Ulster Rugby 2017-18

First topic message reminder :

Jeez - O’Donoghue eeled his way through that maul and caught Herring.

Ulster is being run by buffoons in blazers and a CEO who cares only about season ticket and merchandise sales (something that comes with success by the way Mr L). The IRFU's blind policies don't help either mind you. The current problems could have been avoided, of that there is no doubt but the heads were in the sand over it all. Even in the Pienaar case only one man really put up any fight to retain him according to our sources either here or on t'other place.
It truly has been a forgettable period in Ulster's history but where the hell do they go from here? People will vote with their feet and season ticket sales will take another, bigger hit I'm pretty sure but at what point does that become a vote of no confidence in the current structure forcing a change?

Standulstermen wrote:

clivemcl wrote:Aukster, you do realise we were only permitted to look at NIQs once Jackson went to trial?
Prior to that our scouting was limited to Irish qualified. Who would you have went for?
Bare in mind we signed a 9 with experience at 10. And most people based off last years performances felt Nelson was a good pro14 option in the 10 shirt.

You see the last sentence is where i have to scream in disagreement. a blind man on a galloping horse could have seen that Nelson was no more a Pro14 fly half than he was an astronaut. He was an empty shirt any time he wore the 10 shirt. (i would argue hes going that way in any shirt but the lads been pissed around enough). Now if our coaches couldn't see just how bad he was then it begs the question what game are they trying to play and if their confidence in him was so brittle that it took just one disaster in Connacht to completely drop him then you have to ask why we didn't just go with a youngster from the start as LL's backup.

There doesn't seem any thought process behind identification of backups in key positions or their selection

Totally agree Stand old fellow, no right thinking person could honestly believe Nelson was an option at fly-half. Sparky would have done as well at 10.

rodders wrote:Sparky would have done as well at 10.

If you guys wanted to test that theory out against, say, Edinburgh.... we'd be totally OK with that

Problem is we were meant to have a raft of options at 10

Jackson (unavailable)
Herron (Not developed as a player)
Nelson (Capable of the basics but nothing spectacular)
Olding (Unavailable)
Marshall (Needed at centre this season)
McPhillips (Been out injured)

Then you have Cooney who could cover there but Marshall and Shanahan haven't been available for large parts of the season

So of seven options going into the season we had four available and two were needed in other positions and the two who were available aren't long term solutions. You can criticise Cunningham for poor signings but Herron was signed as a player who they hoped to develop and it hasn't happened. I don't even think he was first choice to sign, wasn't Cathal Marsh one that he tried to sign and we were turned down?

We have never been blessed with great depth at fly half and with Munster having Blyendaal as the NIQ 10 Ireland our hands have been tied, if we had have been allowed one it wouldn't be someone of enough quality that could oust Jackson from the 10 shirt either.

McPhillips is clearly seen as the one to step up but without a first choice everything has been exposed. All the problems at Ulster are historical though. They stem from the inability to produce enough players of sufficient quality and without the option to sign NIQ players, then its a struggle to get anyone who is good enough. That comes from the schools not playing their part on the developmental pathway and the clubs are not playing at a high enough level.

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

rodders wrote:Sparky would have done as well at 10.

If you guys wanted to test that theory out against, say, Edinburgh.... we'd be totally OK with that

I believe you might have the best 606v2 moniker that I've ever seen.

McPhillips has been playing the vast majority of the season for Hinch I'm nearly sure so he has been available and he would only have been backup to LL.

The ST holders got a survey to fill in last night. Sent mine back this morning. Hopefully a good few have highlighted similar things but is it the first sign UR are panicking about renewals?

clivemcl wrote:Aukster, you do realise we were only permitted to look at NIQs once Jackson went to trial?
Prior to that our scouting was limited to Irish qualified. Who would you have went for?
Bare in mind we signed a 9 with experience at 10. And most people based off last years performances felt Nelson was a good pro14 option in the 10 shirt.

Clive I understand that's what people think but is there evidence to support it? Has anyone from Ulster actually said in public they weren't permitted to sign a NIQ 10 either last year or the year before? Why would the IRFU have to wait for a crisis before they sanction a NIQ signing?

