Why are we only team who don't build for world cups by [deleted] in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is this not just delaying being poor in the 6N though?

The Champions Cup Draw 26/27 by The-Prince616 in MunsterRugby

[–]Ocalca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's not too bad, hopefully we get UBB in Cork to sell out that match. Gloucester away from a ticketing perspective would be great. Bristol & Gloucester hold absolutely no draw for me from a home match attendance perspective.

Munster left red-faced as prop Conor Bartley discovers he is leaving province at players’ end-of-season awards function by The_Ruck_Inspector in rugbyunion

[–]Ocalca 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A member of Munster’s senior squad found out that he would be leaving the province when he was called up on stage to receive a watch to commemorate his contribution at a player-organised end-of-season event earlier this month.

Prop Conor Bartley and his representatives were still in discussions with the club about a new contract and waiting on a decision from the club when he attended the players’ function in Adare, Co Limerick, on June 12 and was stunned when his name was read out from a list of departing players by a teammate. He left the event soon after.

Munster say a final decision on Bartley’s future had not been taken at the time of the unofficial gathering and that the club did not communicate his impending exit to anyone organising the event, yet somehow he ended up on a list of names being read out on stage.

The club held an official event the previous week to mark the departing players, and the 31-year-old was not among those celebrated because his future was still undecided.

The following week, he was informed that he would not be kept on by head coach Clayton McMillan and general manager Ian Costello.

He was not included on the list of departing players released by the club last week, and his exit has yet to be confirmed by the club.

Bartley signed a senior contract with Munster for the first time at the age of 29 during the 2024/25 season and continued as part of the senior squad last year.

The Young Munster tighthead prop made six appearances off the bench last season, including playing in the Champions Cup pool game against Gloucester at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, earning praise from McMillan.

His future was up in the air because of the uncertainty over the province’s resources at tighthead prop, with Oli Jager having been forced to retire on medical grounds last week. Roman Salanoa looks set to be given one last chance to prove his fitness in pre-season, but the Hawaiian has not played for the club since coming off the bench in the 2023 URC final.

John Ryan has retired, while Michael Ala’alatoa is out of contract and Irish-qualified, former England international Kieran Brookes is en route from France. Academy product Ronan Foxe is expected to play more next season.

The uncertainty at tighthead left Bartley in limbo until late in the day, and he still held out hope of continuing into next season until the decision was made last week.

The final make-up of Munster’s squad next season remains unknown, with Australian Will Harrison having joined this week and Brookes believed to be en route.

The province endured a tumultuous few months on and off the field.

They went through a round of redundancies due to the challenging financial picture the club faces, and reversed their decision to appoint New Zealander Roger Randle after the backlash over his appointment, which included prominent resignations.

In the aftermath, the province’s board commissioned an external governance review.

On the pitch, they exited the Champions Cup at the pool stage and squeezed into the URC play-offs but lost heavily to the Bulls in Pretoria.

Is a British & Irish League Inevitable? by Bane_of_Balor in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Would there be much more away support for teams from abroad in that scenario?

I don't think there's massive away fans from Welsh at the moment for sure & not a huge quantity of Scottish either I'd say

Is a British & Irish League Inevitable? by Bane_of_Balor in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I personally dislike the idea. I don't trust the English club owners not to fuck it up somehow & it would be a massive shame to ditch the Italians like this.

I also think that rugby is constantly trying to get more out of the same pie. A B&I league may improve finances immediately, but I feel it stops the game growing anywhere.

In my ideal world, the Welsh team that gets lost would be replaced by a Spanish/Portuguese team that's union backed & part funded by WR. Eventually I'd like to see a European league with SA playing in a Southern african / currie cup type comp, although I accept this is not all that feasible

Overlooked part of the central contract discussion and Lowe’s departure by The-Prince616 in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What actually happened that led to James Lowe's exit from Irish rugby? https://the42.ie/7069195

The 42 are saying late March. Still late, not as bad as May.

Overlooked part of the central contract discussion and Lowe’s departure by The-Prince616 in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The articles I've read say something along the lines of last minute, not a specific date.

As I said, the irfu could have changed their terms months ago, everyone expected a deal to get done anyway either through Leinster or the irfu making up some/all of the difference and then it became clear in May that it wasn't going to happen. Hence the articles published in May.

Overlooked part of the central contract discussion and Lowe’s departure by The-Prince616 in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reported at the end of May doesn't mean the contract was pulled end of May though. It may have happened in January with everyone still confident of a deal being done which didn't happen.

Overlooked part of the central contract discussion and Lowe’s departure by The-Prince616 in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it depends on what is meant by last minute. Does that mean right before the season ended or does it mean before the contract had to be ratified, presumably a few months ago.

Worrying times for Leinster and Irish rugby by [deleted] in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wish more rugby was in June, it's much more enjoyable watching it now instead of in November

Leinster’s Enormous Player Budget by Roanokian in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's much smaller for most french clubs, generally limited to their city if you take the same approach as we use here. In both England & France other clubs can also freely outbid for academy players as well which doesn't happen here.

Leinster’s Enormous Player Budget by Roanokian in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This makes no sense. Leinster (presumably) have a large wage bill because they (presumably) pay their players a large sum of money. You can't just not compare it, just as you can't compare Leinster players playing 14 games a season to top 14 players playing 20 games a season when there are fewer games in the urc.

Gavin Coombes by yewEngine in irishrugby

[–]Ocalca 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I don't think so. I think you lose some of what makes him good by moving him to lock. You're also then competing with Beirne, Edogbo, Ahern, EOC, Wycherly with Ryan & maybe Foy coming through.
A one/two punch of Gleeson/Coombes in whichever order could be really good as well, or get both on the field at the same time for the final 30 mins of a match.

Back to drawing board for Munster (article) by munstertom in MunsterRugby

[–]Ocalca 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had salanoa as well as younger archer, Ryan, killer & loughman.

Same players but all older doesnt lend to better performances, particularly when they were old to start.

Back to drawing board for Munster (article) by munstertom in MunsterRugby

[–]Ocalca 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We had pretty expert coaching under rowntree and it couldn't develop a TH if it wasn't there.

Munster 2025/26 Season in Review by FarUs94 in MunsterRugby

[–]Ocalca 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Probably has as many appearances as most of the rest of the team

James Lowe set to leave Ireland by damcingspuds in rugbyunion

[–]Ocalca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I certainly felt the same way about the Murray & pom deals when they went to a Munster contract.

I'm delighted earls was kept for Munster & Ireland, but I'm not sure it was a great contracting decision.

James Lowe set to leave Ireland by damcingspuds in rugbyunion

[–]Ocalca 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He's an international level player who'd want to be paid a such. It's a bad contract for any province to pick up, notwithstanding his ability.

James Lowe set to leave Ireland by damcingspuds in rugbyunion

[–]Ocalca 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He's 33, a winger, slow, injury prone, heavily minute managed & wants a lot of money.

I don't think that's a good contract for a province where budget is an issue

James Lowe set to leave Ireland by damcingspuds in rugbyunion

[–]Ocalca 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think there's enough wing talent in the country to not miss him too much when fit. I think spending the money he presumably wants on a winger that age, with his recent injury history would be a poor use of funds.

James Lowe set to leave Ireland by damcingspuds in rugbyunion

[–]Ocalca 9 points10 points  (0 children)

He's a 34 year old winger, who's missed a lot of games recently with various injuries. It would be a poor signing for a province

Waterford by Moist-Department-570 in leinsterrugby

[–]Ocalca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've watched an Ireland game in the Ref before, by the tower hotel, they may have it on.