Irish Provinces NEWS & GOSSIP thread 2016-17

[Sin é]

First topic message reminder :

What it says in the title - a place to put all bits of news not worth starting a thread for the Four Proud Provinces of Ireland such as new signings, interviews that maybe of interest to others etc.

[marty2086]

Simple question is, if the fella doesn't want to go then why is he going?

If he wanted to stay that much he would have a lovely new Munster contract. We had Ruan Pienaar offered a truck load of money to up sticks and move to France and he stayed, only to get shafted but thats another story altogether.

Were his performances in the 6Ns his way of trying to get a big payday out of the IRFU?

Jeez you lads have some serious chips on shoulders.

Quite ironic when you have Munstermen wanting the IRFU to stump up the cash for your team to keep a player

There is no chip Im using Pienaar as an example, if someone wants to stay they will regardless of the money but Ryan it seems isn't one of those.

Somehow I think he'll stay at Munster and its all a ploy to get the IRFU to foot the bill rather than Munster since they are strapped for cash

[Don Alfonso]

Haven't seen much from Henderson lately to say we can't afford to lose him ( based on two games). Seen enough of him to think he is currently somewhere between being disinterested and a tub o lard. Still he might get excited about being picked for the british lions who knows

Not two games - two performances that Ryan couldn't touch. And he seemed to be getting back on track in the England game.

But yeah, he hasn't been great in early 2017. Maybe neither of them should have one.

[marty2086]

Haven't seen much from Henderson lately to say we can't afford to lose him ( based on two games). Seen enough of him to think he is currently somewhere between being disinterested and a tub o lard. Still he might get excited about being picked for the british lions who knows

Not two games - two performances that Ryan couldn't touch. And he seemed to be getting back on track in the England game.

But yeah, he hasn't been great in early 2017. Maybe neither of them should have one.

Henderson had to make do with a plain old Ulster contract last time which still has a year to run

[Don Alfonso]

Cool. Iain has a year to get his mojo back, reinvigorated by Jonno and a Lions tour, and that pesky Ryan won't be hogging one.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

You are right about hendersons performances Ryan has never been that bad even when injured.

[Don Alfonso]

What's Ryan's worst international performance, out of interest?

[Don Alfonso]

You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

Ah look big Iain is great and all that. We have just won the B&I cup and have something slightly more important on tomorrow of which I need a good nights sleep for.

[Don Alfonso]

Well, good luck.

[Sin é]

You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

Henderson has had 14 starts for Ireland. Most of his appearances were as a flanker, not a lock. He hasn't started a game at lock in the Champs Cup this season either, so why would the IRFU fund a contract for him - Ireland have more than enough backrows.

[marty2086]

You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

Henderson has had 14 starts for Ireland. Most of his appearances were as a flanker, not a lock. He hasn't started a game at lock in the Champs Cup this season either, so why would the IRFU fund a contract for him - Ireland have more than enough backrows.

Because from next season the IRFU want him at lock, this is one of the reasons Ulster were allowed to sign Arno Botha to cover Henderson becoming a full time lock

[Sin é]

Simple question is, if the fella doesn't want to go then why is he going?

If he wanted to stay that much he would have a lovely new Munster contract. We had Ruan Pienaar offered a truck load of money to up sticks and move to France and he stayed, only to get shafted but thats another story altogether.

Were his performances in the 6Ns his way of trying to get a big payday out of the IRFU?

Jeez you lads have some serious chips on shoulders.

Quite ironic when you have Munstermen wanting the IRFU to stump up the cash for your team to keep a player

There is no chip Im using Pienaar as an example, if someone wants to stay they will regardless of the money but Ryan it seems isn't one of those.

Somehow I think he'll stay at Munster and its all a ploy to get the IRFU to foot the bill rather than Munster since they are strapped for cash

Munster have very few central contracts - POM, Murray & Earls, so they are dead right to want a few more. As it is, Munster is carrying CJ & Zebo's contracts.

[marty2086]

Munster currently have 4, POM, Murray, Earls, Ryan and Ulster currently have 3, Best, Bowe and Trimble

To be fair though the whole system makes little sense, Bowe has another year to go on his contract, Heaslip gets one but Ryan doesnt because hes too old yet still younger than Heaslip.

[Sin é]

Good news for Munster on the sponsorship front - Bank of Ireland has renewed its sponsorship until 2023. (Thats right, 2023!). Bank of Ireland have also appointed David Wallace as Business Development Manager for the Munster Region. Conor Murray & Peter O'Mahony are brand ambassadors for 17/18 season.

