The UAFC

Franco Smith, current Head of High Performance at Italian Rugby Federation and former coach of Benetton, Cheetahs and Italy is the new Glasgow coach.

Connacht Rugby can announce the club have signed Scottish hooker Grant Stewart on a short term, six-month contract.

Stewart arrives at The Sportsground to provide further injury cover and depth for the #2 jersey.

The 27-year old spent 5 years at Glasgow Warriors, scoring 9 tries across 48 appearances. Having represented Scotland at underage level, he also went on to make his senior international debut against France in 2019.

Commenting on his signing, Andy Friend says:

“We have three quality hookers in the squad in Dave Heffernan, Shane Delahunt and Dylan Tierney-Martin. However with Dave now a regular Ireland squad member and Shane unfortunately absent through injury for a little while longer, we’re now a little light in the position. So I’m very pleased we have been able to sign a player of Grant’s calibre and we have begun to integrate him into the squad this week, well in time for the start of the new season.”

Looks like Munster will be playing South Africa midweek side during the November test window on Thu 10th Nov. Will be in either Thomond Park / Cork GAA ground.

Neill_M wrote: ↑Tue Aug 23, 2022 4:27 pm Looks like Munster will be playing South Africa midweek side during the November test window on Thu 10th Nov. Will be in either Thomond Park / Cork GAA ground.

Great for Munster but a shame Ireland didn't opt to field a team versus SA midweek similar to the side that played NZ Maori and build on depth.

UlsterNo9 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 23, 2022 7:41 pm

Neill_M wrote: ↑Tue Aug 23, 2022 4:27 pm Looks like Munster will be playing South Africa midweek side during the November test window on Thu 10th Nov. Will be in either Thomond Park / Cork GAA ground.

Great for Munster but a shame Ireland didn't opt to field a team versus SA midweek similar to the side that played NZ Maori and build on depth.

Agrred. I wonder what the logic was.

More funding for Munster to pay their debts. It has never been a level playing field. Ulster and Connacht always get the hind teat.

It has been a while since we got something like this at Ravenhill

Interesting statistic on Babbling Brook that since the game went professional that this will be Munster's seventh game against a touring side. Connacht have had nine, Leinster two and Ulster four, during that time.

Leinster have two or three games against touring sides this November.

Neill_M wrote: ↑Tue Aug 23, 2022 4:27 pm Looks like Munster will be playing South Africa midweek side during the November test window on Thu 10th Nov. Will be in either Thomond Park / Cork GAA ground.

Venue confirmed as Cork for this game.

Former Ulster academy out-half Bruce Houston, who's been playing semi-pro rugby for Heriot's in the Super 6 and is Scottish-qualified, has joined Edinburgh.

https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... -transfers

URC ins and outs.

It’s notable, on the face of it, that Leinster and Munster shipped out 20 between them and only brought in two each.

Zebre have done a Nottingham Forest.

justinr73 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 06, 2022 3:13 pm https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... -transfers

It’s notable, on the face of it, that Leinster and Munster shipped out 20 between them and only brought in two each.

Does this mean that both have good youngsters coming through? We're not doing badly in that department ourselves.

Leinster's relaively small surplus going to Connacht now, rather than Ulster. None coming to us at all this year. How do we interpret the guys coming to us from Munster?

justinr73 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 06, 2022 3:13 pm https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news ... -transfers

URC ins and outs.

It’s notable, on the face of it, that Leinster and Munster shipped out 20 between them and only brought in two each.

Zebre have done a Nottingham Forest.

Players Out for Leinster isn't fully up-to-date. Conor O'Brien and Dan Leavy have also both retired. So it's 10 out, 2 new signings in and 7 promoted from the Academy, with 7 new players entering the Academy.

According to the42 they are considering playing the Leinster v Munster interpro in the USA. All with a view to driving down Munster's stadium debt.
How long are the other Provinces supposed to sit back and watch the IRFU putting all their resources into one Province? First games against touring sides and now playing in USA to raise funds. Will they be selling raffle tickets to raise money for the Province next?