It was the IRFU that forced Ulster to the brink of a crisis by forcing Pienaar away, thus leaving Ulster with only one recognised flyhalf, who like Payne or Coetzee could be out for the season in the blink of an eye. It seems incredibly stupid or at best myopic of them to precipitate a crisis and then slam the door shut on a resolution. When D4 authorised first Lealiifano and then Donald, it shows they didn't consider Ulster to have adequate cover for Jackson, and why would they authorise this when he isn't injured but voluntarily withdrawn, yet not authorise the same cover in the case of injury?

An astute rugby brain at Ravenhill should have pointed out their inconsistency, and asked for Sexton as cover... and then asked for Keatley as cover for Sexton.

Aukster I take it you must have evidence to support what you are saying? I mean you must have shared it with others right? You've been to the media about too I hope?

How long were the IRFU willing to allow someone to come in for? Was this going to be open ended until a decision was reached in the case?

marty2086 wrote:Aukster I take it you must have evidence to support what you are saying? I mean you must have shared it with others right? You've been to the media about too I hope?

How long were the IRFU willing to allow someone to come in for? Was this going to be open ended until a decision was reached in the case?

Eh? Evidence to support the lack of evidence?? That is a logical fallacy.

Sorry I can't understand the rest.

The facts are that the IRFU left Ulster with one outhalf and supposedly no means to get NIQ cover, nor any hope of an IQ transfer either.
Would Leinster or Munster have been backed into this corner - unlikely as they seem to operate under a different set of rules.

Unfortunately I think the IRFU probably have a list of what positions all players supposedly can play. So maybe the number 10 under the bio of Olding, Marshall, Nelson, Herron and Cooney was enough for IRFU to say 'you don't need an NIQ 10'.

But this is all speculation.

If we were allowed an NIQ10 I'm not sure we would have been scouting for a granny NIQ (Windsor). Herron was on the radar, he could be excused. But a low level auzzie with an Irish granny - that has to be purposefully sought out surely.

But did we have NIQ spots available anyway? Maybe Bryn just felt the backrow and prop was more critical than out-half.

clivemcl wrote:Unfortunately I think the IRFU probably have a list of what positions all players supposedly can play. So maybe the number 10 under the bio of Olding, Marshall, Nelson, Herron and Cooney was enough for IRFU to say 'you don't need an NIQ 10'.

But this is all speculation.

If we were allowed an NIQ10 I'm not sure we would have been scouting for a granny NIQ (Windsor). Herron was on the radar, he could be excused. But a low level auzzie with an Irish granny - that has to be purposefully sought out surely.

But did we have NIQ spots available anyway? Maybe Bryn just felt the backrow and prop was more critical than out-half.

Aside from Olding who had no more than a handful of games at 10, the rest of the list are still available, yet the IRFU see fit to support the signing of an NIQ now, so the inference is that the IRFU do not consider them good enough. If they aren't good enough to cover Jackson now, neither were they good enough to go into the season with as cover.

In the Windsor year, Ulster also signed Mike Stanley showing an absence of joined-up thinking or succession planning - rather it was panic recruiting (again).

Ulster needed a 10 AND a prop AND two backrows, but they also need to be of a certain standard, yet they seem to be signing neither quantity nor quality.

As I have said before, Ulster could do with signing JJ Hanrahan from Munster. He is behind Bleyendaal and Keatley and Munster have a couple of young talented 10's coming through the age groups.

Not that I want rid of JJ as I think he is an excellent player but I do feel that he would suit Ulster to the ground.

The Great Aukster wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Aukster I take it you must have evidence to support what you are saying? I mean you must have shared it with others right? You've been to the media about too I hope?

How long were the IRFU willing to allow someone to come in for? Was this going to be open ended until a decision was reached in the case?

Eh? Evidence to support the lack of evidence?? That is a logical fallacy.

Sorry I can't understand the rest.

The facts are that the IRFU left Ulster with one outhalf and supposedly no means to get NIQ cover, nor any hope of an IQ transfer either.
Would Leinster or Munster have been backed into this corner - unlikely as they seem to operate under a different set of rules.

What are you talking about? You don't understand the rest? It really wasn't that complex but seems you're making it that way

You've claimed that Ulster have basically been asleep at the wheel and pretty much dismissed the idea that Ulster weren't allowed to sign someone, so surely you have emails from the IRFU telling Ulster they have the go ahead to sign whatever fly half they can to cover for Jacksons absence? Maybe a transcript of the meetings Bryn and Les held with Joe and Nucifora?

