THE ENGLISH AND French rugby leagues were in full swing over the weekend, with plenty of Irish involvement.
Here, we round-up the exiles’ contributions over the past few days.
Aviva Premiership
Exeter handed Gareth Steenson his first start of the season on Saturday, with the Ulsterman proving important in the club’s maiden victory of the campaign.
The 32-year-old converted four of the Chiefs’ five tries in a 36-25 success at home to Harlequins, as well as firing over one penalty. His fellow Ulsterman Ian Whitten made his third consecutive start on the left wing.
Niall Annett scored for Worcester.
Elsewhere, former Munster lock Donnacha O’Callaghan and ex-Ulster hooker Niall Annett were both in Worcester’s XV as they Warriors went down 37-22 to Bath in an entertaining game at the Rec.
Former Ireland U20 captain Annett was in fine form, managing to finish one of Worcester’s flowing attacking passages.
The third Premiership fixture on Saturday saw Mark McCall‘s Saracens make it three wins from three as they beat Northampton 27-12 at home. Wasps, Sarries and Bath all have 100% records so far, though Todd Blackadder’s men top the table on points difference.
Munster and Ireland legend Peter Stringer made his first appearance of the season on Friday night, playing 23 minutes off the bench in Sale’s 26-13 defeat to David Humphreys‘ Gloucester.
Oddly, Stringer ended up with Mike Phillips alongside him at out-half after Sale’s starting 10 Dan Mugford was injured.
Yesterday, former Exiles and Ireland U20 lock Joe Joyce started on a tough day for Bristol, as they were hammered 70-22 by Wasps, conceding 10 tries.
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George McGuigan in action for Ireland U20s in 2013. Jean Claude Le Boulicaut / INPHO
Jean Claude Le Boulicaut / INPHO / INPHO
Ex-Ireland U20 international George McGuigan made his first start for Leicester at hooker in yesterday’s other Premiership contest, having featured off the bench on the two opening weekends.
Paddy Ryan was an unused replacement for Newcastle in their 14-13 defeat to the Tigers.
Top 14
Ireland international Ian Madigan played a handful of minutes off the bench late on in Bordeaux’s 40-16 defeat to league leaders Clermont, with Lionel Beauxis having started at 10 for the away tie.
Meanwhile, James Coughlan and Paddy Butler made up a formidable Pau back row along with Steffon Armitage in an excellent 23-6 win at home against Stade Français. A third former Munster man, Sean Dougall, came off the bench for the final quarter.
Ex-Clontarf scrum-half James Hart made his third appearance of the season for reigning champions Racing 92, as the Parisians beat Toulon 41-30.
Bernard Jackman‘s Grenoble remain bottom of the league after a 46-9 defeat away to Castres, in which former Ireland U20 prop Denis Coulson and ex-Ulster centre Chris Farrell started.
Grenoble announced last week that the club is around €1 million short of its projected budget early this season, and that players were to be asked to accept a small reduction in their salaries.
Guinness Pro12
Former Ulster wing Michael Allen scored his second try in two Pro12 starts this season in Edinburgh’s 33-20 defeat to Leo Cullen’s Leinster, although he had to depart injured following his score.
Ex-Ulster man Allen has two Pro12 tries in two starts. Presseye / Ian MacNicol/INPHO
Presseye / Ian MacNicol/INPHO / Ian MacNicol/INPHO
Lock Tadhg Beirne made his third replacement appearance of the campaign as the Scarlets lost 19-8 to Ulster.
Another former Leinster player made his third sub appearance of the season on Saturday, with out-half Ian McKinley firing over a conversion as he played the closing 30 minutes of Treviso’s 64-10 loss to the Ospreys.
Greene King IPA Championship
Former Ireland prop Tom Court, ex-Leinster flanker Conor Gilsenan and one-time Exeter lock Jerry Sexton all started as leaders London Irish kept up their winning start to the season with a 30-23 victory away to Bedford.
Ex-Leinster and Lansdowne centre Tom Farrell was in Bedford’s 13 shirt for the second weekend in a row.
Doncaster enjoyed a 57-16 win away to Richmond, with former Munster fullback Sean Scanlon scoring a try on his debut for the Knights. Declan Cusack kicked five conversions from out-half, while Michael Heaney was in the nine shirt. Ex-Connacht lock Dave Nolan played off the bench for Doncaster.
Sean O’Hagan, a product of the Exiles system who had spells in the Ulster and Connacht set-ups, was at out-half for Richmond again, kicking two penalties.
Former Cork Con man Willie Ryan made his third start of the season in the six shirt as Ealing Trailfinders beat Jersey 20-15. Ex-Ulster wing Ross Adair scored his first try of the season for the defeated Reds.
Adair scored a try only his only Ulster appearance in 2015. Ian Cook / INPHO
Ian Cook / INPHO / INPHO
London Scottish recored their opening win of the season by beating Rotherham 31-30, with back row Danny Kenny among the try scorers and fullback Peter Lydon kicking three conversions.
Yesterday saw Ian Costello‘s Nottingham beaten 35-19 by the Cornish Pirates. Shane Buckley started at number eight for Nottingham, while Jordan Coghlan came off the bench.
Pro D2
Jeremy Davidson‘s Aurillac maintained their position at the top of France’s second division thanks to a 29-23 win away to Albi. Conor Gaston was on the left wing, as ever.
