Any word on the Academy?

[Big-al]

Scotland (u20) beat England last time (albeit a weakened English side), so must be decent enough.

[scrum5]

7 Ulster players starting with 2 more on the bench- Dunleavy getting a start at 6, Dalton is back in at Lock, Agnew continues at 7 and O'Toole starts at tighthead. Keane and Kernohan start on each wing with Curtis at 12, Stewart and Hume are on the bench.

Ireland U20 v Scotland U20, U20 Six Championship, Friday 9th March,Donnybrook Stadium. Kick-Off: 7.15pm

15. Michael Silvester (Dublin University FC/Leinster) (7)
14. Angus Kernohan (Ballymena RFC/Ulster) (3)
13. Tommy O'Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster) Captain (8)
12. Angus Curtis (Queen's University RFC/Ulster) (3)
11. Mark Keane (Queen's University RFC/Ulster) (2)
10. Harry Byrne (UCD RFC/Leinster) (3)
9. Hugh O'Sullivan (Clontarf FC/Leinster) (3)
1. James French (UCC RFC/Munster) (3)
2. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne FC/ Leinster) (10)
3. Tom O'Toole (Banbridge RFC/Ulster) (3)
4. Matthew Dalton (Malone RFC/Ulster) (1)
5. Jack Dunne (Dublin University FC/Leinster) (3)
6. Joe Dunleavy (Malone RFC/Ulster) (0)
7. Matthew Agnew (Ballymena RFC/Ulster) (2)
8. Jack O'Sullivan (UCC RFC/Munster) (3)

Replacements:
16. AN Other
17. Jordan Duggan (Naas RFC/Leinster) (7)
18. Jack Aungier (St. Mary's College RFC/Leinster) (3)
19. Charlie Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster) (2)
20. Ronan Foley (UCD RFC/Leinster) (2)
21. Jonny Stewart (Queen's University RFC/Ulster) (12)
22. Conor Dean (St.Mary's College RFC/Leinster) (7)
23. James Hume (Banbridge RFC/Ulster) (1)

Ulster's problem is not getting players into the underage set up, it is taking that talent and developing it for the senior squad, nevertheless it's a good showing all the same

[launish116]

Thought the Ulster lads got on well last nite.

Otoole - very mobile for a tight head, good carrying and hitting rucks/player in the tackle. I think scrummaging has been critaaised before they absolutely demolished the Scots at one stage.
Dalton - Athletic, mobile and involved in a lot of work. Scored a try running over players to try line. Has a bit of dog in him and seems to enjoy rush defence! Few handling errors/restart.
Dunleavy - thought he had quiet enough game, considering O’Sullivan (8) was unreal it’s harsh. Did the basic right and was good in defence and hit rucks hard. Also seem a good line out option.
Agnew - proper open side/ground hog won two notable turnovers. One basically saved Ireland conceding a try.
Curtis - looks a great find. Not scared of contact and very good at finding gaps threatening defences. Thought he looked very good.

Didn’t really see much of Stewart or Hume as subs. But all in all thought Ulster lads did well albeit against a Scotland side i’m Not sure how strong they are. Even enjoyed that game more than most of the main teams games all season, if them lads can push on the academy definitely looks to be turning a corner.

[Bayern]

Top underage prospects for the academy:

Callum Reid(LH Prop/under-19)
John McKee(Prop/under-18)
Claytan Milligan(Hooker/under-19)
Conor McMeniman(Lock/under-18)
Matthew Agnew(Openside/under-20)
Azur Allison(Backrow/under-19)
Jamie MacCartney(Backrow/under-19)
David McCann(Backrow/under-18)
Graham Curtis(Scrumhalf/under-19)
Bruce Houston(Outhalf/under-19)
Mark Keane(Wing/under-20)
Angus Kernohan(Outside Back/under-19)
Stewart Moore(Outside Back/under-19)
Aaron Sexton(Outside Back/under-18)

[Bayern]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F8ptmByxvo

Good video on academy.

Interview with Kieran Campbell on academy:

http://www.the42.ie/ulster-academy-kier ... 0-Mar2018/

[Kofi Annan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F8ptmByxvo

Good video on academy.