I mean its not like the IRFU have rules about these things or only last season blocked a province signing a NIQ as injury cover

The Great Aukster wrote:

clivemcl wrote:Unfortunately I think the IRFU probably have a list of what positions all players supposedly can play. So maybe the number 10 under the bio of Olding, Marshall, Nelson, Herron and Cooney was enough for IRFU to say 'you don't need an NIQ 10'.

But this is all speculation.

If we were allowed an NIQ10 I'm not sure we would have been scouting for a granny NIQ (Windsor). Herron was on the radar, he could be excused. But a low level auzzie with an Irish granny - that has to be purposefully sought out surely.

But did we have NIQ spots available anyway? Maybe Bryn just felt the backrow and prop was more critical than out-half.

Aside from Olding who had no more than a handful of games at 10, the rest of the list are still available, yet the IRFU see fit to support the signing of an NIQ now, so the inference is that the IRFU do not consider them good enough. If they aren't good enough to cover Jackson now, neither were they good enough to go into the season with as cover.

In the Windsor year, Ulster also signed Mike Stanley showing an absence of joined-up thinking or succession planning - rather it was panic recruiting (again).

Ulster needed a 10 AND a prop AND two backrows, but they also need to be of a certain standard, yet they seem to be signing neither quantity nor quality.

Stanley was signed when Jackson AND Olding were both injured and Humphreys and Pienaar were the only fit options, Windsor was signed the following season when Humphreys was still there.

So it seems Ulster under Bryn have traditionally had a number of fly halves at their disposal

As for the quantity and quality argument are you saying Coetzee isn't a quality player or Deysel wasn't quality at Munster or the Sharks?

The only thing that gives me hope is that UR (Logan) cares about season tickets and attendance.
And to be honest, as good as Moore and Murphy are, it’s clear that attendance and season tickets will take a significant hit without a marquee signing or two.

We need a better 10 than JJ (in terms of star/celeb factor) and we need a big bulldozing backrower if Coetzee doesn’t prove he can come back and not be an injury risk.

Considering Bowes departure, Trimble’s decline and Piutau leaving, we almost certainly need a back three signing too.

If we don’t get these, I kinda hope attendances plummet. It’s the only languageLigan and the board understand.

I would love ulster to sign JJ. He can also fill in at centre as well. I think with a decent run at his favourite position we'd see the best of him. On a side note, has an English man ever played for ulster? Is there any English fly halves available? I know it's highly unlikely but just out of curiosity.

Maine man wrote:I would love ulster to sign JJ. He can also fill in at centre as well. I think with a decent run at his favourite position we'd see the best of him. On a side note, has an English man ever played for ulster? Is there any English fly halves available? I know it's highly unlikely but just out of curiosity.

On a side note, has an English man ever played for ulster? Dan Tuohy for one.

Is there any English fly halves available? Danny Cipriani

clive, I don't think a fall in season tickets will force their hands. I think it needs to impact the blazers lifestyles and their jollies before real change comes.

The simple fact of the matter is that we have had to go to the well too many times with the NIQ signings and Irish granny qualified signings because we simply don't have the production line. Until that functions as it should then we won't be able to truly progress.

JJ would be a good signing, when he gets a run of games he is a quality player, he did well at Northampton when he was given a run.

Pete330v2 wrote:

Maine man wrote:I would love ulster to sign JJ. He can also fill in at centre as well. I think with a decent run at his favourite position we'd see the best of him. On a side note, has an English man ever played for ulster? Is there any English fly halves available? I know it's highly unlikely but just out of curiosity.

On a side note, has an English man ever played for ulster? Dan Tuohy for one.

Is there any English fly halves available? Danny Cipriani

Pretty sure he's already signed on with Toulon but given Mourads not renewing contracts until they seal a place in the ERCC next season maybe he's not confirming any signings until then either

Think Myler might be free and Swiel at Quins, who I think is South African

Yes yes.   I suppose this is another opportunity for something I've said before....

Irish player, New Zealand player, South African player, Australian player...and then finally, maybe an English player and maybe a Welsh player.... only maybe with each, if all other options are spent....

..............but never, it seems, a French player?

Irish and English and Aussie and Kiwi and South African and Georgian and Argentinian players etc can go to France and play and get through the language barrier.................. but never it seems is it an option in Ireland to check out what talent might be in France within the League and whether that talent might want to further their career by getting off their own bench warming duties (a bench warming career happens in all countries with certain players).

I think it's a bit silly that Ireland overlooks what NIQ talent might be lurking beneath the surface over there just waiting for a higher profile presence in a side to excel.

