Thats the lad I was thinking of Bayern thanks!

Afaik Blackrock don't have anyone named Ryan on their team.

There is a James Ryan who is the captain of St Micheals, he would be in about 200cm but probably not over it. Captained the u18 Leinster team this year and started last year for Ireland u18 schools side, as a 4th year.

Might be him your talking about.

Although Blackrock do have two decent second rows, in Jack Dwan and David O'Connor. Neither would be taller than 6'5 though.

Didn't realise they were the same age thought Loughman was younger think I assumed it cause he was still in school.

What do you know about this lad Ryan who plays for blackrock and is meant to be over 200cm? Does he have a first name for instance?

Heffernan and Loughman are around the same age, only difference is that Heffernan is already out of school and has played u20s while Loughman is in 6th year.

But yeah Heffernan would be next in line for an academy position. Loughman may wait a year because Leinster rarely give academy spots to kids coming straight out of school, see Rory Moloney.

Talking to a few lads they told me that Heffernan is more or less a shoe in for the Leinster academy next year. Loughman I was told would have to wait a year as he is still ridiculously young but I'm sure he'd still be sub-academy.

It's a very talented group we have this year. I got high hopes for them.

connachtexile wrote: P.P.S. Keep an eye out for prop Jeremy Loughman he's meant to be the next second coming. Hopefully he is and not like Steward Maguire who was massive for his age but didn't have the talent to make it at senior level.

Loughman is a serious doubt with injury.

also he is very different to Maguire, Maguire was just a massive lump of a fella.

Loughman while not small, isn't that big. Played LH last year and seems to be playing TH this year, he along with Oisin Heffernan would be strong contenders for leinster's academy next season.

Jamie Dever is recently back from America. His status with Connacht i'm unsure of.

Conor Kyne is a very good LH prop and Gaffney is a quality youngster aswell, plays 10/12.

Kyne started for the Ireland Club team last year and Gaffney was involved with the schools side.

Everyone knows about Moloney and I wouldn't be shocked if he was captain of that Ireland team.

Three in the squad! Not bad. Tough on Sean O'Hagan who is out injured

Former Connacht underage player Oisin Heffernan is also in the squad.

The Ireland Under-19 squad to face Australia Schools at Ravenhill on Saturday week (December 14) has been announced.

Two Connacht players are named - Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians) and Rory Moloney (Buccaneers).

There are two Exiles in the squad - Lorcan Dow (Queen's University) and Piers O'Connor (Worthing).

In-form Corinthians out-half Sean O'Hagan has been ruled out of the squad due to injury.

The Ravenhill clash gets underway at 2.30pm and tickets are available from the Ulster Rugby website.

The Ireland Under-19s last played Australia at this age grade in 2009, losing the first fixture 31-14 in Belfield before winning the second match 15-0 at Cork IT a week later.

IRELAND UNDER-19 Squad (v Australia Schools, Ravenhill, Saturday, December 14 (kick-off 2.30pm):

Josh Bingham (Methodist College/Ulster)
Frank Bradshaw Ryan (Shannon RFC/Munster)
Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
Jack Cullen (Bruff RFC/Munster)
Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster)
Lorcan Dow (Queen's University/Exile)
Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
James Gallagher (Ballymena RFC/Ulster)
Oisin Heffernan (Cistercian College Roscrea/Leinster)
Michael Lagan (Methodist College/Ulster)
Jeremy Loughman (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Conor McKee (Methodist College/Ulster)
Sean McNulty (UCD/Munster)
Rory Moloney (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
Josh Murphy (UCD/Leinster)
David O'Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Piers O'Conor (Worthing RFC/Exile)
Mike O'Donnell (Crescent College/Munster)
Jack Owens (Campbell College/Ulster)
Gary Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
Alex Thompson (Methodist College/Ulster)
Stephen Weir (Methodist College/Ulster)
Conor Young (Instonians RFC/Ulster)
Ross Todd (Sullivan Upper School/Ulster)
Conor Kyne (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)


P.S. Anyone know anything about Piers O'Connor? The other exile Dow is in the Ulster sub-academy.

P.P.S. Keep an eye out for prop Jeremy Loughman he's meant to be the next second coming. Hopefully he is and not like Steward Maguire who was massive for his age but didn't have the talent to make it at senior level.

He is recovering from surgery in America last time I heard.

Good question! Forgot about him! Is he on twitter I wonder?

connachtexile wrote: Surprised with his form they didn't introduce O'Hagan when they added Blade and Masterson recently. There roughly the same age and I don't think he'd be on huge money it being academy and all.

O Hagan a year younger. Surprised he wasn't included though is still v young

Where's Jamie Dever atm? Wasn't he academy last season? Doesn't appear to be on website as part of this seasons group?

Surprised with his form they didn't introduce O'Hagan when they added Blade and Masterson recently. There roughly the same age and I don't think he'd be on huge money it being academy and all.

Connolly in year 1 academy - just back from ACL injury during last year's U'20 interpro series. Kindregan year 1 also - he played a few A games last year while studying in UL, playing for Bucc's now I think. Reckon O'Hagan will be introduced to academy next year.

I thought that James Connolly and O'Hagan were/are involved with our academy? They are both playing with Corinthians in AIL. Thought that Kindregan was too.

Ciaran Gaffney was injured for large part of the Summer but played the last game for U20s in win v Munster, he came on for the Eagles in the first game but I believe got injured again and is currently out. Gaffney, O'Hagan and Rory Maloney were all playing up a year in the 20's.

Dwayne Corcoran, Conor Kyne and Cathal Evans all played interpros for our U19's

Joe Bercis and O'Meara both went back to England.

not sure about the others

ALEX o'Meara went back to England to go to college, he is sharing a house with another ex connacht academy player Callum O'Connell. He hopes to come back when finished college

connachtexile wrote: These guys last season were the potentials who didn't make the academy. Anyone know how there doing? Is there any other young buck tearing up trees that we should know about? No one really saw Masterson until this season when he was picked up.

1. Alex O'Meara
2. Ciaran Gaffney
3. Joe Bercis
4. Sean O'Hagan
5. Conor Kyne
6. Dwayne Corcoran
7. Mark Roche (Centre)
8. Cathal Evans
9. Charlie Butterworth (Back Row)
10. James Connolly (Back Row)
11. Conor Kindregan (Lock)

O Hagan has been starring for Corinthians in AIL 1B this season. Starting at 10 every week and not looking out of place one bit as an 18 year old which is some achievement
Mark Roche is playing AIL with Lansdowne and starting most weeks
Couldn't tell you how most of the rest are doing
Conor Kyne played Connacht 19s in September and could be in line for irish 19s camp which is this week in Belfast. O Hagan should also be at that