[Don Alfonso]

You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

Henderson has had 14 starts for Ireland. Most of his appearances were as a flanker, not a lock. He hasn't started a game at lock in the Champs Cup this season either, so why would the IRFU fund a contract for him - Ireland have more than enough backrows.

A) I don't give a Jiminy Toss whether Hendo has a central contract. That was just pure whataboutery from a Munster fan weeping over the mistreatment of Ryan.

B) Do you think that he's as likely to start at back row as lock now? Or has the position that Ireland typically employ him in changed? Did he play at back row during the RWC? In SA? This six nations?

[Geen sport voor watjes]

It would be great if he actually did start playing as lock and wasn't a passenger for most games

[Don Alfonso]

Let's hope he doesn't, or Donnacha "Most Grumpy Looking Footnote in Irish Rugby" Ryan may never get that central contract. Or indeed, another start for Ireland. Good luck tomorrow to all Munster bods.

[Sin é]

You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

Henderson has had 14 starts for Ireland. Most of his appearances were as a flanker, not a lock. He hasn't started a game at lock in the Champs Cup this season either, so why would the IRFU fund a contract for him - Ireland have more than enough backrows.

A) I don't give a Jiminy Toss whether Hendo has a central contract. That was just pure whataboutery from a Munster fan weeping over the mistreatment of Ryan.

B) Do you think that he's as likely to start at back row as lock now? Or has the position that Ireland typically employ him in changed? Did he play at back row during the RWC? In SA? This six nations?

A) Ryan will be a loss to Irish rugby Fullstop.
b) He will have to start at lock I suppose. Mind you, a Toner/Henderson partner was not great in the Six Nations. His best game by far was when he was partnered with Ryan.

[geoff999rugby]

Henderson will be a full time lock next year with de Merwe departure and Coetzee and Botha available in the back row.

Also Ulster have better prospects coming through in the backrow than in the 2nd row

All the 2nd row lifting next year will be by Henderson, Treadwell, AOC, Browne Diack
In the backrow you will see a few youngsters getting games with only the 2 saffers, Reidy and Henry good enough of the establish players.

[geoff999rugby]

Haven't seen much from Henderson lately to say we can't afford to lose him ( based on two games). Seen enough of him to think he is currently somewhere between being disinterested and a tub o lard. Still he might get excited about being picked for the british lions who knows

You are talking crap - his Ireland performances were fine.

He was useless against Cardiff but then so were most of the Ulster team.

As to central contract I posted, when he had his latest renewal, that there was something about him getting a central contract, when he becomes a full time lock.
I thought that might be the current season but clearly it will be next season.
With Ryan off I am as certain as I can be that we will hear an announcement to that effect sometime during the 17-18 season.

[Golden]

So Mike Ross has announced he will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season. He was a crucial fixture in our team for many a year, summed up by this stat I came across this morning. He started at 3 for every 6 nations game from 2011-2015.

In his 14 year career he has acheived;

2 6 nation titles
3 Heiniken Cups
2 Pro 12 titles



We were incredibly lucky that both Hayes and Ross had relatively few injuries considering the lack of depth we have had at tighthead. Hopefully we are seeing an end to this reliance on one player.

[profitius]

Connacht Rugby can confirm that Ronan Loughney will finish with the province at the end of the current season.

Danie Poolman, John Cooney, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Danny Qualter, Rory Parata, Shane O’Leary, Lewis Stevenson, Rory Moloney, Josh Rowland and Ivan Soroka are among those also departing the Sportsground in the summer.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Russian interference in the Leinster-Glasgow game.

[marty2086]

Russian interference in the Leinster-Glasgow game.

Was watching the Quins/Wasps game and missed it

How long have the lights been out? And how long do they give it before its game abandoned?

[Rory_Gallagher]

I left before the game finished - they were out for 10 minutes or so before I left.

[profitius]

Leinster are on 90 tries for the season. That blows the record away. Total tries per season with a game to go. Glasgow are on 70 tries, Ospreys 69, Munster and Ulster 65 each.


(since the Italians joined)
16/17 90
15/16 68
14/15 68
13/14 59
12/13 66
11/12 53
10/11 56
--------------

All the other totals are in the 40s and 50s (season lengths differ) except for Cardiff who got 73 one season.

[geoff999rugby]

Read on a thread somewhere that there were 14 central contracts and 3 were from Ulster

That's wrong - Bowe, Payne, Best, Trimble have central contracts

Trimble will almost certainly be dropped this year, Bowe will definitely be dropped next summer
and I believe Henderson will be added.

