LEINSTER HAVE SIGNED tighthead prop Ciaran Parker on an initial three-month loan from Jersey Reds.
Parker (24) is Irish-qualified and was previously with Sale Sharks and Munster Rugby, representing both clubs in the Heineken Champions Cup as well as playing in the Premiership and the Guinness PRO14. He was also a member of the victorious 2015 England U20s Six Nations side.
He won 13 caps in total for Munster before joining Jersey Reds this summer, however as a result of COVID-19, he has yet to play for his new club.
Leinster Head Coach, Leo Cullen, told Leinsterrugby.ie: “For a young man, Ciaran already has good experience across the Premiership and the Guinness PRO14 and we feel that he will give us a good option at a time when we are going to be under pressure with players away with Ireland and just the nature of the schedule we have ahead of us.
I’d like to thank Jersey Reds for their help in making this move work and Ciaran himself and we now look forward to welcoming him to the club and to seeing how he can contribute in the coming weeks and months.”
Nice signing. Still young for a TH, might end up being another Mike Ross.
@Jim Demps: it’s a bit mad the young tighthead merry-go-round. With the 2 young lads moving and porter and furlong away with Ireland it kinda makes sense not to put too much pressure on Clarkson. Hopfully this experience stands to him and helps him kick on.
24 is massively young for a tighthead.
@Chris Mc: not your usual take on short term signings then?
@Jim Demps: no Jim not really, on its merits I’m OK with this one.
The IRFU will take furlong and porter for the period and they played their part in moving on 2 tightheads to limerick and galway. So reasonable enough and it’s not like he’s getting in the way of any young player coming through.
@Chris Mc: I’m not in the least bit surprised you’re ok with this one and not the others. Good luck to Parker, he’ll do well and hopefully he gets a full contract out of it.
@Jim Demps: so you agree this one makes sense and some of the other didn’t?
@Chris Mc: I think they’ve all made sense
@Jim Demps: I’d rather if you have a young player that you play him over a stop gap. In a case like this the cupboard is bare
Parker IS young and Irish qualified. How is this even up for debate?
@Chris Mc: imagine someone’s opinion being different to yours and not jumping straight at them….
@Stephen Duffy: everyone’s opinions are different to mine.
Interesting that Munster had matt gallagher on the bench for the first game and didnt bring him on. Then there’s been no sign of him in the next 2 match day squads!
@Gareth Ward: I’ve not seen anythjng that he is injured either. It’s strange
Good interim singing. Back up definitely needed given the amount of games Ireland have coming up. Both Porter & Furlong (assuming he’s fit) will be involved there. Having only Bent & Clarkson available would leave the TH cupboard a bit bear.
Ah fairplay for the IRFU, i can gaurantee you if Connacht or Ulster needed cover they wouldnt allow it…Leinster is a different animal.#weknowwhichprovincecomesfirst!!
@jay bernard: We know which province comes first because they are the only successful province and they constantly send their own players to unsuccessful provinces.
@jay bernard: do you honestly think the irfu would not allow a young Irish qualified prop sign on as cover in the front if those clubs needed it?
The reason leinster need cover in the first place is Connacht and munster signed tightheads from leinster and furlong and porter will be with Ireland.
@jay bernard: Not a fair comment imo. If any province had 2 players as first choice for Ireland in a given position I don’t think the IRFU would have a problem letting them sign a short term replacement.
@jay bernard: In fairness the other provinces came first when the IRFU encouraged the 2 young Leinster tighthead to move so a bit of a silly argument there…
When have the irfu ever blocked a province from giving an irish qualified player a contract??
@jay bernard: Absolute & utter cobblers: Connacht literally just signed Alex Wootton on loan! Also, for years they’ve been permitted to sign players on loan from Leinster mid-season: Quinn Roux & Tom Daly, familiar with their work by any chance? Back in your kennel with your tin foil hat, there’s a good little doggy…
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: did Sean Cronin and Robbie Henshaw come through the Leinster academy?
@Rudiger McMonihan: Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo.
@Jim Demps: they weren’t blocked. Munster were allowed to resign them, they just werent offered enough money so went to Paris for more
@Rudiger McMonihan: a fancy way of saying blocked
Interesting from Murray Kinsella
Interesting stuff from Leo Cullen re. the tighthead depth chart in Leinster.
Says Roman Salanoa had verbally committed to staying with Leinster but Cullen “not sure what kind of pressure he was under in the background” as he instead moved to Munster.