According to the Leinster site Dan Leavy is Leinsters answer to Stephen Ferris. The two byrne brothers are also meant to be something special don't know the others.

Edit: A couple of the guys on the Leinster site named a few guys who are sub-academy and Sean O'Brien hasn't been mentioned. Now this could mean nothing or it could mean he's heading for us. Anyone on the Leinster site who could ask?

rossie wrote: Leinster have announced there year 1 acadamy recruits for 2012/13. They are as follows-
1. Ed Byrne( LH Prop) - Clongowes / Co Carlow
2. Brian Byrne( Hooker) - Clongowes / Co Carlow
3. Gavin Thornbury( 2nd row - Blackrock College
4. Tadgh Beirne(2nd row) - Clongowes / Lansdowne
5. Dan Leavy( Flanker) - St Michaels
6. Josh Van Der Flier(no.7) - Wesley / UCD
7. Jack Conan (no. 8 ) St Gerards / Old Belvedere
8. Cathal Marsh(outhalf) - St Michaels/ Trinity

It doesnt list what school they are recruited from but i dont think any of the roscrea names are there so it leaves connachts position clearer recruitment wise.

Leinster have announced there year 1 acadamy recruits for 2012/13. They are as follows-
1. Ed Byrne( LH Prop).
2. Brian Byrne( Hooker).
3. Gavin Thornbury( 2nd row).
4. Tadgh Beirne(2nd row).
5. Dan Leavy( Flanker).
6. Josh Van Der Flier(no.7) what a name for an openside!
7. Jack Conan (no. 8 ).
8. Cathal Marsh(outhalf).

It doesnt list what school they are recruited from but i dont think any of the roscrea names are there so it leaves connachts position clearer recruitment wise.

connachtexile wrote: Sean O'Brien is definitely on the Leinster Rugby Radar. He's been mentioned a few times and there keeping an eye on him. If he goes to Leinster or not is another thing. O'Dywer looks pretty dam good.

Playing for Leinster wouldn't be a bad thing either at u-18 and u-19, because they usually always return to Connacht and play at a much higher standard than they would with Connacht. O'Halloran, Finn and Moylett are perfect examples.

Sean O'Brien is definitely on the Leinster Rugby Radar. He's been mentioned a few times and there keeping an eye on him. If he goes to Leinster or not is another thing. O'Dywer looks pretty dam good.

sea_point wrote:

_nobody_ wrote: Sean O'Brien In CC is a galway man, Galwegians. Only went down there in the last year or two.

As the school is in Leinster I believe that they have first Refusal on players. If Leinster dont want them and they play their club rugby in Connacht they are free to play with them. I heard this from a friend.

I think it is a good idea for Connacht to tap the potential there. It has boys playing to a higher level then connacht school (Sorry if offensive) and training more as they are together 24/7

Correct O'Brien played for Calsanctius Oranmore up to this year. www.ulsterrugby.com/news/9633.php

I'd imagine that a player has some discretion as to which province they want to respresent especialy at a boarding school outside their native province, I suspect they'd have to make a formal statemtnt though. But yes Leinster do have first dibs and rightly so of players participating in their provincial competition.

You can see the logic of Connacht lads going to Roscrea, near enough to home and not as big a move mentally as say heading up to one of the bigger Dublin schools. Playing in Leinster also helps in terms of getting into Ireland teams as well...

He spent one/two years in Roscrea before returning in 6th year.

Leinster have no choice on players from what I believe,it all comes down to choice and some Connacht lads have seized that opportunity and rightly so.

_nobody_ wrote: Sean O'Brien In CC is a galway man, Galwegians. Only went down there in the last year or two.

As the school is in Leinster I believe that they have first Refusal on players. If Leinster dont want them and they play their club rugby in Connacht they are free to play with them. I heard this from a friend.

I think it is a good idea for Connacht to tap the potential there. It has boys playing to a higher level then connacht school (Sorry if offensive) and training more as they are together 24/7

Correct O'Brien played for Calsanctius Oranmore up to this year. www.ulsterrugby.com/news/9633.php

I'd imagine that a player has some discretion as to which province they want to respresent especialy at a boarding school outside their native province, I suspect they'd have to make a formal statemtnt though. But yes Leinster do have first dibs and rightly so of players participating in their provincial competition.

