Ulster squad additions

First topic message reminder :

All of the following will be contracted to Ulster next year - I don't know the nature of each contract though

Niall Annett
Jerry Cronin
Craig Gilroy
Paddy Jackson
Adam Macklin
Luke Marshall
James McKinney
Ian Porter

Will supply a fully list shortly - still no mention of Bryan Young. Also no mention of Gaston yet

Standulstermen wrote:I believe it's in reference to the ' build me an army worthy of mordor' quote for lord of the rings. I'm not sure how big they were into their rugby though.

The Orc starting XV were actually very good. Though they never won any championships they always pushed the bigger teams.

What about the 2003 RWC Jay?

Tommy Bowe is coming back to Ireland - so says the Sunday Times

http://www.joe.ie/rugby/rugby-news/could-we-see-tommy-bowe-in-a-munster-jersey-next-season-0020160-1


As a couple here know I have been keeping quiet on this for a couple of weeks as I was told too. I have strong reason for believing we are in the box seat on this one.

On a couple of other points the NIE rules for next year are definitely 4+1 as most suspected.

Also I can confirm that Provinces are helped out for NIE players from Dublin and that the money given to each of the three senior povinces is, the same.

Leinster and Munster get more cash from central contracts, Ulster get more cash to help pay NIE players

Surely it makes more sense to see him line out for Ulster than Munster??

If the rumours about Laulala are true then it makes sense given that Zebo is seemingly rated above Gilroy and both Zebo and Earls would be the wings for Munster.

I like the thought of rotating Bowe/Trimble/Gilroy and throw Payne back into the mix we have a very useful back three.

The following was posted on the munsterfans website

"Spoke to a very reliable source earlier this week who said that Tommy Bowe IS returning to Ulster and it will be announced next week (Tuesday or Wednesday) He also said in Ulster Danielli is retiring at the end of the season freeing up an NIQ. Apparently a foreign Outhalf is being signed. In addition, Wannenberg has signed for Stade Francais again freeing up a NIQ. And contract negotiations are nearly complete regarding Jerome Kaino :O"

I think the flyhalf thing could be false as our NIQ qouta is being reduced by one next year so if we are loosing both P3 and Big simon(his retirement/contract not being renewed is common knowledge) we are still only able to sign one NIQ player. What fantastic news about tommy though,if he does sign with us it will be yet another positive step for ulster.

I Truly hope all this talk of Kaino are true as that would make us a force to be reckoned with, however if this doesn't come to pass i hope we resign P3, as there have been fewer players in an ulster jersey these last two seasons who have contributed more,

P.s. i notice that there are alot of people on this site, as well as others, who obtain information from "reliable sources" who are these reliable sources and do they know that their confidants post what they hear on the internet? not that i am complaining just interested.

Geoff is the only one with links on here I think and he is right nearly always. He also doesn't BS when he doesn't know something. I can't see the Kaino thing coming to fruition. That quote off munsterfans seems to think we will have 5 + 1 NIQ s next year. Probably someone trying to wind up ulster fans.

no there have been other ulster fans on this site who have quoted inside information form reliable sources!

However i am not just talking about ulster fans but all fans on this forum. are they worried that their contacts would find out that they are making information passed on in confidence public knowledge. As i said before i am not complaining, i am just curious.

if the flyhalf thing is true who would Ulster supporters like us to sign?

It won't be true given we have humph Jackson and McKinney as well as Wallace and pienaar. It would be madness

Stand I accept your logic here but I am merely trying to start a discussion that IF ulster were to sign a NIQ fly half who would people want, what players would complement our style of play.

I saw that post - can't see all that happening. I do think iHumph has probably been the weakest link in the backline since the arrival of Terblanche. Sandwiched between Pienaar and Paddy last season he could be imperious - he's been distinctly ropey this season. But with Marshall's good form, coupled with Pienaar's ability to play 10, I can't see it. And I don't know how much I'd want to see the development of Jackson and McKinney further delayed

I would point out that the Munsterfans poster said "foreign", however, not NIQ. Some fella is a similar boat to Adam D'Arcy, maybe?

Think it's most likely ballicks, though.

Any fly half would have to be IQ due to the 4+1 restriction for next year.
I've heard nothing yet.

As some may be aware my contact comes from the Ulster coached players in the 25 and above age group both at Ulster and at other clubs.

I dont know anything about the management side other than what I hear from the above people.

As a result I have only a slight idea what is happening with Kaino/Wannenberg but a fair bit on what is happening with Tommy

OK are we signing Bowe or what??

If he goes to Munster I'll go bananas!

I think IHumph has been ok actually and don't want to see a NIE fly-half signed. I'd rather see Jackson, McKinney or even Luke Marshall get gametime at 10 first.

Peinaar
Muller
Payne
Bowe
Wilson
Kaino
Afoa

Would probably be the best set of signings over a 2/3 year period to an Irish team.

Would still love Tommy to put on the blue jersey but can’t see it happening at this stage.

Mickado - you forgot McComish...

