THREE MEMBERS OF Ireland’s U20 World Championship squad have been awarded places in the Leinster academy for next season, with the province today announcing its roster for the 2018/19 campaign.
Michael Silvester, Jack Dunne and Harry Byrne are among a group of eight players who will begin pre-season with Leinster next month, entering the first of three years in the academy system.
There is a notable inclusion in Ireland underage international Aaron O’Sullivan, who has been recruited from Wasps having made his senior debut for the Aviva Premiership side back in November.
The back-three player lined up against a Leinster U18 club side last summer for an Exile XV, impressing in a 29-24 win for the visitors at Donnybrook.
St Michael’s College duo Ryan Baird and Scott Penney were two of the standout performers in last season’s Leinster Senior Schools Cup and go straight into the academy having completed their Leaving Certificate.
Tighthead prop Michael Milne made a big impression at schools level with Roscrea while scrum-half Patrick Patterson is also recruited after playing for UCD last term.
“We are delighted to confirm these players as new additions to the academy for next season,” Leinster academy manager Peter Smyth said.
“Having dealt with them all individually over the last few years and having seen their development at first hand, they are a credit to their families, their clubs and schools but above that to themselves.
“They have applied themselves brilliantly and I look forward to welcoming them to UCD and seeing them develop as players and as young men in a new environment.”
Leinster, meanwhile, have also confirmed the departure of six players from their academy system, while flanker Will Connors — who made three Pro14 appearances last year — has been awarded a senior contract for next season.
Connors becomes the fifth player to graduate from the academy after it was confirmed last month that Vakh Abdaladze, Caelan Doris, Jordan Larmour and Josh Murphy will all start the new season on their first professional contracts.
Oisin Heffernan is leaving for Nottingham, Jeremy Loughman for Munster and Ian Fitzpatrick, Terry Kennedy, Sean McNulty and Charlie Rock have left to pursue other opportunities.
Smyth added: “I’d like to thank those leaving the Academy system for their efforts over the last few years and to wish them every success with their future endeavours.”
Leinster academy 2018/19:
Year three:
Hugo Keenan
Jack Kelly
Conor O’Brien
Jimmy O’Brien
Year two:
Jack Aungier
Oisín Dowling
Ciarán Frawley
Rónan Kelleher
Gavin Mullin
Tommy O’Brien
Hugh O’Sullivan
Year one:
Ryan Baird
Harry Byrne
Jack Dunne
Michael Milne
Aaron O’Sullivan
Patrick Patterson
Scott Penney
Michael Silvester.
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I wonder might Schmidt regret leaving out Olding? Played very well against Toulon and getting two tries tonight shows he deserves a place on the panel.
Olding was terrific in what were poor conditions against weak opposition but still a fine performance. Great prospect at FB or midfield. Ulster pack were poor and Paul Marshall was bloody awful. Ulster should have scored 5 or 6 tries instead of only 3.
No doubt he’ll play a part in the Georgia game. He’s an exciting prospect, but as a 12, he’s unlikely to play a part in a game against SA if D’Arcy is available. D’Arcy’s experience will be too important.
But Schmidt called him up into the squad for the upcoming games, Conor.
Olding is in the extended squad! He’s played fullback, 12 and covered and played (I think) at 10 this year. A bolter possibly to replace mads as bench cover with possibly gilroy and marmion/redden the other bench spots for the backs
Paul Marshall was a mixed bag. He played really well in the first half but something happened in the 2nd and his performance started to deteriorate. His line breaks are instinctual and wonder if this is why they appear to end in recycled possession. Would really like to see him kick through or chip ahead in his line breaks to put the opposition under more pressure.
Olding a ray of light in an otherwise incipid ulster performance, second half especially. The team is hardly recognisable from two years ago.
How did McCloskey play?
Strangely he was subbed for Humphreys and given PJs kicking wasnt great and Stuart was doing damage. In the first half they played a broken fielding kicking game.
He was a threat. The Dragons needed to tackle him in numbers.
Lovely touch for Olding’s 2nd. Starting to look a bit more confident. He is willing to try the kick through. One lovely clearance kick too.
Defensively he remains solid, although, I’d love to see him start to read ahead a bit and really get up in some opposition faces. That said he doesn’t miss with his tackles.
A big Heineken and international future hopefully awaits. I’d imagine his physical presence and good handling could be pretty useful for executing backs moves. There’s some strength in depth at 12 in Ulster
He did fair bit of kicking and created panic in the defensive line as well as his line breaking skills.
Sorry that was Olding
I’m a huge fan of Olding and look forward to seeing him in starting Irish jersey.
I’m picking at hairs here but following your comment about his defence…he missed tackles against Toulon, so we can’t say its “solid” just yet.
He’ll need to be able to manage big opposition like Bastareaud better before Schmidt will risk starting him over another established international.
Plenty of international standard players miss tackles against Bastareaud!
Yeah but the better ones don’t.
I’m sure Bastareuad is a nightmare to defend against, but no doubt Stuart will have learned a lot from those two missed opportunities and next time his hips & feet will be in a better position.
Sorry, Chris, was referring to McCloskey.