Are there any French options?
I mean there are lots of coffee houses in Belfast now so they'd feel very much at home.

Pete330v2 wrote:Are there any French options?
I mean there are lots of coffee houses in Belfast now so they'd feel very much at home.

I don't know. I'm not the kinda guy that keeps my eye on overseas prospects that might have a part to play in Provincial rugby. I don't observe the lie of the land that closely.

But the IRFU have people that obviously do. I'm just saying I find it difficult to believe there is never a French player suitable for a Provincial need. I think it's just that for some weird reason, their hopefuls are never trawled through with the same enthusiasm as players from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.... if indeed France is ever looked at at all. I doubt it.

marty2086 wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Aukster I take it you must have evidence to support what you are saying? I mean you must have shared it with others right? You've been to the media about too I hope?

How long were the IRFU willing to allow someone to come in for? Was this going to be open ended until a decision was reached in the case?

Eh? Evidence to support the lack of evidence?? That is a logical fallacy.

Sorry I can't understand the rest.

The facts are that the IRFU left Ulster with one outhalf and supposedly no means to get NIQ cover, nor any hope of an IQ transfer either.
Would Leinster or Munster have been backed into this corner - unlikely as they seem to operate under a different set of rules.

What are you talking about? You don't understand the rest? It really wasn't that complex but seems you're making it that way

You've claimed that Ulster have basically been asleep at the wheel and pretty much dismissed the idea that Ulster weren't allowed to sign someone, so surely you have emails from the IRFU telling Ulster they have the go ahead to sign whatever fly half they can to cover for Jacksons absence? Maybe a transcript of the meetings Bryn and Les held with Joe and Nucifora?

I mean its not like the IRFU have rules about these things or only last season blocked a province signing a NIQ as injury cover

It's total news to me that the IRFU constantly monitor provincial players and if they think the province need cover they then get in touch by e-mail to give them a go ahead...

The less conspiratorial interpretation of the rules is that:
A Province wants a player and approaches IRFU
IRFU say yes or no

The Great Aukster wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Aukster I take it you must have evidence to support what you are saying? I mean you must have shared it with others right? You've been to the media about too I hope?

How long were the IRFU willing to allow someone to come in for? Was this going to be open ended until a decision was reached in the case?

Eh? Evidence to support the lack of evidence?? That is a logical fallacy.

Sorry I can't understand the rest.

The facts are that the IRFU left Ulster with one outhalf and supposedly no means to get NIQ cover, nor any hope of an IQ transfer either.
Would Leinster or Munster have been backed into this corner - unlikely as they seem to operate under a different set of rules.

What are you talking about? You don't understand the rest? It really wasn't that complex but seems you're making it that way

You've claimed that Ulster have basically been asleep at the wheel and pretty much dismissed the idea that Ulster weren't allowed to sign someone, so surely you have emails from the IRFU telling Ulster they have the go ahead to sign whatever fly half they can to cover for Jacksons absence? Maybe a transcript of the meetings Bryn and Les held with Joe and Nucifora?

I mean its not like the IRFU have rules about these things or only last season blocked a province signing a NIQ as injury cover

It's total news to me that the IRFU constantly monitor provincial players and if they think the province need cover they then get in touch by e-mail to give them a go ahead...

The less conspiratorial interpretation of the rules is that:
A Province wants a player and approaches IRFU
IRFU say yes or no

Who said anything about constant monitoring? Seems you are working in a different realm to everyone else

marty2086 wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

clivemcl wrote:Unfortunately I think the IRFU probably have a list of what positions all players supposedly can play. So maybe the number 10 under the bio of Olding, Marshall, Nelson, Herron and Cooney was enough for IRFU to say 'you don't need an NIQ 10'.

But this is all speculation.

If we were allowed an NIQ10 I'm not sure we would have been scouting for a granny NIQ (Windsor). Herron was on the radar, he could be excused. But a low level auzzie with an Irish granny - that has to be purposefully sought out surely.

But did we have NIQ spots available anyway? Maybe Bryn just felt the backrow and prop was more critical than out-half.

Aside from Olding who had no more than a handful of games at 10, the rest of the list are still available, yet the IRFU see fit to support the signing of an NIQ now, so the inference is that the IRFU do not consider them good enough. If they aren't good enough to cover Jackson now, neither were they good enough to go into the season with as cover.

