The Munster Rugby Thread 24/25

[Clubber_Langer]

That's putting lipstick on a pig.

We're rolling over the Adidas deal, offloading the merchandising to Lifestyle, and walking away. There's still no naming rights for Thomond Park, yet it can be done for Musgrave Park, we're consistently getting outbid for replacement THs and now Munster are looking for voluntary redundancies. It's all going swimmingly.

you want them to sell the sports gear themselves? someone had better tell the fai and irfu to scrap their deal with elverys. the th situation is frustrating alright but will almost certainly be sorted in the summer. redundancy is a fact of life in any business, munster rugby are no different in this regard. we get the same doom and gloom almost every season with a european exit.

 

[How bad boy]

It's interesting looking at previous academy squads (really easy with the year drop down here: https://www.munsterrugby.ie/teams/academy-squad/)

Back in 20/21, there was a pretty strong academy, in that tranche you had Kendellan, Healy, Hodnett, Jake Flannery, Ahern and Josh Wycherley. Overall there were 17 players.

21/22 numbers dropped to 14 for some reason. 22/23 has a strangely high number of players that are good enough on their day but just not there and unlikely to make it, Butler, Campbell, Coughlan, Donnelly, Gibbons, Jack Oliver, Kieran Ryan, Okeke.


I wonder how big an impact Covid had on that cohort.

 

[How bad boy]

Would have been very interesting how Rassies term would have played out if Axel didn’t tragically pass. He’d have got the Penny treatment I’d say. Nienabar played good cop which helped massively.

I do love the story about demanding lads reply to a dedicated WhatsApp group with an explanation for why they such cowards after a bad day out against Cardiff.

What story is that?

Sounds sociopathic.

 

[junior footballer]

It's interesting looking at previous academy squads (really easy with the year drop down here: https://www.munsterrugby.ie/teams/academy-squad/)

Back in 20/21, there was a pretty strong academy, in that tranche you had Kendellan, Healy, Hodnett, Jake Flannery, Ahern and Josh Wycherley. Overall there were 17 players.

21/22 numbers dropped to 14 for some reason. 22/23 has a strangely high number of players that are good enough on their day but just not there and unlikely to make it, Butler, Campbell, Coughlan, Donnelly, Gibbons, Jack Oliver, Kieran Ryan, Okeke.


I wonder how big an impact Covid had on that cohort.

Unfortunately for a variety of reasons that 20/21 academy crew have not moved on for a variety of reasons.
When you cast your mind back they were an exciting group with loads of potential that just hasn’t panned out

 

[nelly sham]

Would have been very interesting how Rassies term would have played out if Axel didn’t tragically pass. He’d have got the Penny treatment I’d say. Nienabar played good cop which helped massively.

I do love the story about demanding lads reply to a dedicated WhatsApp group with an explanation for why they such cowards after a bad day out against Cardiff.

I think they burned their fingers running Penney out of town so after Foley's struggles you'd like to think they'd learn their lesson.

Based on their easy ride and championing of MP that seems doubtful though.

 

[nelly sham]

you want them to sell the sports gear themselves? someone had better tell the fai and irfu to scrap their deal with elverys. the th situation is frustrating alright but will almost certainly be sorted in the summer. redundancy is a fact of life in any business, munster rugby are no different in this regard. we get the same doom and gloom almost every season with a european exit.

It's the exclusive deal with Lifestyle they're referring to I'd imagine. You'd wonder is the kickback there worth it compared to allowing Elverys in on it too?

 

[Clubber_Langer]

It's the exclusive deal with Lifestyle they're referring to I'd imagine. You'd wonder is the kickback there worth it compared to allowing Elverys in on it too?

elverys are the official irfu sports retail partner. id say one website is as good as another when it comes to shifting units. the notion munster arent maximising revenue is a cod.

 

[How bad boy]

Unfortunately for a variety of reasons that 20/21 academy crew have not moved on for a variety of reasons.
When you cast your mind back they were an exciting group with loads of potential that just hasn’t panned out

Yeah, that's a fair point.

It's clear though if you look at the break through ages, takes a few years for them to properly mature.

Current academy squad has Sean Edogbo and Ben O'Connor who I'd say are good enough already.

Want to see Tom Wood get some game time, not sure whom of the other are likely to make it.

Fundamentally, if they're taking in about 6 players a year in their academy cohort ls, it'll be a while, even if the academy is going really well, before they're ready to support the senior squad

 

[Barry K O Bama]

Benson has signed for Ulster.

Humpries looking after his buddies.

Surprising no injury updates yet

 

[How bad boy]

Benson has signed for Ulster.

Humpries looking after his buddies.

Surprising no injury updates yet

Good news for Irish rugby though.