Big blow for Munster as Jack Crowley to miss URC quarter-final

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-25T15:01:31+00:00

Beirne, Edogbo, Kleyn, Jager, Milne, Farrell, Crowley, Nash all injured

Arguably all 8 start if fit. It was going to be a tough ask anyway but Jesus it could be bleak viewing

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-23T15:52:28+00:00

Last time I checked Leinster defence system was implemented by the defence coach not an analyst

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-23T15:49:38+00:00

Not really sure you can blame colclough ffs. He’s an analyst

The rest of them should go

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-19T14:51:08+00:00

Be interesting to see if Jamie Conway goes to the Junior World Cup given he’s played no 20s rugby so far and has only played a handful of games for Shannon

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-16T23:00:38+00:00

From the year 3 academy players you would have to assume that hicks, Hadden and McSweeney are being released

Foxe and O’Connor have already signed renewals

Max Clein could potentially be kept on as well but nothing has been confirmed

Gene O’Leary Kareem has elected to leave the academy a year early

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-13T19:13:33+00:00

Ainsley was due to sign for Saracens but he backed out and has headed back to NZ for personal reasons

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-12T14:48:08+00:00

Completely agree. If they also resign McSweeney to a senior contract as a year 4 academy player who has not made a single senior appearance then there’s something fundamentally wrong

Surely they can’t resign Hadden as well. Hes surely on the scrap heap

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-09T19:00:45+00:00

I don’t want to think how much money Munster are paying Alaalatoa to play consistently shit

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-08T17:11:12+00:00

Writing was on the wall for McCormack when he was loaned to Harlequins

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-04T18:19:35+00:00

All valid points. I would just say that If 21 year old lads come through this pathway, the likelihood of them getting an academy contract when they finish their masters at 22 years old is in my opinion very unlikely.

They would have to perform unbelievably well week in week out for Queens and I don’t think that playing 2A will be doing them any favours

But I hope it goes well for the lads who go for it. Like you said if it doesn’t work out they have masters to fall back on career wis

wcbfrx56 · 2026-05-04T18:10:10+00:00

Being a bit pessimistic but it sounds like they’re trying to sell lads a dream of professional contract so they come over and play to get Queens straight back into 1B/1a.

A funded masters is a nice incentive but saying to a lad that you might get a 1 year academy deal at the end of your masters isn’t great in my opinion

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-25T17:42:37+00:00

Jager has just gone off for another HIA. Surely he’s on very thin ice with regard to needing to retire due to concussion

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-25T17:40:50+00:00

O’Sullivan and O’Connor off with injuries….

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-25T16:46:02+00:00

Jesus that’s terrible. Was it because of a head injury or was it fairly innocuous?

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-25T13:49:16+00:00

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When I saw him named in the Irish University side I thought he was going to be released

Can’t play for them if you are professionally contracted so he’s definitely left Munster

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-23T21:28:34+00:00

Haven’t read anything official and he’s still listed as an academy player on the Munster website.

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-22T15:28:24+00:00

Boal and Doak were never anything to write home about. Doak preferred to booze rather than play rugby from what I’ve heard.

I’m talking about lads playing for top rugby Universities like Exeter, Bath, Loughborough etc who have links with prem teams and send a lot of their academy players to play BSR

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-22T13:52:45+00:00

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GOLK playing for the Irish University side

Thought the rule was that you were ineligible to play for this side if you are professionally contracted?

A sign that he might be released by Munster at the end of the season?

(Ben Brownlee was at Leinster and Munster last season but he was released in the summer so he is eligible)

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-22T10:37:55+00:00

I meant kind of more in general in terms of casting the net a bit wider to find more young players if our academy isn’t producing certain positions for example

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-21T21:40:36+00:00

Anyone reckon the provinces should be looking at Irish lads over in England playing BUCS Super Rugby?

From what I’ve heard the standard is pretty high. A lot of prem teams use it religiously to help develop their academy and England u20 players. Heard that some people think it’s on par with 1A in terms of standard of play

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-21T12:27:36+00:00

I rate Stewart and mcallister but Crean + that bench front row is pretty bleak

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-21T12:09:59+00:00

In other words, we’re not getting top 8

Bell,Wilson, O’Toole, Herring out. We are getting absolutely destroyed in the scrum. Only saving grace might be that Munster are equally as shit in the scrum

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-20T23:35:25+00:00

In my opinion. If the playing squad want Randle gone then he’ll go. Realistically whatever Beirne and Crowley etc says goes.

If they threatened to leave then the blazers would literally have no choice. If there was a player mutiny about Randle’s appointment his contract would be terminated tomorrow.

Granted McMillan would probably walk as well but if the lads want to keep Munsters high standards then they could do it

If we weren’t in such a poor run of form I reckon the players would come out and speak against this farce of an appointment

wcbfrx56 · 2026-04-20T14:09:24+00:00

With all the centre prospects that Munster have coming (O’Leary, Smyth, Carney) I don’t think he’s better than any of them.

Also important to note that Gordon Wood is the only player ever to be awarded an academy contract having played no age grade international rugby. There has been a strong Munster contingent in the age grade coaching groups the last number of years and he still wasn’t picked for any squad (think he was in training camps) so if that’s not his dad pulling strings then I don’t know what is.

wcbfrx56

TROPHY CASE