makemehappy says...

@adamk - obviously a 3 month contract isn't that expensive. My point was a general one. Relatively speaking (i.e. compared with others you could offer the contract to) it would be fairly expensive. Also, bearing in mind the size and calibre of squads in Ireland, it does seem surprising that they can afford their squad. If you bring in international and Super Rugby players, this also requires some money. The fact that many are hom grown is not really relevant. Money keeps players as more than local loyalty, most of the time.

Sorry - I don't think your argument adds up.

My comments were about Ireland and not just Leinster. Certainly Ulster is becoming full of foreign imports. Munster has also had quite a few.

Posted 19:10 08th March 2012

adamk says...

@APV1 Hehe, yeah and he's playing a stormer for bath at the mo. Nah, don't see him coming back to Ireland truthfully, too much water under the bridge yada yada.

@makemehappy Don't think a 3 month deal would be that expensive. Plus where else could Leinster look? Thorn was unique in the fact he was playing for a Japanese club - it's now their off season. Also the majority of Leinster players are academy grown - with White off to Connacht, and Struass becoming Irish Eligible this autumn, that will mean there will be only two 'foriegn' players in the team in Heinke and Isa Nacewa. So there's hardly a huge amount of money being spent on player salaries, especially those from overseas.

Posted 15:16 08th March 2012

APV1 says...

@ adamk - keep your hands off Caldwell! He and Attwood are forming quite the formidable 2nd row for us and I'd like to keep it that way.

Posted 12:30 08th March 2012

sextons_on_fire says...

@Andrewinkorea

Don't be so sure, mate. munster have already nicked Felix Jones and Niall Ronan from us. As for leinster, an ex-munster Corkman is holding up our scrum singlehandedly. So Ryan moving to leinster would not exactly be unthinkable hahaha

Posted 09:42 08th March 2012

Andrewinkorea says...

Ryan is not going anywhere. If Hugh Farrelly is the published journo, then you know it isn't true. His contract is up and he (or his agent) is doing what everyone else does nearing the end of a deal - looking for more money from their current club. There is more chance of Contepomi captaining Munster next season than Ryan moving to Leinster.

Not only that, Munster have conceded defeat in their bid to sign Ruddock - they even wrote a smuch on their website. Rhys is staying with Leinster.

Posted 05:54 08th March 2012

mcdb06 says...

@ Bitathisnow

Rhys Ruddock is said to be staying at Leinster. Cant see any reason for Ryan to leave Munster since he starts ahead of O'Callaghan there. Would be big loss for them. Thought Leinster might have tried to get someone like Ian Nagle

Posted 23:11 07th March 2012

BackingLeinster says...

Leinster seem to be already pushing through some of the academy players to fill important posistions. a lot of the younger props are getting game time which will be important in the next two years. All in all Leinster are looking pretty set. I'd prefer to see them develop some of the younger players, there's some real talent there that just needs game time. Imagin if O'Driscoll didn't get to start regularly until he was 25 because there was a more established player ahead of him playing center. He wouldn't have developed into the player he is today. Foreign imports should only be a last resort or young players with a lot of potential who they can grow and then who will possibly declare for Ireland. Still its good to have Thorn for the next three months considering how things have gone with injuries.

Posted 17:09 07th March 2012

adamk says...

@leinster_goy

i know there's a lot of drama over the Isa thing. The only solution to it is if Isa re-signs a new contract that takes him past the date of 'no return' for the new NIQ rule. Hopefully it sorts itself out.

Whilst VDM hasn't been to the same standard he was last year I think he's a massively important player for us. I hope they work out a way for him to stay also.

That leaves some decent scope in regards to NIQ. I think we'll need a long term replacement for Hines. Sykes was a dudd, and Keogh and Flanagan are far too undeveloped to start games at the moment imo.

I think Ryan Caldwell would be ideal, but he's contracted for another two seasons with Bath...

Posted 15:05 07th March 2012