I think the AIL is doing quite well.
The big issue is trying to keep players in Limerick or Cork when jobs are in Dublin.
The recession definitely hit the Limerick clubs hard.
Yes I’ve ready plenty on the early days of the ail but the ail is only 8/9 years older than the European cup than many say destroyed the clubs.
I’m not sure that is true.
In Ireland we love new shiny things.
The Leinster private schools are dominating because nobody can compete with them money wise. 2 million a year is a premier league investment in underage rugby.
Shannon or cork con aren’t going to invest 5 percent of that.
It’s the same with every sport if you match the money with the numbers and expertise you will get results.
Look at the Limerick gaa academy on a smaller scale.
Money talks in pro sport. Sadly wales don’t have that
Money.
They didn’t blow it though Tim.
Leinster just had multiples of what Munster had and over time that told.
15 years ago we are in the fancy of professionalism. Youth academy’s were only becoming a thing.
Listen to the figures here.
If Munster, Ulster and Connacht can get one each on the Irish teams it is an achievement.
You don’t think the quality of players they had at the time underperformed?
And if you want to know what way the things are in the irfu they never released that James Gibson park was moved onto a central contact publicly because even they know it’s wrong at this stage.
I don’t think Munster should measure themselves vs Leinster.
They should be far ahead of Connacht though and prob Ulster.
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The fact that these schools still receive public funding while spending millions on their rugby teams is scandalous
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I don’t have the energy for that fight.
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I think we’ve only won 6 have we? 2009, 2014, 15’, 18’, 2023 and 24’.
Could be right. I thought Pom had six plus 09.
2023 was probably the first one where all the players through academies.
The current set-up under Kiely and Kinnerk which is borderline professional seems to be working just fine.
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They have enough to pay Gatty an obscene salary. They have blown whatever they had…owe 20m on the stadium vs the zero that IRfU owe
The funding is for the teachers not the rugby.
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Those men are volunteers.
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Cracker coming up here France and the Argies…
Contepomi is getting younger looking…
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France have some heap of youngsters named.
This is a massive French pack, I wonder if it’s over a 1,000 kilos.