Interview with Kieran Campbell on academy:

http://www.the42.ie/ulster-academy-kier ... 0-Mar2018/

so we are okay then

[therealspratt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F8ptmByxvo

Good video on academy.

Interview with Kieran Campbell on academy:

http://www.the42.ie/ulster-academy-kier ... 0-Mar2018/

so we are okay then

Sort of alright, but could be better.

[Tighty]

interesting article on WRU's proposals for Regional Under 23 teams. More fixtures for Ulster A/ Academy post the demise of the B&I Cup ??

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... d-14404806

''Regional U23 teams are set to be introduced into Welsh rugby, along with a reduction in the size of the Principality Premiership.
The development sides are likely to be up and running at the Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Dragons from next season.
And the semi-pro Premiership is in line to be cut from 16 to 12 clubs from the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
These radical changes are set to come in following an exhaustive competitions review carried out by the Welsh Rugby Union.
That review process has seen the opinions of all the interested parties being sought and considered and now recommendations are to go before the WRU board later this month.
The fine detail surrounding the U23 teams is still being thrashed out, with more meetings scheduled for this week.
But the basic idea is to provide a level of professional rugby between the PRO14 and the Premiership for talented young regional players.
It may be that some over-age players would be allowed to feature in the teams to ensure sufficient numbers, possibly along with some youngsters from the semi-pro tier.
The plan is for the new regional-run sides to play around 10 games a season, made up of derbies, plus matches against Irish and/or Scottish outfits.
Ireland’s four provinces already operate A teams and they may well be looking for fixtures, with the British & Irish Cup being scrapped next season.
And, in Scotland, the plan is to set up six new semi-pro franchises from 2019 to bridge the gap between the club game and the two professional sides, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
So there is plenty of potential scope for securing opponents for the Welsh Regional U23 sides.
Their 10 projected fixtures are likely to be played in two blocks, one at the start of the campaign and one after the Six Nations, providing some degree of continuity for the teams.
International periods would be avoided because of the heavy demands on the regions player-wise during those times.
When they are not involved with the U23 sides, young players would potentially be available to the Premiership clubs.

That brings us on to the other key structural change. [Welsh Premiership is the same as AIL 1A/1B ]
At present, the Premiership contains 16 clubs, with this being the second of three years where the league is ring-fenced with no promotion or relegation.
But the semi-pro tier looks set to be reduced to 12 sides from the season after next.
It will remain at 16 clubs for next term, with straight home and away fixtures, but four teams will be relegated at the end of the campaign.
One suggestion is there would then be a play-off between the 12th placed club and the winners of the Championship, but that detail is yet to be finalised.
There had been some speculation that the £1.7m WRU funding for the Premiership might be cut or scrapped altogether as part of the changes.
But there’s nothing at present to suggest that will be the case.
It will be interesting to see whether BBC Wales now look to come on board to broadcast Premiership games having lost the rights for the PRO14 from next season.
The much maligned Regional Premiership Select teams which have operated for the last three years are being scrapped

Now it's the U23 sides which are seen as the right vehicle for enhancing the development of young players in a professional environment.
Exactly how the teams will be financed remains to be seen, amid ongoing discussions between the regions and the Union over the funding of the pro game in Wales.
It’s understood the full recommendations will go before the WRU board on March 23 and their approval will be required. However, it does seem that change is in the air.''

[Cockatrice]

Where Ulster not playing Munster tonight... don’t see any coverage of the score..

[Cockatrice]

Ulster won ......

https://mobile.twitter.com/UlsterRugby/ ... 04/video/1

[Dave]

Off topic

[Cockatrice]

Off topic

quite a few Academy players on show from what I can make out...

[Dave]

Off topic

quite a few Academy players on show from what I can make out...

There is a dedicated thread for this match.

Disgusting behaviour.

[therealspratt]

Now the Grand Slam is great and all, but it needs to be noted by all that the A Team scored a penalty try by way of a scrum against Munster. O'Hagan, McBurney, and Kane making up the front row. The tweet above shows video footage of the incident so you know this isn't being made up!

[Dave]

Yeah but Rodney is a big ball carrier and McCall played well against Clermont two years ago.