Leinster Academy 19/20

[mildlyinterested]

Cormac Foley(Scrumhalf/St. Gerards/U22) got an academy contract last season, we await to see if he is included in Year 1 of the academy or Year 2, whenever they announce it.

The U20 age group for 2021 is a very talented group set to come through into the academy this summer and next.

[cormac]

That projected year 3 looks a bit weak on paper doesn't it?
Probably only Milne likely to make it from that crop?

Albeit in reality it's because there's been quite a few early promotions?

Here's the list that Leinster announced for that group two years ago (Hawkshaw must have been added subsequently)

Ryan Baird
Harry Byrne
Jack Dunne
Aaron O’Sullivan
Michael Milne
Patrick Patterson
Scott Penney
Michael Silvester

So, four of them promoted already to the Senior Squad, Milne and Patterson with senior appearances too.

I think Milne has looked decent when he's played in the league. Hawkshaw very unlucky with injury so he gets a pass on that front. O'Sullivan is a bit of a strange case. Brought in from the exiles group and, while I realise he's played a fair bit of Sevens, he hasn't even played in the Celtic Cup yet.

[wixfjord]

Scott Penny, Harry Byrne, Ryan Baird, Dan Sheehan and Jack Dunne have all been promoted early

Haha I suppose when you put it like that it's not bad!

[mildlyinterested]

That projected year 3 looks a bit weak on paper doesn't it?
Probably only Milne likely to make it from that crop?

Albeit in reality it's because there's been quite a few early promotions?

Here's the list that Leinster announced for that group two years ago (Hawkshaw must have been added subsequently)

Ryan Baird
Harry Byrne
Jack Dunne
Aaron O’Sullivan
Michael Milne
Patrick Patterson
Scott Penney
Michael Silvester

So, four of them promoted already to the Senior Squad, Milne and Patterson with senior appearances too.

I think Milne has looked decent when he's played in the league. Hawkshaw very unlucky with injury so he gets a pass on that front. O'Sullivan is a bit of a strange case. Brought in from the exiles group and, while I realise he's played a fair bit of Sevens, he hasn't even played in the Celtic Cup yet.

Hawkshaw and Sheehan joined after preseason that summer.

O'Sullivan was very impressive and young for his age group, he doesn't turn 21 until december. He made his senior debut for wasps at 18. His physical size for a wing isn't something leinster's system usually produces. (6'2, 95kg at 18 when he joined academy) How much of a future he has at leinster we shall to wait and see..

Leinster have a strong group of wings/fullbacks coming through with Andrew Smith(U21/St. Michaels/Clontarf), Josh O'Connor(U20/Wexford RFC/UCD), Jamie Osborne(U20/Naas RFC) and Chris Cosgrave(U20/St. Michaels), this ignores two other players who featured heavily for Leinster A last season Rob Russell(U22/St. Michaels/DUFC) and Niall Comerford(U21/Blackrock/UCD) whose leinster statuses are a bit unclear at present.

Silvester, Smith, Russell, Cosgrave, Comerford and O'Connor all fit the fairly standard dimensions for underage leinster back three players, all being about 6ft and under 90kg bar maybe O'Connor who looks heavier. O'Sullivan is an outlier physically when compared to those players, as is Osborne(6'2+)

[Pilotman123]

That projected year 3 looks a bit weak on paper doesn't it?
Probably only Milne likely to make it from that crop?

Albeit in reality it's because there's been quite a few early promotions?

Year 3 is probably the strongest age group in a long time hence why a lot of them got promoted straight from school and winning the u20s Grand Slam

[leinsterforever]

I think it's premature to say O'Sullivan is unlikely to make it based on him being involved with the 7s. It's a route that's worked well for Keenan and JOB, and not just something they fall into if they're not good enough.

[mildlyinterested]

1996 is the strongest of recent ones, then 1999, 1998, 2000 and 1997. The upcoming 2001 looks very strong.

1996
Andrew Porter(TH Prop/St. Andrews)
Vakh Abdaladze(TH Prop/Coolmine RFC)
James Ryan(Lock/St. Michaels) - central contract
Max Deegan(Backrow/St. Michaels)
Will Connors(Openside/Clongowes)
Rowan Osborne(Scrumhalf/Clongowes)
Conor O'Brien(Centre/Mullingar RFC)
Jimmy O'Brien(Centre/Newbridge)
Hugo Keenan(Fullback/Blackrock)
1997
Ciaran Frawley(Outhalf/Skerries RFC)
Jordan Larmour(Fullback/St. Andrews)
1998
Ronan Kelleher(Hooker/St. Michaels)
Dan Sheehan(Hooker/Clongowes)
Jack Dunne(Lock/St. Michaels)
Caelan Doris(Backrow/Blackrock)
Hugh O'Sullivan(Scrumhalf/Belvedere)
Paddy Patterson(Scrumhalf/Blackrock) - Academy
Tommy O'Brien(Centre/Blackrock)
Michael Silvester(Fullback/Clongowes) - Academy
1999
Michael Milne(LH Prop/Birr RFC-Roscrea) - Academy
Ryan Baird(Lock/St. Michaels)
Charlie Ryan(Lock/Blackrock) - Academy
Scott Penny(Openside/St. Michaels)
Martin Moloney(Openside/Athy RFC) - Academy
Cormac Foley(Scrumhalf/St. Gerards) - Academy
Harry Byrne(Outhalf/St. Michaels)
David Hawkshaw(Outhalf/Belvedere) - Academy
Liam Turner(Centre/Blackrock) - Academy
Aaron O'Sullivan(Wing/Exile) - Academy
2000
Tom Clarkson(TH Prop/Blackrock) - Academy
Brian Deeny(Lock/Wexford RFC) - Academy
Sean O'Brien(Backrow/Blackrock) - Academy
Andrew Smith(Wing/St. Michaels) - Academy

bold - capped by ireland.
italic - unconfirmed.

[mildlyinterested]

I think it's premature to say O'Sullivan is unlikely to make it based on him being involved with the 7s. It's a route that's worked well for Keenan and JOB, and not just something they fall into if they're not good enough.

I would say Keenan and JOB looked more impressive as u20's, O'Sullivan has done very little of note since joining the academy. He may still progress but he needs a big year 3 in the academy IMO. As does Silvester, given the young back three players coming through.

[mildlyinterested]

Freddie Happonen(Hooker/St. Gerards) has been invited into the Leinster U19 Summer Camp

St. Gerard's players in U17 camp:

Ross Keating(Backrow)
Fionán Denver(Backrow)
Tim Wilkinson(Backrow)
Jordan Younger(Outhalf)
Dylan Maher(Centre)

[mildlyinterested]

Martin Moloney moving from Old Belvedere to Clontarf.

[mildlyinterested]

Charlie Rock gave an interview on tackling sport podcast, some interesting insights on academy life.. etc.

lots of positive's on Lancaster.

[hugonaut]

Charlie Rock gave an interview on tackling sport podcast, some interesting insights on academy life.. etc.

lots of positive's on Lancaster.

Give us a link to that Mildly, sounds interesting.

[mildlyinterested]

Charlie Rock gave an interview on tackling sport podcast, some interesting insights on academy life.. etc.

lots of positive's on Lancaster.

Give us a link to that Mildly, sounds interesting.

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/ta ... XzBmr5_al/

[hugonaut]

Thank you very much!

[Pilotman123]

Leinster academy has been confirmed

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster academy has been confirmed

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