In the Windsor year, Ulster also signed Mike Stanley showing an absence of joined-up thinking or succession planning - rather it was panic recruiting (again).

Ulster needed a 10 AND a prop AND two backrows, but they also need to be of a certain standard, yet they seem to be signing neither quantity nor quality.

Stanley was signed when Jackson AND Olding were both injured and Humphreys and Pienaar were the only fit options, Windsor was signed the following season when Humphreys was still there.

So it seems Ulster under Bryn have traditionally had a number of fly halves at their disposal

As for the quantity and quality argument are you saying Coetzee isn't a quality player or Deysel wasn't quality at Munster or the Sharks?

Stanley and Windsor were signed within two months of each other but admittedly Stanley was short term to see out the 2015 season, whereas Windsor didn't start until after the summer. In Stanley's case the IRFU had been asked by Ulster for a dispensation, despite having Humphreys, Pienaar, and Marshall plus Academy options all available - and the IRFU still said yes.

So in 2015 the IRFU consented to a NIQ signing despite there being two experienced players and others available, yet in 2016 they deny Ulster a NIQ signing when they only have one experienced player who might not be available? Seriously inconsistent from the IRFU whatever their rules.

How long were the IRFU meant to allow a NIQ player to come in for?

Allen Clarke has been named as interim head coach at the O's. Well well well

Pete330v2 wrote:Allen Clarke has been named as interim head coach at the O's. Well well well

Preparing him to take over from Les

marty2086 wrote:How long were the IRFU meant to allow a NIQ player to come in for?

Two years ? - should be enough to bring McPhillips/Curtis through.

The Great Aukster wrote:

marty2086 wrote:How long were the IRFU meant to allow a NIQ player to come in for?

Two years ? - should be enough to bring McPhillips/Curtis through.

So the IRFU were going to bring in someone last season to potentially usurp Jackson for two years and leave a potential key player for them without sufficient game time?

Is the OJ trial postponement a sign that a deal may be done?

Aukster may be right that that there was never an NIQ 10 block per se. But the NIQ10 would have had to have been a lesser 10 than Jackson.

AT this present time I still reckon the IRFU would not be happy with us signing a longer term marquee 10 unless they knew for sure Jackson was leaving.

Ther'es no way the IRFU would be happy with the possibility of Jackson getting aquitted and returning to Ulster to play back up to somebody.

So the question is... have the talks happened yet between UR and Jackson about his future? UR and Jackson may agree to part ways, but Jackson for sure will not have had meaningful discussions with other clubs. I mean who would talk with a guy about a potential signing when he's on trial for (the R word)...

It's a fine mess.

Seems there are plenty of Ulster fans on here who have no faith in Jackson's ability. He is a Test class 10 on the up, so who apart from Beauden Barrett is going to usurp him. Competition is good for performance.
The game time restriction is a nonsense argument too - Leinster have Sexton but they need cover to manage him. Would the IRFU want a tired and brittle player with no rest? Munster have needed all of Keatley, TB and JJ and IK is playing better than ever.

That's a fair point. And yet, the same argument was never applied to the idea that somebody like Cooney could simply sign for Ulster and force his way into the starting 9 shirt ahead of Pienaar.

On that note, can you imagine if we had had the option of
9 Cooney
10 Pienaar

this season.

Yes Clive tasty alright, but in truth Ruan deserves his big pay day and for all he has done for Ulster he isn't the future. Ulster really needed to plan beyond Ruan, yet they've now wasted another half season pharting about with no settled 10. Are they even looking to sign a full-time flyhalf now or are they going to waste another year playing the victim?

It's not about not having faith in Jackson, its about not bringing in someone who could displace an important Irish international and not benefit the Irish squad. After all the provinces are there to supply the Irish team

Aren't you lamenting the lack of quality at fly half but not you're advocating bringing in someone who is below the quality of Jackson?

How does a dysfunctional Ulster benefit the Ireland team? A new 10 has been needed to share the workload with Jackson since Humphreys retired. Ulster should have been looking for someone who could develop into a genuine option to Paddy. For some reason Ulster have instead been content to set the bar at an unambitious Windsor/Herron level. The quality of the squad has steadily been eroded since the Doc left and that isn't helping anyone.
Would Schmidt prefer to pick players sharpened by competition at their province, and operating with high class around them? Maybe if there were more competition, players might scrub the pub crawls and focus on keeping their place in the team?
It doesn't do any Ulster International good to play in a team lacking quality, and someone like Stockdale has benefited immensely by playing alongside Piutau. Unfortunately players of that stature are getting rare in Belfast.