Former Leinster centre Eamonn Sheridan made his first start of the season in Oyonnax’s 12 jersey on Friday, but they lost 28-25 away to Dax.
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Steenson steers Chiefs success, Annett scores and all the exiles' action
THE ENGLISH AND French rugby leagues were in full swing over the weekend, with plenty of Irish involvement.
Here, we round-up the exiles’ contributions over the past few days.
Aviva Premiership
Exeter handed Gareth Steenson his first start of the season on Saturday, with the Ulsterman proving important in the club’s maiden victory of the campaign.
The 32-year-old converted four of the Chiefs’ five tries in a 36-25 success at home to Harlequins, as well as firing over one penalty. His fellow Ulsterman Ian Whitten made his third consecutive start on the left wing.
Elsewhere, former Munster lock Donnacha O’Callaghan and ex-Ulster hooker Niall Annett were both in Worcester’s XV as they Warriors went down 37-22 to Bath in an entertaining game at the Rec.
Former Ireland U20 captain Annett was in fine form, managing to finish one of Worcester’s flowing attacking passages.
The third Premiership fixture on Saturday saw Mark McCall‘s Saracens make it three wins from three as they beat Northampton 27-12 at home. Wasps, Sarries and Bath all have 100% records so far, though Todd Blackadder’s men top the table on points difference.
Munster and Ireland legend Peter Stringer made his first appearance of the season on Friday night, playing 23 minutes off the bench in Sale’s 26-13 defeat to David Humphreys‘ Gloucester.
Oddly, Stringer ended up with Mike Phillips alongside him at out-half after Sale’s starting 10 Dan Mugford was injured.
Yesterday, former Exiles and Ireland U20 lock Joe Joyce started on a tough day for Bristol, as they were hammered 70-22 by Wasps, conceding 10 tries.
Ex-Ireland U20 international George McGuigan made his first start for Leicester at hooker in yesterday’s other Premiership contest, having featured off the bench on the two opening weekends.
Paddy Ryan was an unused replacement for Newcastle in their 14-13 defeat to the Tigers.
Top 14
Ireland international Ian Madigan played a handful of minutes off the bench late on in Bordeaux’s 40-16 defeat to league leaders Clermont, with Lionel Beauxis having started at 10 for the away tie.
Meanwhile, James Coughlan and Paddy Butler made up a formidable Pau back row along with Steffon Armitage in an excellent 23-6 win at home against Stade Français. A third former Munster man, Sean Dougall, came off the bench for the final quarter.
Ex-Clontarf scrum-half James Hart made his third appearance of the season for reigning champions Racing 92, as the Parisians beat Toulon 41-30.
Bernard Jackman‘s Grenoble remain bottom of the league after a 46-9 defeat away to Castres, in which former Ireland U20 prop Denis Coulson and ex-Ulster centre Chris Farrell started.
Grenoble announced last week that the club is around €1 million short of its projected budget early this season, and that players were to be asked to accept a small reduction in their salaries.
Guinness Pro12
Former Ulster wing Michael Allen scored his second try in two Pro12 starts this season in Edinburgh’s 33-20 defeat to Leo Cullen’s Leinster, although he had to depart injured following his score.
Lock Tadhg Beirne made his third replacement appearance of the campaign as the Scarlets lost 19-8 to Ulster.
Another former Leinster player made his third sub appearance of the season on Saturday, with out-half Ian McKinley firing over a conversion as he played the closing 30 minutes of Treviso’s 64-10 loss to the Ospreys.
Greene King IPA Championship
Former Ireland prop Tom Court, ex-Leinster flanker Conor Gilsenan and one-time Exeter lock Jerry Sexton all started as leaders London Irish kept up their winning start to the season with a 30-23 victory away to Bedford.
Ex-Leinster and Lansdowne centre Tom Farrell was in Bedford’s 13 shirt for the second weekend in a row.
Doncaster enjoyed a 57-16 win away to Richmond, with former Munster fullback Sean Scanlon scoring a try on his debut for the Knights. Declan Cusack kicked five conversions from out-half, while Michael Heaney was in the nine shirt. Ex-Connacht lock Dave Nolan played off the bench for Doncaster.
Sean O’Hagan, a product of the Exiles system who had spells in the Ulster and Connacht set-ups, was at out-half for Richmond again, kicking two penalties.
Former Cork Con man Willie Ryan made his third start of the season in the six shirt as Ealing Trailfinders beat Jersey 20-15. Ex-Ulster wing Ross Adair scored his first try of the season for the defeated Reds.
London Scottish recored their opening win of the season by beating Rotherham 31-30, with back row Danny Kenny among the try scorers and fullback Peter Lydon kicking three conversions.
Yesterday saw Ian Costello‘s Nottingham beaten 35-19 by the Cornish Pirates. Shane Buckley started at number eight for Nottingham, while Jordan Coghlan came off the bench.
Pro D2
Jeremy Davidson‘s Aurillac maintained their position at the top of France’s second division thanks to a 29-23 win away to Albi. Conor Gaston was on the left wing, as ever.
Former Leinster centre Eamonn Sheridan made his first start of the season in Oyonnax’s 12 jersey on Friday, but they lost 28-25 away to Dax.
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Donncha O'Callaghan Exiles gareth steenson Grenoble Irish Abroad jeremy davidson Niall Annett