Six Nations Rugby 2018

[Sidney]

It’s not much of an option to attend St. Munchin’s or indeed any other non-fee paying rugby school in Limerick if you don’t come from Limerick or somewhere which is a commutable distance to Limerick.

Any chance you could break down that list of 100 players by school and count how many went to fee paying schools and how many didn’t?

Perhaps you could also tell me how many of those 100 played their rugby primarily in the club system between the ages of 12 and 18 as opposed to the schools system?

[GeoffreyBoycott]

@Sidney

It’s not much of an option to attend St. Munchin’s or indeed any other non-fee paying rugby school in Limerick if you don’t come from Limerick or somewhere which is a commutable distance to Limerick.

Any chance you could break down that list of 100 players by school and count how many went to fee paying schools and how many didn’t?

Perhaps you could also tell me how many of those 100 played their rugby primarily in the club system between the ages of 12 and 18 as opposed to the schools system?

There’s rugby players from non-fee paying schools the length and breath of the island thriving. In the pinnacle of rugby union last summer - a British Lions test series in New Zealand, there were only three Irish players who started all three tests. The common denominator? All three were products of non-fee paying schools. Conor Murray, St Munchin’s, Limerick. Sean O’Brien, Tullow Community School, Co. Carlow. Tadhg Furlong, Good Counsel College, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

[Sidney]

We know about the exceptions like O’Brien and Furlong. John Hayes was another one. Moss Keane was an exception back in the day. Trevor Brennan was an exception and was treated as one, so much so that he was lost to Irish rugby and went to France where they appreciated him. There will always be the odd exception.

We know that Limerick is an exception to the rest of Ireland in that it has a few non-fee paying rugby schools - that has already been specifically stated.

What I’m asking is, of those 100, how many went to non-fee paying schools and how many played their rugby primarily in the club system between the ages of 12 and 18 as opposed to the schools system?

[GeoffreyBoycott]

@Sidney

So if you’re a youngster from a less well off background who wants to play rugby and there is no non-fee paying rugby school near you, your chances of playing at a high level are not good.

@GeoffreyBoycott

Of the 100 most recently capped players for Ireland, the non fee paying St Munchins College is the school that has contributed the most players, seven in total - Conor Murray, Damien Varley, Denis Hurley, Donnacha Ryan, Keith Earls, Barry Murphy and Jerry Flannery.

If you are a youngster and you want to be capped for Ireland, your best chance would seem to be to attend the non-fee paying St Munchin’s.

@Sidney

It’s not much of an option to attend St. Munchin’s or indeed any other non-fee paying rugby school in Limerick if you don’t come from Limerick or somewhere which is a commutable distance to Limerick.

Any chance you could break down that list of 100 players by school and count how many went to fee paying schools and how many didn’t?

Perhaps you could also tell me how many of those 100 played their rugby primarily in the club system between the ages of 12 and 18 as opposed to the schools system?

@GeoffreyBoycott

There’s rugby players from non-fee paying schools the length and breath of the island thriving. In the pinnacle of rugby union last summer - a British Lions test series in New Zealand, there were only three Irish players who started all three tests. The common denominator? All three were products of non-fee paying schools. Conor Murray, St Munchin’s, Limerick. Sean O’Brien, Tullow Community School, Co. Carlow. Tadhg Furlong, Good Counsel College, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

@Sidney

We know about the exceptions like O’Brien and Furlong. John Hayes was another one. Moss Keane was an exception back in the day. Trevor Brennan was an exception and was treated as one, so much so that he was lost to Irish rugby and went to France where they appreciated him. There will always be the odd exception.

We know that Limerick is an exception to the rest of Ireland in that it has a few non-fee paying rugby schools - that has already been specifically stated.

What I’m asking is, of those 100, how many went to non-fee paying schools and how many played their rugby primarily in the club system between the ages of 12 and 18 as opposed to the schools system?

There’s an awful lot of back tracking, blustering, exceptions (many) to general rules and moving of goalposts going on in that post. Sure sign you’re losing an argument when you’re asking your opposite to go off and do your own research.

[Sidney]

@GeoffreyBoycott

There’s an awful lot of back tracking, blustering, exceptions (many) to general rules and moving of goalposts going on in that post. Sure sign you’re losing an argument when you’re asking your opposite to go off and do your own research.