We endlessly debate who the best flyhalf, scrumhalf, wingers are amongst the provinces - for me Humphreys is comfortably the best Director of Rugby on the island. He signed up Pienaar and Muller during a season when we were languishing 8th in the Magners and hadn't gotten out of our HEC pool for almost a decade. He got Wannenburg in at short notice when Rush reneged, he magicked D'Arcy out of nowhere when Bryn had to retire at the start of a season, when the goalposts shifted and IQ players became more important, Roger Wilson returns- the man's a force of nature.

Yes Don....BUT has he got Tommy Bowe...

David Humphreys has the perfect skill set for the job.

A total gent
Respected World wide in the game of rugby
A hard nosed bargainer
Intelligent
Ulster to his core

Those 5 traits together make him worth his weight in gold to us

We should honour Humphreys Senior by holding a parade every year for him! I'm free March 17 if anyone is up for it?

If it doesn't suit maybe second week of July?

Someone who seems to have contacts of his own, on the supporters site, is saying Michael Cheika is being lined up by Ulster.

Now I still maintain they will not sack McLaughlin BUT it would not shock me if he changed position/stepped down. He is not a man for the limelight and may well take up a position in the wider Irish set up having done a bloody good job.

All speculation but this particular person, unlike most on UAFC, actually makes some valid posts.

If you are going to have a parade then it should be today!

Celebrate his greatest achievement on 30th January 1999

Happy Anniversary Ulster Rugby SUFTUM

Cheika would be a great addition, thought he did a brilliant job at Leinster.

I don't like changing a winning formula though. Unless BM wants to stand aside/down/sideways I'd like to maintain the status quo for another season to see where it takes us.

Lads!!!!

That last thing this country needs is another blooming parade!!!!!!!

Let's just agree he has done an amazing job eh?

Cheika????

My thoughts are, why would we want the man who seemed responsible for taking all the flare out of Leinster?????

MrsP wrote:Lads!!!!

That last thing this country needs is another blooming parade!!!!!!!

Let's just agree he has done an amazing job eh?

Cheika????

My thoughts are, why would we want the man who seemed responsible for taking all the flare out of Leinster?????

+1

Agreed Mrs P!

+2

I think we need to pause for breath and understand what is important over the next couple of weeks and any potential anouncements.

A new coach is a big move and it is absolutely key we get our 2012/13 coaching staff right.

Basically it is my firm belief that the right coach and No Bowe and No Kaino is better than the wrong coach with Bowe and Kaino joining.

Top Players are important - the right coaching set up is essential

Very much agreed.

Fair point Geoff but why does the club feel we don't already have the right coaching set up?

To be perfectly honest I'd like to keep our current coaching team and add Tommy Bowe to the squad and that would be more than enough to challenge for the top honours next season.

Kaino would be the icing on the cake.

We already have a very, very good chance of reaching the HEC final this year and anyone other than Leinster in the final and we could well win it.

I don't think this is the time for upsetting the apple cart.

When the great Michael Cheika left us, he swore he would never coach another team in our league. Said he did not want to coach against us.

Seeing as he does not need the money and coaches for the joy of it, I doubt he would go back on that. Who knows though.

And by the way..... Cheiks did NOT coach the good out of our backs, he just gave us the hard edge we were missing in the pack.

The backs were going fine under knox, it was the gaffer that coached the good out of them.

Rodders

I definitely think we don't have the right coaching set up. Thats not to say I think McLaughlin should be demoted/moved on etc but rather that prior to christmas and specifically the Aironi double header we weren't in great shape at all. With the youngsters coming through (credit McL here) maybe what they need is a new perspective. For everything we have the coaching ticket is ulster centric . I'm not against Irish coaches but I do think they need to broaden their horizons before becoming truly effective.

What I would say is that I would have been happy with a couple of specialist coaches coming in under McLaughlin but I do think we needed freshening up.

Also if the rumours are true that McLaughlin is taking over the Academy then it strongly suggests this is a amicable change of roles.
It would allow him to go back to teaching, secure his pension, spend more time with his family and go back to his first rugby love - teaching kids.

To be honest to be in charge of preparing the lads in the Academy for full professionalism is a job that fits McLaughlin like a glove and he probably will be very relaxed with it as a role. I can imagine him doing it part time and Longwell being his assistant

Tip f the hat to notch for saying that role previously. Big +1 to geoffs poet above

Standulstermen wrote:Tip f the hat to notch for saying that role previously. Big +1 to geoffs poet above

I'm a poet

Heaney eat your heart out

geoff998rugby wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:Tip f the hat to notch for saying that role previously. Big +1 to geoffs poet above

I'm a poet

Heaney eat your heart out

I always thought Heaney stole that laureate from you Geoff, the fraud!

from the NZ press:


'Kaino is off contract at the end of the SANZAR competition and he told Radio Sport he's weighing up a number of options overseas.

He says there's a new set up and they will be looking to build a squad for the next World Cup but he's not sure what he will be doing for the next couple of years.'


