The UAFC

I notice the other 3 provinces have released their Academy lists for next season, has anybody heard anything about who is in or out of the Ulster Academy next season? I know players who impress in the Under 20 Inter pro's have a chance to be added in once the Inter pro's are over.

Final list is never settled/released until after interpros.

Boys just out of school go into sub academy for their first year.

UR didn't have the 12/13 academy listed on their website until well into the season.

I think they need someone to run the Academy this year first!

Assume the following are involved
Kyle McCall Prop
Chris Taylor Prop
Jake Caulfield Prop
Alan O'Connor Lock
James Simpson Lock
John Donnan Lock
Conor Joyce Blindside Flanker
Chris Farrell Centre
Rory Scholes Wing/Fullback
Peter Nelson Fullback

Other guys possibly involved:
Ross Adair Wing
Ben Alexander Backrow
Russell Blair Lock
John Andrew Hooker
John Creighton Scrumhalf

Bayern wrote:Assume the following are involved
Kyle McCall Prop
Chris Taylor Prop
Jake Caulfield Prop
Alan O'Connor Lock
James Simpson Lock
John Donnan Lock
Conor Joyce Blindside Flanker
Chris Farrell Centre
Rory Scholes Wing/Fullback
Peter Nelson Fullback

Other guys possibly involved:
Ross Adair Wing
Ben Alexander Backrow
Russell Blair Lock
John Andrew Hooker
John Creighton Scrumhalf

How many of them ones are from the big Belfast schools?

Not every player approached to come in to the Academy accepts due to the fact they wish to attend University possibly in England hence Belfast pupils may not be as numerous as one would expect.

Rumour from Munster fans that Shanahan (scrum half) is Ulster academy bound for next season.

Could be rubbish though I duno

rumncoke wrote:Not every player approached to come in to the Academy accepts due to the fact they wish to attend University possibly in England hence Belfast pupils may not be as numerous as one would expect.

When was the last time a Belfast youngster turned down an academy place and made it as a professional rugby plauer?

Probably Neil McCombe and he's hitting 30.

Al your point being ?

My point is not every schoolboy wants to a professional rugby player even if he is reasonably good because the truth is and should be recognised of those who start in the Academy half won't make the grade.

Of the Irish U20 team at least 2/3 wont make it

As a careers master at a Grammar school would you recommend professional rugby as an appropriate career choice ?

Theres a good youngster from Bristol who I believe was part of their academy attending UUJ this year and already signed for Quins and trying to get involved with the academy. Plays all across the back row

rumncoke wrote:Al your point being ?

My point is not every schoolboy wants to a professional rugby player even if he is reasonably good because the truth is and should be recognised of those who start in the Academy half won't make the grade.

Of the Irish U20 team at least 2/3 wont make it

As a careers master at a Grammar school would you recommend professional rugby as an appropriate career choice ?

Well a career master might advise attending a university here in conjunction with joining the academy. Probably beats going to Dundee in too many ways to mention

What's this guy John Andrew like?

Russ wrote:

Bayern wrote:Assume the following are involved
Kyle McCall Prop - Ex Wallace High , Lisburn
Chris Taylor Prop - Ex Dromore High and Wallace High Lisburn
Jake Caulfield Prop - Educated in England
Alan O'Connor Lock- Educated in ROI
James Simpson Lock - Ex Ballynahinch High - came thru' the Clubs system
John Donnan Lock - Ex Down High School
Conor Joyce Blindside Flanker - Educated in England
Chris Farrell Centre - Ex Fivemiletown High School and poached for a year at Campbell - was on the radar via the Clubs system
Rory Scholes Wing/Fullback - Ex Campbell College Belfast
Peter Nelson Fullback Ex Dungannon Royal
Other guys possibly involved:
Ross Adair Wing - Ex Sullivan I think
Ben Alexander Backrow - Ex Belfast Inst
Russell Blair Lock - possibly came thru the Clubs system
John Andrew Hooker - Ex Ballymena Academy
John Creighton Scrumhalf -Ex Belfast Royal Academy

How many of them ones are from the big Belfast schools?

it would be my understanding that the above NI born players attended these schools and therefore ''the ''Big Belfast Schools'' are not heavily represented at all.

rumncoke wrote:Not every player approached to come in to the Academy accepts due to the fact they wish to attend University possibly in England hence Belfast pupils may not be as numerous as one would expect.

Rumcoke - I'm not often in agreement with Big Al but I do find the ''logic'' of your post a bit puzzling. Firstly I hope you are not suggesting that it is only ‘‘good rugby playing pupils from Belfast '' who would have the academic ability and ambition to study in GB. Indeed the academic standards in many Provincial Grammar Schools often exceeds Belfast Schools by the proverbial ‘’country mile’’.
Secondly, I only know of 2 players in recent years ( there may be more ) that have turned down places in the Academy as they preferred to concentrate on their studies. These 2 players were indeed from 2 Belfast schools but they actually elected to study in Northern Ireland.
I also know of other players who hvae changed their university preferences from GB to study at home when they were offered an Academy Contract