So I suspect 3 Ulster players for 18-19 - Henderson, Best, Payne (our Lions)

[marty2086]

Bests central contract is up next summer and he'll be on the verge of turning 36 at that point, you think the IRFU will extend it until the RWC?

[geoff999rugby]

Given the alternatives, none of which are nailed on replacements, I reckon that is exactly what they will do.

My money is a 1 year Central contract then retirement

[profitius]

Quiet enough on the transfer front so far. There should be some announcements in the coming weeks.
Transfers.

Connacht
In
Ireland Gavin Thornbury from New Zealand Wanganui

Out
Ireland John Cooney to Ireland Ulster
Ireland Ben Marshall retired
Ireland Danny Qualter to England Nottingham
Ireland Rory Moloney released
Canada Shane O'Leary released
Ireland Rory Parata released
New Zealand Nepia Fox-Matamua released
Ireland Ronan Loughney released
South Africa Danie Poolman released
Ireland Josh Rowland released
Ireland Ivan Soroka released
Ireland Lewis Stevenson released


Leinster
In
Australia Scott Fardy from Australia Brumbies
New Zealand James Lowe from New Zealand Chiefs

Out
Ireland Mike McCarthy to France RC Narbonne
South Africa Zane Kirchner to Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Ireland Mike Ross retiring


Munster
In
Ireland Chris Farrell from France Grenoble
Ireland J. J. Hanrahan from England Northampton Saints
Ireland James Hart from France Racing 92

Out
Ireland Dave Foley to France Pau
Ireland Cian Bohane retiring


Ulster
In
South Africa Arno Botha from South Africa Bulls
Ireland John Cooney from Ireland Connacht
South Africa Schalk van der Merwe from South Africa Southern Kings

Out
South Africa Ruan Pienaar to France Montpellier
South Africa Franco van der Merwe to Wales Cardiff Blues
Ireland Roger Wilson retired
Ireland Conor Joyce to England Jersey Reds
Ireland Mark Best to England Jersey Reds

[Geen sport voor watjes]

Saili is also leaving more than likely.

[Don Alfonso]

Everyone forgotten about Donnacha Ryan going? Not surprising, I suppose.... Seemed to be on the plane during the Sarries match.

[Geen sport voor watjes]

We will forgive him one game given the rest of the team on the day weren't great. Having said that has been great for us all year in helping us get to two semi finals and hopefully a final. Worked really hard this year not just blowing on some overrated reputation

[geoff999rugby]

Add Rickie Lutton leaving Ulster

[the-goon]

D Ryan = mercenary. The fact he is leaving proves he has no love for jersey and just wants to take the cash and run. Pathetic. FACT!

[GunsGermsV2]

Munster by the greater glory of God (unless I get a better offer in France)

[Don Alfonso]

He certainly doesn't have the loyalty and willingness to sacrifice of, say, Pienaar.

[marty2086]

Everyone forgotten about Donnacha Ryan going? Not surprising, I suppose.... Seemed to be on the plane during the Sarries match.

Is Ryan definite? I get the feeling Munster didn't want to blow any of their budget on him if they could get the IRFU to foot the bill but are keen to keep him so that may mean they will spend some money on him

[Don Alfonso]

Not confirmed. Joking aside, it would be great to keep him

[Don Alfonso]

Though not on a central contract, needless to say.

[marty2086]

I think the reason given on why he wasn't offered one further shows the inconsistencies and basically the cowpat logic used by Nucifora

[Geen sport voor watjes]

D Ryan = mercenary. The fact he is leaving proves he has no love for jersey and just wants to take the cash and run. Pathetic. FACT!

Erm....Johnny Sexton...

[George Carlin]

So which part of Ireland is the best, then?

[marty2086]

D Ryan = mercenary. The fact he is leaving proves he has no love for jersey and just wants to take the cash and run. Pathetic. FACT!

Erm....Johnny Sexton...

Sure how many times have Heaslip and SOB threatened to leave unless they got a big payrise?

[Pete330v2]

So which part of Ireland is the best, then?

There's a scantily clad female sunbathing outside my window and I'm voting for all her parts as the best.

[marty2086]

So which part of Ireland is the best, then?

There's a scantily clad female sunbathing outside my window and I'm voting for all her parts as the best.

Whatever floats your boat Pete

[Don Alfonso]

606v2 has gotten quare ribald.

[geoff999rugby]

What are you doing at Petes house Marty

[Pete330v2]

I've only just spotted that pic Marty, she'd a whole lotta woman, a whole lotta Rosie

[profitius]

Munster news. Taute and Keatley sign new contracts. Saili, McCabe, John Madigan and Donnacha Ryan are confirmed to be leaving with Chisholm and Bohane retiring.

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