I really hope it works out for him at LI. I'm tired of every time I hear his name thinking "What if he stayed at Connacht?". He probably is too.

phatguerilla wrote: Agree that he was more impressive than Bent, he's been fairly decent all season and I think he's been treated pretty poorly by Leinster. The second string team in general get a bit of a raw deal, especially when they are in important positions like Hagan, as its very hard to impress at TH when the rest of the pack around you would not be up to heineken rugby standard for instance.

A three year deal is a big show of faith imo, considering the type of players who have received 3 year deals here lately. There are 5 other props at LI assuming none of them are leaving (although some might be or else why would they have signed Hagan?), which would suggest he will still have quite a fight on his hands to get consistent first team rugby.

They're losing Alex Corbisiero this summer, so Hagan is a direct replacement. His only chance of fitting in at Leinster was if he was Top 6 schools or from SH, the same issue that brought him west (he felt her didn't fit in).

If they look after him at the Reading Not-Nots, they'll end up with a test class prop.

I think L.I really wanted an Irish prop. Remember when I said they were after James Cronin at Munster? I have no idea what the thinking behind it is except maybe Hagan was going cheap and Irish props have being impressing when they've gone over recently i.e. James Cronin again. Think Hagan will do well there it's more forward orientated and will suit his style better.

Agree that he was more impressive than Bent, he's been fairly decent all season and I think he's been treated pretty poorly by Leinster. The second string team in general get a bit of a raw deal, especially when they are in important positions like Hagan, as its very hard to impress at TH when the rest of the pack around you would not be up to heineken rugby standard for instance.

A three year deal is a big show of faith imo, considering the type of players who have received 3 year deals here lately. There are 5 other props at LI assuming none of them are leaving (although some might be or else why would they have signed Hagan?), which would suggest he will still have quite a fight on his hands to get consistent first team rugby.

Hagan had to move, there was no point him coming back to us. Whether he'll make it at London Irish I don't know but he really has to do something next season if he is to fulfil his promise. Again its another example of how little thought is put into the overall Irish rugby plan than its ended up this way.

He was actually more impressive than Bent in the Glasgow game last Saturday, looking at it now the move probably re-invigorated him a bit.

Some turnover at Leinster in the summer.

Probably not. That said when Ross goes in the near future he'll be perfectly placed to take over. Will be interested to see if Leinster sign someone new at prop or promote Moore or Furlong to 3rd choice. It means that Bent is now no. 2 at Leinster and with Ross maybe going on the Lions tour he'll be getting a lot more game time next season regardless.

he wont get capped there though. must mean that bj is getting his 2 yr contract! afaik jamie was plan b.

You beat me to it Ummmm. Hope it works out for him. Ireland needs props and he should see decent gametime over in England. That said if he goes back to Leinster for a 3rd time after L.I. then he must be the dumbest motherf*cker ever.

London Irish is delighted to announce the signing of Jamie Hagan from Irish province, Leinster, on a three year deal.

The 25-year old tighthead prop forward joined Leinster from school before moving across to Galway where he spent two years with Connacht, making 50 appearances. He moved back to Leinster in the summer of 2011.

Jamie was drafted into the Leinster Academy as an 18-year-old in 2005 and was capped, provincially and nationally, through the age grades. In 2007, he was a member of the Ireland team that captured the Under-20 Grand Slam.
Leinster followed his progress at Connacht and in June 2011 signed him back to the Irish capital. He played 18 times during 2011/12 and scored his first try for Leinster in a 42-13 win over Ulster.

London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith said: “Jamie Hagan is a future Irish Test player, he’s cut his teeth in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 and is more than ready to launch his Aviva Premiership career. He’s a tough, uncompromising prop coming into his prime and he’ll add more steel to our tight five. Jamie’s rugby talent and Irish heritage make him a perfect fit for the club. I’m genuinely delighted that he’s committed to London Irish for the next three seasons.”
The prop forward, who has made two appearances for the Irish Wolfhounds, said: "I'm looking forward to moving across to England and joining London Irish. They are a team with a rich heritage and proud Irish traditions which will really suit me. I would like to thank Leinster for all they have done for me and wish them well for the future. I look forward to joining London Irish next season and getting stuck in to Premiership rugby."

Careful Not-Nots, he has a habit of saying he's signing without following through!

It's still up in the air because of his injury and the club that has offered him a contract is US Oyonnax rugby. This was mentioned on the Leinster thread.

Apparently Damian Browne will be going back to France next year. Not sure what club but it looks like he got a better contract than that being offered to him by Leinster.

Peter Bracken is the forwards/scrum coach of the Women's Senior Ireland Team. Man he gets around!

Friend of mine was at the game and said that John Fogarty is now the forwards coach for Leinster A.

It was Colm O'Shea who was injured. So Fanning replaced him? Good to know. Carr came on for Boyle who was 14 which means Fanning played on the left for Coughlan-Murray.

leinster a played munster a today.
one off leinsters backs got injured before KO so our former player Darragh Fanning bagged himself 26 mins in the second half. he now plays for st marys after coming back from oz

Was chatting to a friend of mine of he said that Damien Browne might have to retire at the end of this season. He's out with a shoulder injury and apparently rehab isn't going as well as they had hoped. It's still up in the air but you never like to hear about a player being forced into retirement through injury.