The UAFC

I’m actually going to the euro finals next week, looking forward to it, great stadium too. Two quality clubs, great squads. That said genuinely not sure I can take the “off the ball” Leinster smugness…..absolute whallopers, the lot of them. Hopefully we’ll give a good account of ourselves Saturday, ...

Deegan will be the new Ruddock, nursing the pups in low level away URC games. Waste, still it’s his career. I wouldn’t have Ruddock anyway. Hungry young enthusiastic players is what we want. Maybe just a whole squad reset, which is what this is starting to feel like, is what we need. Good luck to Wi...

Not fussed re Ewers - there is enough young BR pups ready to get the exposure. The good news is with a coach like Murphy who’s predisposed with young players, playing them isn’t perceived a risk as much, so we should be seeing a young side, and an increase in “Ulster homegrown” of it!! I’m genuinely...

Jackman seemed fairly confident on the 42 pod today that Ewers is off. Munster have apparently offered a large chunk of (their incoming Frisch) cash on a NIQ back three player. Murray Kinsella (correctly) said we were pretty tom kite against Scarlets but felt we should be ensuring that Addison is s...

Jared Payne not in the leaving list at Scarlets, so another "rumour" / idea put to bed. I suspect RM will be stuck with the coaching tkt til end of contracts next season because of finances. Bell will be a goner!! JP may well be out of contract by that point, and the obvious and best repl...

HB ain’t coming to UR, just can’t see it. The IRFU have zero reasons to block an NIQ 10 from UR. DH is going to have to ruffle some feathers. As an aside - let’s just remember in this shitshow it’s forced our hand to expose McCann Wilson Sheridan and now Izzy. I see JP is now back focusing on d at s...

Some thoughts no real order: Firstly well done, I didn’t think they’d win. Cooney was excellent, bit of a blast from the past, showed confidence and fully took control. Defo a player who is better when clear no1, I don’t think he likes/benefits from competition at all. Wilson another good game, can’...

It’d be interesting to see what the dynamic would be between them if they worked together especially as it’d mean Payne lost out on the top gig. Pretty sure one of the reasons payne left was he wanted to move from d to attack coach. I’d happily see them work together but egos would have to be parked...

Looking forward to seeing crouthers at 7, more time at 8 for McCann. Can Sheridan back it up in the row 2 weeks on the trot? More fast learning for Wilson. Can Stewart get his basics right? Will Izzy back up last weeks cameo? The lesser spotted young ulster forward, ain’t so lesser spotted these day...

Forwards or head coach? Hmm…not for me though if head coach. A proven track record with young player development a must. The knowledge of young ire players a bonus. I wouldn’t have an issue re rest of coaching dept frankly, no one has covered themselves in glory. Contract buy outs could be an issue,...

I think our goose is cooked, and we won’t qualify for Champ Cup. That said I’m bizarrely excited for next yr, and pre season. I think we’ll try to play a far more attractive brand of rugby, and there’ll be opportunities for young pups if they show promise. For me these few games are a free hit out, ...

We approached cruden but he turned it down - see rumour thread.

I’ll happily say it. If we are effectively going to be playing a side heavily filled with pups, so be it. It’ll likely be the closest thing to a home grown UR side for yrs. Non CC qualified, ok….a yr in the challenge cup with pups might not be a bad thing for their development. I don’t know re parti...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7p7qKt6ATyk&pp=ygUMdWxzdGVyIHJ1Z2J5 18:50 in. Appears we did approach Cruden. Between this and a non commital answer from the new CEO in the interview with Trimble. I take 3 things from them: 1 - we are sniffing around for a 10 for next season 2 - painfully obvious ...

https://www.the42.ie/irfu-national-contracts-6359757-Apr2024/ You have to scroll it down slowly to read the article but it can be done. Explains the funding system pretty well. Ultimately Leinster have weaponised their natural advantages brilliantly. A couple of things are very clear: The privately...