AS THE PROVINCES enjoyed four wins from four in the Pro12 over the weekend, a host of Irish players featured in the English and French leagues.
Here, we round up the Irish involvement in the Premiership, Top 14 and Championship in recent days.
Aviva Premiership
Dai Young’s Wasps remain top of the Premiership after a bonus-point 47-18 win at home to Harlequins yesterday that saw Ireland international Marty Moore feature off the bench for the bulk of the second half.
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
25-year-old tighthead Moore has started life in England positively as he aims to ensure Joe Schmidt cannot ignore him for an Ireland recall in the future.
Former Ireland U18s scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone came off the bench for Quins, as did ex-Connacht man George Naoupu.
Mark McCall‘s Saracens lie second in the table after hammering Bristol 39-0 on Friday night.
Former Ireland U20 lock Joe Joyce – a product of the Exiles system – played the closing 23 minutes for Bristol, while 25-year-old centre Jack Tovey – another Exiles man – started the game at outside centre.
Gareth Steenson was at out-half for Exeter Chiefs on Friday night, kicking a conversion and four penalties as they agonisingly lost 20-19 to Northampton due to a late Harry Mallinder penalty.
Ulsterman Ian Whitten was also in the Chiefs’ starting XV, lining out on the left wing once again. Northampton’s JJ Hanrahan remains sidelined through injury.
Dublin native Aj MacGinty was in excellent form again as Sale recorded a big 34-30 win at home to Leicester on Saturday, although the ex-Connacht out-half did give up place-kicking duties after slotting 14 points last time out against Worcester.
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Martin Rickett
Martin Rickett
Taking over from the tee for Sale was Irish-qualified outside centre Will Addison, who fired over four conversions and two penalties to guide the Sharks to victory. 24-year-old Addison, who also covers the back three, played for England at U20 level but qualifies for Ireland through one of his parents.
Former Ireland U20 hooker George McGuigan started in Leicester’s number two shirt, before being by replaced Tom Youngs early in the second half.
Paddy McAllister started at loosehead prop in Gloucester’s 16-5 home defeat to Todd Blackadder’s Bath on Saturday afternoon. David Humphreys‘men are ninth in the league table following the loss at Kingsholm.
Ex-Ireland U20 hooker Niall Annett and Munster legend Donncha O’Callaghan were both in Worcester’s starting pack as the Warriors earned their first win of the season by beating Newcastle 11-9 yesterday.
Top 14
Bordeaux remain sixth in the Top 14 after edging Pau 30-28 on Saturday thanks to a late Romain Lonca try, converted by Lionel Beauxis.
Ian Madigan started the game at out-half for Bordeaux, slotting five penalties before making way for Beauxis heading into the final quarter.
In the starting Pau team were former Munster men Paddy Butler and James Coughlan, as they again formed a powerful back row with Steffon Armitage. Sean Dougall was on the bench for a defeat that sees Pau slip down the table to 10th.
A tough start to the season for champions Racing 92, where Ronan O’Gara is part of the coaching team, continued with a 25-16 loss away to Brive that means they drop to 11th in the standings.
Former Clontarf scrum-half James Hart started for Racing in the nine jersey, kicking two penalties and adding one conversion.
A difficult season for Bernard Jackman‘s financially-troubled Grenoble also continued as they were beaten 31-3 in Toulouse. Chris Farrell and Aly Muldowney were in the XV for FCG, who will look for their second win of the campaign against Bayonne next time out.
Pro D2
Jeremy Davidson‘s Aurillac are still top of the French second division after their bonus-point 27-7 win over Narbonne two weekends ago.
The Pro D2 had a break last weekend.
Greene King IPA Championship
London Irish continue to set the pace in England’s second tier, with a 29-7 win over Nottingham on Friday keeping them at the top of the ladder.
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
29-year-old Irish-qualified midfielder Fergus Mulchrone, brother of Harlequins’ Charlie, was in the 12 shirt, while former Ireland international Tom Court and ex-Connacht hooker Jason Harris-Wright both played the closing 15 minutes off the bench.
Former Leinster and Munster flanker Jordan Coghlan was at openside for Ian Costello‘s Nottingham.
Doncaster remain fourth in the league table, despite a 27-14 defeat away to Ealing on Saturday afternoon.
Former Ulster scrum-half Michael Heaney captained the defeated Knights from the nine shirt, ex-Connacht lock Dave Nolan was in the second row, and ex-Munster pair Declan Cusack and Sean Scanlon played the final 10 minutes off the bench.
Cork man Willie Ryan was in Ealing’s back row again as they earned their second victory of the campaign.
Bedford recorded their first win of the season in style, securing a try-scoring bonus point in their 34-14 victory over Richmond. Former Leinster man Tom Farrell was at outside centre for the Blues, although he did pick up a yellow card for a tackle from an offside position.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Fullback Peter Lydon kicked a penalty and a conversion for London Scottish as they held on for a 25-24 win over Cornish Pirates. The Exiles rise to eighth in the table after a victory that also saw former UCD man Danny Kenny start in the back row.
The fourth Saturday afternoon fixture in the Championship saw Jersey lose 23-18 away to London Welsh, with former Ulster back Ross Adair at fullback and ex-Leinster prop Sean McCarthy in the number one shirt.
