Kane Douglas
One disappointing season into a three-year deal, the Aussie international lock was released by Leinster today after they received compensation – believed to be between €150,000 and €200,000 — from the Australian Rugby Union, with Douglas now expected to join Queensland Reds which will allow him to challenge for a place in the Wallabies’ World Cup squad.
Owen Finegan
Another versatile Australian forward, the signing of Finegan from Newcastle Falcons in 2006 was a pretty good coup for Leinster at the time. Capped by the Wallabies 55 times and a winner of Super Rugby honours twice with the Brumbies, what could possibly go wrong? Plenty, as it turned out. Finegan’s one-year contract wasn’t renewed at the end of the season and the 35-year-old left for a brief spell with Leicester Tigers, after which he hung up his boots. A fine players when in his prime but, unfortunately for Leinster fans, that day had passed by the time Finegan was brought in by Michael Cheika.
Brian Lima
There’s no arguing with Lima’s status as a legend of the game, but his time at Munster wasn’t the most memorable spell of his career. The Samoan, who’s the only man to have played at five World Cups, joined Munster in March 2005. However, after injuring his quad muscle in the build-up to the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Biarritz, he left two months later without playing a single game for the province.
Peter Borlase
The New Zealand-born prop was expected to beef up Munster’s front-row when he joined the province on a two-year deal in 2010, but things never really got going for the tighthead prop who arrived from Canterbury. He played seven times before being loaned to Connacht for a brief stint at the Sportsground. He then returned home in 2012 to play for Hawke’s Bay in the ITM Cup. Still only 30, Borlase is now a coach with the USA’s Under 20 team.
Joeli Veitayaki
Veitayaki had just played for Fiji at the 1999 World Cup when he signed for the then-European champions. What Ulster fans remember from Veitayaki’s six-game spell with the province was that he was big and he was bad — but not in a good way.
David Pusey
Pusey arrived at Munster on a two-year deal in 2003 with a good reputation, having represented Australia at Schools and Under 21 level, as well as making 23 Super Rugby appearances for the Brumbies. He showed fleeting glimpses of promise during his 17 games for Munster but his time in Ireland was mostly a disappointment.
Mils Muliaina
Securing the services of an All Blacks legend last summer was a big deal for Connacht but, in spite of his quality and experience, Muliaina seldom delivered for Pat Lam’s side. The 34-year-old failed to score in nine appearances for Connacht and his time with the province ended on quite a sour note when he was arrested at Kingsholm in April after their defeat to Gloucester. Muliaina, who’ll play for Zebre next season, is subsequently due to appear in court in Cardiff on 7 August on a sexual assault charge.
Juan Gomez
An Argetine prop who had just made his international debut the year before, Leinster thought they were on to a winner when they signed Gomez from Stade Francais in 2007. Not quite. Gomez failed to adapt over the course of an eight-game spell and was soon shipped off to Leeds Carnegie.
Anton Pitout
There was a bit of excitement around Anton Pitout when Munster signed the South African sevens international from the Cheetahs in 2005. That he lasted only five games is all you need to know.
Clint Newland
The New Zealand Maori prop, who joined Leinster from the Highlanders, played 12 times for the province after he was brought in to plug an injury gap in 2010. Newland often struggled in the scrum and was sent packing after one season.
Lote Tuqiri
Tuqiri arrived at Leinster on a short-term deal in 2013 with 67 Wallabies caps in his back pocket. Even at the age of 33, the Australian back was a significant acquisition. However, the dual international struggled with injuries and departed having made only five appearances.
Less of the chat about the attendance and more about the great game that evolved in the most awful conditions. Hats off to the players. Tremendous commitment shown.
The pubs and hotels in Dublin must have been hoping for a Limerick win today. 35 or 40 thousand Limerick fans would have made a weekend of it in the capital for the final. The same doesn’t apply to KK as they are there nearly every year.
If 30-40k Kilkenny fans went to a game that would be about 50% of the population. So probably a 25-30% of the population is not half bad turn out!
Show me the stats to back that up or are you just another anti Kk griper?
I’m not anti KK in any way. If u read my contributions on other threads relating to today’s match u would see that. It’s just perfectly understandable … What’s rare is wonderful – in recent decades Limerick average one all Ireland appearance every 8 or 9 years. For Kilkenny it’s almost as common as Christmas.
Not even 50,000 at today’s game!!!
Wayne – u are aware that finals always attract larger attendances than finals?! People living abroad, those struggling financially etc will come for finals where it wouldn’t be realistic (or affordable) to come for semi also. Strange comment …
* finals always attract higher attendance than semis
Wow really thanks for that nugget of wisdom! 190,000 population between today’s 3 counties, and then neutrals! I was there today and I’m a Dub. Attendances down so far this summer by 50-60 thousand across all games.
GAA should be looking at free kids tickets for weaker hurling countys for days like today. Or hold today’s game in Semple instead reducing costs for fans
U were there today, congrats … it probably cost u approx €35 between ticket and getting bus/luas. Treble that amount at least, for someone travelling from Limerick or a few hundred €€ if the wife and kids were with u … Get real Wayne !
Pay attention and read what I suggested 42,000 today, would Semple not have been a better location?
Semi finals and finals always take place in Croke Park. As a Dub u should know that – Teams and their fans know that … If today’s game had been in Thurles the attendance would maybe have been bigger .. But only marginally.
& the costs to the fans attending would have been??? Lower :)
Send an email/write a letter to Peter McKenna or Sean O Neill and ask them to put the hurling semi final(s) on in Thurles and let me know how that works out for u ….
Limerick (City & County) alone has a population of over 160k, so the 3 counties together would have a lot more than 190k. Saying that I was a little disappointed with today’s attendance, 16k down on last year’s.