You can see the logic of Connacht lads going to Roscrea, near enough to home and not as big a move mentally as say heading up to one of the bigger Dublin schools. Playing in Leinster also helps in terms of getting into Ireland teams as well...

Sean O'Brien In CC is a galway man, Galwegians. Only went down there in the last year or two.

As the school is in Leinster I believe that they have first Refusal on players. If Leinster dont want them and they play their club rugby in Connacht they are free to play with them. I heard this from a friend.

I think it is a good idea for Connacht to tap the potential there. It has boys playing to a higher level then connacht school (Sorry if offensive) and training more as they are together 24/7

Fully agree with Phil, Philip O'Dwyer is superb wiley footballer, was magnificent this year in CCR, really intelligent and confident. Should make the academy if he wants it.
BTW CCR have two 5th years on Ireland U18 this year, one to watch is another Sean O'Brien, not a tank, but another big prospect. Leinster lad though.

rossie wrote: whats the deal with CC Roscrea. They are a Munster school playing their Rugby and sport in Leinster? Whats their connection to Connacht Rugby/acadamy. I notice they wear the Rugbytech brand as well?

The border between Offaly and Tipp run through the grounds, so they are a Leinster school too. They've played it in the Leinster senior cup for over a hundred years. There's only 200 in the school but the largest percentage come from Connacht surprisingly. It's not a connection but there is a bond there with plenty of Connacht guys going there and Connacht coaches have been down there for strength and conditioning training. The team that managed to get to the Leinster Cup final last year had 9 of it's 15 from Connacht.

whats the deal with CC Roscrea. They are a Munster school playing their Rugby and sport in Leinster? Whats their connection to Connacht Rugby/acadamy. I notice they wear the Rugbytech brand as well?

rossie wrote: with the squad practically finalised for next season with the possible exception of maguire leaving and a LH coming in i suppose the only thing left to speculate on is the 1st year entrants to the acadamy.
last years class did very well indeed, particularly Kearney and also Heffernan making their Pro12 debuts so this years intake have a lot to live up to but also an attractive opportunity.

Anyone know the contenders for this next seasons class? Marist are senior cup holders so are there any stars on this team? Theres a centre called Henson i think whos already well known and i think Jack cartys brother was at 10 for them.
What about the other schools?

Philip O'Dwyer from Cistercian College Roscrea. Right up there with the Kearney brothers and Conway from my school watchings over the years in Leinster. Incredibly smart fullback. Why he didnt play Ireland is beyond me.

Watch from 1:00 onwards for a great try by Shane Layden at center, then the next try is O'Dwyer which is very impressive play by him and the wing. These two videos are from when he was in 5th year.



The next one is the same game where he makes a miraculous tackle and hold up for a certain try that was about to be scored. You won't even see him coming it's that impressive

with the squad practically finalised for next season with the possible exception of maguire leaving and a LH coming in i suppose the only thing left to speculate on is the 1st year entrants to the acadamy.
last years class did very well indeed, particularly Kearney and also Heffernan making their Pro12 debuts so this years intake have a lot to live up to but also an attractive opportunity.

Anyone know the contenders for this next seasons class? Marist are senior cup holders so are there any stars on this team? Theres a centre called Henson i think whos already well known and i think Jack cartys brother was at 10 for them.
What about the other schools?

Probably but I believe in giving him (and every other academy player) every opportunity before I'd dismiss him.

connachtexile wrote: When that happened to Eammonn Sheridan last year for Leinster they got him to repeat 3rd year in the academy. I don't see why we couldn't get Connelly to do the same. He'll be fit and with the study over he can give it his all with no academic distractions.

He's not good enough to make it at pro level

When that happened to Eammonn Sheridan last year for Leinster they got him to repeat 3rd year in the academy. I don't see why we couldn't get Connelly to do the same. He'll be fit and with the study over he can give it his all with no academic distractions.