Carty in the USA wrote: Ulsters backline really has been decimated lately when you factor in PJ and Olding

Pienaar, Marshall, Jackson, Olding, Arnold, Payne, Bowe, Trimble, Piutau all gone over the past year or so. Plus Nelson has been wrecked by injury and McPhillips is rumoured to be on the way out too.

Ulsters backline really has been decimated lately when you factor in PJ and Olding

Three of the four provinces are now losing their greatest players in my eyes, with Trimble, Isa, and Mul all gone, Zebo, Bowe, Strauss, Browne, Heaslip, Paul Marshall and more all leaving too, some serious experience and talent leaving the provinces at the end of this year.

Andrew Trimble retires. Wish him well, long career, always gave his all for club and country.

otherwise in the front row, Strauss is retired, Best will be 37 Cronin 33 Sherry 31
So it's probably short to be included before Japan, but Delahunt is definitely in contention for RWC 2023 with this kind of game

Carey held very very well against Healy too

Bucks and Bealham continue to dominate props picked ahead of them for Ireland in the scrum...

Bets they'll still be snubbed in the summer?

Looks like this one might be right on the money.

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/comment-c...suffer-36833843.html

Reading this, you could be forgiven for thinking there are only three provinces in Ireland. Forget the fact Connacht were Pro12 champions 2 years ago and also suffered subsequently from the same rule when refused permission to keep AJ McGinty and only being allowed to offer a maximum one year contract extension to Aly Muldowney.

If The Irish Independent are reporting that The Sunday Times are reporting it, it must be at least 4% true.

No chance the IRFU would go into Leinster and demand a few players would come down to us

Leo Cullen has been told by by Joe Schmidt that he must send either Ross Byrne or Joey Carbery to Ulster - report

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/leo-culle...report-36831351.html

It's annoying the way they don't cover these things more on the main website. I hardly ever think to check the community section.
community.connachtrugby.ie/11-connacht-p...nderage-irish-squad/

The u19 match has been moved to limerick, in case anyone was planning on going.

Dylan Prendergast is sub out half for the Irish schoolboys game against France. He plays with Westport and has lined out for Connacht underage a number of times.

Connacht players in Ireland underage squads this year

u20

Sean Masterson - Back row - Corinthians - Already in the academy

u19

Dylan Tierney - Hooker - Corinthians - Sub-academy, has already played for the Eagles, converting from backrow I think
Hugh Lane - Back 3 - Galwegians - Sub-academy, has played AIL

u18 clubs and schools

Liam Winnett - Prop - Buccaneers RFC/Marist College
Darragh Murray - Lock - Buccaneers RFC/Coláiste Chíaráin
Saul O’Carroll - Centre - Buccaneers RFC/Garbally College
Shane Jennings - Back 3 - Ballinasloe RFC/ Garbally College - was excellent in the schools final I thought

Notable absentees

Rory Gaffney (u20) - Scrum half - Galwegians - Ciaran's brother, featured in u20 training camps earlier in the year, not sure if he's still with the sub academy
Corey Reid (u20) - Wing/Centre - Buccaneers - Ireland u19, injured this year AFAIK, playing AIL 1A
Calum Torpey (u19) - Hooker - Galwegians - Ireland u18 clubs and schools last year, moved to Galwegians and is appearing in the AIL and for Connacht Eagles
Cian Huxford (u19) - Back row - Corinthians - Ireland u18 clubs and schools last year, has played for Connacht Eagles
Niall Murray - Lock- Buccaneers - Only Conancht man to make u18 schools team last two years, Connacht u18 player of the year last year

AFAIK anyone who was part of a match day 23 gets a medal, whether they play or not, but only the 23 on final match are presented on the pitch, the others get them at a private event. No medal for Ultan then, unless he gets called up on Sat.

connachta wrote: +So Bundee (and Kieran + Roux) have an international trophee

Great news for the lads.
Nice to see some of our boys getting international honours

How do you qualify for a medal?
Ultan was the 24th man for the French game.