I expect he will play 10 on his return to rugby, his natural position. Where he settles long term, we shall wait and see.

Munster said they'll play him at 12 ......... but thanks for asking!

[johng]

Possible 2nd year academy players, to be confirmed:
Ronan Watters(Backrow)
Cormac Foley(Scrumhalf)
Rob Russell(Back Three)

Projected incoming:
Marcus Hanan(LH Prop) - u21
Bobby Sheehan(Hooker) - u21
Joe McCarthy(Lock) - u20
Sean O'Brien(Backrow) - u21
Alex Soroka(Backrow) - u20
Mark Hernan(Openside) - u21
Andrew Smith(Back Three) - u21
Chris Cosgrave(Back Three) - u20

Very comprehensive. Thanks. GG
When you say "Possible 2nd year academy players" Do you mean they jump straight from the sub academy bypassing 1st year?

Or is it just that they are fast tracking them for early advancement like Harry Byrne etc?

[mildlyinterested]

Possible 2nd year academy players, to be confirmed:
Ronan Watters(Backrow)
Cormac Foley(Scrumhalf)
Rob Russell(Back Three)

Projected incoming:
Marcus Hanan(LH Prop) - u21
Bobby Sheehan(Hooker) - u21
Joe McCarthy(Lock) - u20
Sean O'Brien(Backrow) - u21
Alex Soroka(Backrow) - u20
Mark Hernan(Openside) - u21
Andrew Smith(Back Three) - u21
Chris Cosgrave(Back Three) - u20

Very comprehensive. Thanks. GG
When you say "Possible 2nd year academy players" Do you mean they jump straight from the sub academy bypassing 1st year?

Or is it just that they are fast tracking them for early advancement like Harry Byrne etc?

those three players where heavily involved with leinster A last season and were at least in the sub-academy, they may have joined Y1 of the academy at some point during the seasons and it was not announced officially, it remains unclear at the minute. So when they announce next years official academy class, they could be named as 2nd year players who are just finishing Year 1 or they may have not joined the academy and have moved on. It's unlikely given their age that they will be joining the academy as year 1 players. Wait and see

[johng]

I remember seeing the first 2 and being impressed. Watters in U20 also I think.

[mildlyinterested]

I remember seeing the first 2 and being impressed. Watters in U20 also I think.

all three were U21 this past season, after playing irish u20 in 2019 but not getting academy offers post WC they returned to leinster for preseason to try and earn an academy contract this season. Unclear if they did or not, but all three were heavily involved with Leinster A in the celtic cup. If they did, I'd expect they'll be announced as 2nd year academy players this summer. If I had to call it maybe Foley got an offer and the other two failed to, but thats just a guess.

[johng]

Just spotted this little gem from Guy Easterby back on the 15th of April.

Easterby says Leinster had all of their contract renewals done for 2020/21 before the virus hit and that suggests Rob Kearney will leave at the end of the current season and may have played his last game for Leinster.

"The last thing we'd want for people who have been unbelievable servants to Leinster Rugby is to finish on a note like this," he said without naming the Irish full-back.

[mildlyinterested]

Easterby saying they had all their renewals sorted at that point, so either at that stage they knew Salanoa had changed his mind or it occured after and thanks to the IRFU he was able to switch his contract to a munster one.

That what 6 weeks ago? You'd think they might want to give leinster supporters some good news, re:contract announcements.