Who was Humprheys Jr replaced with the second time he left? Niall O'Connor, we had a backrow at times with guys like McComish and Birch, we had McComb playing second row and when Jared snapped his achilles we had to sign Terblanche because next in like was D'Arcy. Seems your problem really lie with the person making the signings rather than the signings themselves

Court, Best, Afoa an all Test front row,
Johann Muller and Ferris in the pack and a younger Henry with the experience of Wilson and the explosiveness of Nick Williams.
Pienaar...
Wallace experienced and Cave younger
Trimble, Bowe and Payne - the best players in their position that Ulster ever had. Plus Henderson , Luke, Paddy and Gilly all breaking on the scene.
That quality has been allowed to fritter away, and it will continue to do so with the age profile of the squad especially as it is often the better quality players that are the eldest.

Thats team not a squad but now you've shifted your complaint to the age profile which over the first XV is younger and probably the same over the squad

One issue highlighted by yourself Marty is the quality of the signings. Adam D’arcy May not have been an HEC level 15 but he was more than good enough for pro12 level and the odd clermont moment. Couple that with the likes of Herron etc and there definitely are questions to answer regarding our recruitment.

I’m not necessarily saying it all falls on Cunningham. We seem to have gone big on two signings (Coetzee and piutau) to the detriment in quality of our others. We need to focus on the calibre of people they are and in fairness LEalifano fit that mould. I’m not sure the Deysels and VDMs of the world do because pride alone should dictate they displace the Timoney and Warwick’s of the world. We need a clean slate for recruitment and a better template for selecting individuals.

Standulstermen wrote:One issue highlighted by yourself Marty is the quality of the signings. Adam D’arcy May not have been an HEC level 15 but he was more than good enough for pro12 level and the odd clermont moment. Couple that with the likes of Herron etc and there definitely are questions to answer regarding our recruitment.

I’m not necessarily saying it all falls on Cunningham. We seem to have gone big on two signings (Coetzee and piutau) to the detriment in quality of our others. We need to focus on the calibre of people they are and in fairness LEalifano fit that mould. I’m not sure the Deysels and VDMs of the world do because pride alone should dictate they displace the Timoney and Warwick’s of the world. We need a clean slate for recruitment and a better template for selecting individuals.

This.

For all that, Timoney looks promising at 8.

He does in fairness and I’d let him see it the season. The key is bringing through the next generation from a position of strength and not throwing them in at once so they can struggle against treviso

marty2086 wrote:Thats team not a squad but now you've shifted your complaint to the age profile which over the first XV is younger and probably the same over the squad

How much younger?

The Great Aukster wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Thats team not a squad but now you've shifted your complaint to the age profile which over the first XV is younger and probably the same over the squad

How much younger?

Nearly a years difference and thats if you take Jackson over McPhillips

Maybe Mr Logan should give the Northampton directors a call next time he plans a 'worldwide search'. They've just appointed Chris Boyd as DoR

5 weeks of uncomfortable news reports coming up...

Isn't it weird timing that after so long a preamble - a seemingly never-ending lead-in to trial - that the court case gets up and running just as the biggest annual International rugby contest begins.

A cynic might say that ambitious legal eagles somewhere someplace arranged for the peculiar synchronicity, knowing that interest levels in the case details will now run in tandem with the competition itself, certainly in Ireland.

It seems some of the posters here know a good bit of the background to the case.  I'm completely in the dark and by the way some posters here have been wording things, I'm not certain I'll want to know all the details.  But I suppose curiosity will win out.

Strange timing though.  Things don't often work out so perfectly unless they're meant to.

In other news from our wonderful media machine, I see on of our former players has been getting some attention:

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2017/09/21/news/former-ulster-and-ireland-rugby-player-given-conditional-discharge-for-having-herbal-cannabis-1142090/

Sad to see a guy who's not exactly having a great time but to put him in the media for having a little bit of weed proves how desperate our fantastic journalists are for a story. Granted this was back in September and he's been in court again for having Ecstasy but slapping him all over the papers will really help him deal with his problems ffs.

That's awful. Castlecoole Park?? What happened him?
Not meaning any disrespect to Castlecoole Park, just that this guy probably earned a fair bit of money in his career.