Let rumours recommence

Geoff, you are an awful man

Another All Black could be heading overseas with Blues loose forward Jerome Kaino considering his options for when he comes off contract at the end of the Super 15 season.

The 48-test veteran is currently preparing for his ninth Super Rugby season with the Blues and told Radiosport that he has been approached with overseas offers on the back of his strong season last year that saw him nominated for the IRB International Player of the Year award.

"All options are open at the moment when my contract's up. I'll make sure my management do the best job for me to see where we go from there. At the moment I'm enjoying footy in New Zealand and we'll see where we go from there," he told Radiosport.

"It's foreign territory for me, having other clubs being interested in you. I've heard some stories of other clubs that I'm signing with that I haven't even heard of. At the moment I have the Super 15 ahead of me and I just want to really enjoy that before I look at other options."

Kaino, who made his test debut in 2006, had a standout season last year for the World Cup winning All Blacks, playing in all but 30 seconds of New Zealand's seven matches in the tournament.

The 28-year-old then capped off the year, which also including a wedding and the birth of his first son, by beating out captain Richie McCaw and second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu to win the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year at the Steinlager Rugby Awards in December.


Brad Thorn, Mils Muliaina and Stephen Donald all took on overseas contracts after the World Cup while Dan Carter and Richie McCaw had sabbatical clauses written into their new contracts signed last year which potentially could be an option for the Blues loosie.

Despite the last year's accolades Kaino still thinks he can improve on last year's performance.

"I'm still looking back at what happened in 2011 and that was a huge year. Looking forward to this season it's going to be tough to replicate it. That's the whole part of sport, challenge yourself to try and get better and I think that's the goal this year.

"People put a lot of focus on individual performances and I think as a collective our whole All Blacks squad and the Blues squad played well last year and that just allowed me to play my game. If both teams do the same this year, we'll get better performances as individuals."

Kaino was so eager to get back on the field that he forgo a suggested break offered to All Blacks after the World Cup and turned up to the Blues first training session.

He returns to the rugby field when the Blues take on the hurricanes in their opening pre-season clash in Whangarei tomorrow.

Just as i was getting tired of the Bowe situation!

Mr Kaino has posted on twitter his answer to the question 'are you coming to Northern Ireland to visit Ferris or Afoa anytime soon?' with a simple 'nope'. Seems that puts that nice dream to bed then!

He mightn't be going for a vist, more of a permanent stay.....

This Kaino rumour doesn't really bother me (if we retain Wannenburg for another year instead). It's Mr. Tommy Bowe I want to see return...

He also said he was focusing on this season first, so when people ask if he is visiting soon he is obviously going to say no. I don't think that means anything.

Kaino will be talking to DH at some stage - he is almost certaintly talking to other teams as well.

We wil ljust have to wait and see.

As Notch said not the priority - the new coaching set up is

Notch wrote:This Kaino rumour doesn't really bother me (if we retain Wannenburg for another year instead). It's Mr. Tommy Bowe I want to see return...

+ 1

roddersm wrote:

Notch wrote:This Kaino rumour doesn't really bother me (if we retain Wannenburg for another year instead). It's Mr. Tommy Bowe I want to see return...

+ 1

After his performance yesterday I'm not so sure. Didn't look comfortable under the high ball and missed a couple of tackles.

Still he will provide decent back-up to Trimble and Gilroy

Whilst I know you are being tongue in cheek rava I think we need to be certain that Gilroy sees as much game time if not more than Bowe/Trimble if indeed we get him.

Kaino would be a great signing but Henry is vitally important to our back row now. He does so much dog work in slowing down ball.

It seems, I only say seems, Tommy has definitely choosen Ulster and its now down to money and how much of a wage cut he will have to take.

I believe the BBC are calling it. It would be great all round if it was sorted.

Yep. Would be good for his game. He's not in his best form but he still has plenty left in the tank!

I have to laugh, I've been lurking on munsterfans and there are so many people with 'inside info' (ahem) that he's definitely going there. I can't believe the BS merchants when a rumour like this goes around!

Of course, maybe he will yet go to Munster. Though Ulster seems more likely

The Munster boards are full of uninformed idiots - not unlike the Ulster supporters board to be honest.

As some here know I was told 3/4 weeks a go Tommy was almost certain to sign for Ulster but was told to keep quiet.

The Ulster dressing are convinced he will be in White next year.

Rava wrote:

roddersm wrote:

Notch wrote:This Kaino rumour doesn't really bother me (if we retain Wannenburg for another year instead). It's Mr. Tommy Bowe I want to see return...

+ 1

After his performance yesterday I'm not so sure. Didn't look comfortable under the high ball and missed a couple of tackles.

Still he will provide decent back-up to Trimble and Gilroy

Form is temporary but class is permanent Rava .....young Gilroy can learn a lot from Bowe.....maybe not catching the ball or tackling though.....

The link on the BBC web. I don't think they would be putting this out if there was any doubt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16924378

Well done Geoff for keeping us up to date with this but do not rest on your laurels mate. Get back in there and let us know what is happening with Kaino