You were the one who referenced the statistic, pal - you should be able to back it up. Clearly you aren’t.

I can give you an answer of sorts though - in the 2018 Six Nations, just two Ireland players, Robert Henshaw and Timothy Furlong, went to a non-fee paying/academically selective rugby playing school outside of Limerick.

[anon61956325]

Keith Earls doesnt get near Munchins without playing rugby or being regarded as a good rubby prospect.

[myboyblue]

Unless he’s robbing copper wiring as a young lad?

[Sidney]

@anon61956325

Keith Earls doesnt get near Munchins without playing rugby or being regarded as a good rubby prospect.

Oh my. It’s an academically selective school?

[Tim_Riggins]

Again, you are just regurgitating my post.

Where did I say the average wasn’t higher?

Read what I actually posted.

[Tim_Riggins]

Two of the chaps typing away there now.

So much of their lives on rugby football.

Great to see.

[Sidney]

This is what you said.

@Tim_Riggins

This is not true though.

What I’ve written here are the facts, with verifiable links. Facts by definition are true.

The France-Eire Euro 2016 attracted a higher viewership than the England-Ireland 2018 rugby match on every measurable criteria.

Now, do you want to finally demonstrate that you have some tenuous comprehension of reality, or do you want to keep humiliating yourself?

It’s your choice.

[anon61956325]

They take in a mix alright to tick boxes — but most of the lads from certain neighbourhoods are only there because of their rubby exploits… I know others from Moyross, Weston, St Mary’s Park who only got in the door because of rubby… making a mock of these so called entrance exams. Munchins also take in their fair share of boggers also tbf… but the docker and bin man’s son rarely get in without having to break their young bodies on the rubby pitch.

[anon61956325]

I was talking about St. Munchins college, mate … I grew up 5 minutes from its front gates.

[Sidney]

That post is absolutely hilarious given how many long winded, pointless posts you’ve wasted your time typing out.

The difference between me and you is that I post things worth typing. You don’t.

Another irony is that I have a far more rounded knowledge of rugby union football and its sociological and playing history in this country than almost anybody else here.

[Matty_Hislop]

@GeoffreyBoycott

Of the 100 most recently capped players for Ireland, the non fee paying St Munchins College is the school that has contributed the most players, seven in total - Conor Murray, Damien Varley, Denis Hurley, Donnacha Ryan, Keith Earls, Barry Murphy and Jerry Flannery.

If you are a youngster and you want to be capped for Ireland, your best chance would seem to be to attend the non-fee paying St Munchin’s.

So middle class kids are at a disadvantage when it comes to rugby in Limerick. Why is there no outrage about this in the media? Over to you Ewan McKenna.

[GeoffreyBoycott]

Faced with the appalling vista that a non-fee paying school, St Munchin’s College has actually been the biggest contributor of capped players to the Ireland rugby team in modern times, the rugby haters are now making unsubstantiated allegations about St Munchin’s admission policy.

[Tim_Riggins]

You can’t read then.

What gets a “higher audience” for the ratings i ultimately comes down to a blend of the average, peak ect.

@Tim_Riggins

The soccer got a higher average audience in 2016 certainly, but the rugby peaked.

It is my contention that due the parades that the rugby average would have been seriously impacted on. You have a different view, fine.

What is indisputable is that you continue to ignore the 6 counties. As pointed out to you, it’s very odd that a 32 County Republic/NI football supporter would decide that they aren’t worthy of being talked about. Very very odd.

[anon61956325]

I could name plenty of names of guys/families that got in there that would do well to get into the less reputable schools in Limerick — the only common denominator - rubby.

However, Limerick’s very own Dodge also attended Munchins as do/did a number of other rural types.

[GeoffreyBoycott]

@anon61956325

I could name plenty of names of guys/families that got in there that would do well to get into the less reputable schools in Limerick — the only common denominator - rubby.

However, Limerick’s very own Dodge also attended Munchins as do a number of other rural types.

I don’t deal in hearsay.

[mikehunt]

Rugby lads seething cos they’re not getting the recognition they deserve. Media trying to big it up but outside of D4 and pockets of Limerick no one gives a fuck. There’s an awful need in them.