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Madigan's Bordeaux pip Coughlan's Pau and all the exiles' action
AS THE PROVINCES enjoyed four wins from four in the Pro12 over the weekend, a host of Irish players featured in the English and French leagues.
Here, we round up the Irish involvement in the Premiership, Top 14 and Championship in recent days.
Aviva Premiership
Dai Young’s Wasps remain top of the Premiership after a bonus-point 47-18 win at home to Harlequins yesterday that saw Ireland international Marty Moore feature off the bench for the bulk of the second half.
25-year-old tighthead Moore has started life in England positively as he aims to ensure Joe Schmidt cannot ignore him for an Ireland recall in the future.
Former Ireland U18s scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone came off the bench for Quins, as did ex-Connacht man George Naoupu.
Mark McCall‘s Saracens lie second in the table after hammering Bristol 39-0 on Friday night.
Former Ireland U20 lock Joe Joyce – a product of the Exiles system – played the closing 23 minutes for Bristol, while 25-year-old centre Jack Tovey – another Exiles man – started the game at outside centre.
Gareth Steenson was at out-half for Exeter Chiefs on Friday night, kicking a conversion and four penalties as they agonisingly lost 20-19 to Northampton due to a late Harry Mallinder penalty.
Ulsterman Ian Whitten was also in the Chiefs’ starting XV, lining out on the left wing once again. Northampton’s JJ Hanrahan remains sidelined through injury.
Dublin native Aj MacGinty was in excellent form again as Sale recorded a big 34-30 win at home to Leicester on Saturday, although the ex-Connacht out-half did give up place-kicking duties after slotting 14 points last time out against Worcester.
Taking over from the tee for Sale was Irish-qualified outside centre Will Addison, who fired over four conversions and two penalties to guide the Sharks to victory. 24-year-old Addison, who also covers the back three, played for England at U20 level but qualifies for Ireland through one of his parents.
Former Ireland U20 hooker George McGuigan started in Leicester’s number two shirt, before being by replaced Tom Youngs early in the second half.
Paddy McAllister started at loosehead prop in Gloucester’s 16-5 home defeat to Todd Blackadder’s Bath on Saturday afternoon. David Humphreys‘ men are ninth in the league table following the loss at Kingsholm.
Ex-Ireland U20 hooker Niall Annett and Munster legend Donncha O’Callaghan were both in Worcester’s starting pack as the Warriors earned their first win of the season by beating Newcastle 11-9 yesterday.
Top 14
Bordeaux remain sixth in the Top 14 after edging Pau 30-28 on Saturday thanks to a late Romain Lonca try, converted by Lionel Beauxis.
Ian Madigan started the game at out-half for Bordeaux, slotting five penalties before making way for Beauxis heading into the final quarter.
In the starting Pau team were former Munster men Paddy Butler and James Coughlan, as they again formed a powerful back row with Steffon Armitage. Sean Dougall was on the bench for a defeat that sees Pau slip down the table to 10th.
A tough start to the season for champions Racing 92, where Ronan O’Gara is part of the coaching team, continued with a 25-16 loss away to Brive that means they drop to 11th in the standings.
Former Clontarf scrum-half James Hart started for Racing in the nine jersey, kicking two penalties and adding one conversion.
A difficult season for Bernard Jackman‘s financially-troubled Grenoble also continued as they were beaten 31-3 in Toulouse. Chris Farrell and Aly Muldowney were in the XV for FCG, who will look for their second win of the campaign against Bayonne next time out.
Pro D2
Jeremy Davidson‘s Aurillac are still top of the French second division after their bonus-point 27-7 win over Narbonne two weekends ago.
The Pro D2 had a break last weekend.
Greene King IPA Championship
London Irish continue to set the pace in England’s second tier, with a 29-7 win over Nottingham on Friday keeping them at the top of the ladder.
29-year-old Irish-qualified midfielder Fergus Mulchrone, brother of Harlequins’ Charlie, was in the 12 shirt, while former Ireland international Tom Court and ex-Connacht hooker Jason Harris-Wright both played the closing 15 minutes off the bench.
Former Leinster and Munster flanker Jordan Coghlan was at openside for Ian Costello‘s Nottingham.
Doncaster remain fourth in the league table, despite a 27-14 defeat away to Ealing on Saturday afternoon.
Former Ulster scrum-half Michael Heaney captained the defeated Knights from the nine shirt, ex-Connacht lock Dave Nolan was in the second row, and ex-Munster pair Declan Cusack and Sean Scanlon played the final 10 minutes off the bench.
Cork man Willie Ryan was in Ealing’s back row again as they earned their second victory of the campaign.
Bedford recorded their first win of the season in style, securing a try-scoring bonus point in their 34-14 victory over Richmond. Former Leinster man Tom Farrell was at outside centre for the Blues, although he did pick up a yellow card for a tackle from an offside position.
Fullback Peter Lydon kicked a penalty and a conversion for London Scottish as they held on for a 25-24 win over Cornish Pirates. The Exiles rise to eighth in the table after a victory that also saw former UCD man Danny Kenny start in the back row.
The fourth Saturday afternoon fixture in the Championship saw Jersey lose 23-18 away to London Welsh, with former Ulster back Ross Adair at fullback and ex-Leinster prop Sean McCarthy in the number one shirt.
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