BATH RUGBY HAVE confirmed the signing of Ross Molony from Leinster.
The 29-year-old lock joins on a three-year-deal ahead of the 2024/25 season.
“Ross is a true professional and his journey in rugby is a testament to this,” Bath Head of Rugby Johann van Graan said.
“His work ethic and leadership are some of his key characteristics and I believe he will play a huge part in our journey in the next number of years. What struck me is the quality of a human being Ross is.”
🇮🇪Dublin ➡️ Bath🛁
— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) April 16, 2024
Welcome to the Blue, Black and White, Ross Molony 👊
Read the full story 👉 https://t.co/tHbeHEyp6O #OurJourney pic.twitter.com/WSDV34t1Y1
Molony made his Leinster debut at the age of 19 — while still on an Academy contract — against Zebre Parma in February 2015.
The Dubliner has won more than 175 caps for the eastern province and helped them to Pro 14 glory on four occasions. He started both recent Champions Cup finals against La Rochelle, and featured off the bench in last weekend’s quarter-final win at the Aviva Stadium.
"Pulling on a Leinster shirt is all that I ever dreamed about." 💙
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) April 16, 2024
With @BathRugby confirming his signature this morning, Ross Molony has issued an open letter to Leinster supports here ➡️ https://t.co/xDeinDNKeR
Thanks for everything, Ross! 🙌#FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/Dk4NlVmflu
Molony actually made his Champions Cup debut against Bath in January 2016, and was named Man of the Match.
“Pulling on a Leinster shirt is all that I ever dreamed about,” he wrote in an emotional open letter to Leinster supporters as his departure was confirmed.
Thank you for your service sir!
He’ll be remembered as a Leinster legend by me anyway, desperately unlucky to have the talent that’s there ahead of him and not get an Irish cap. Hope he’s getting a good payday, it’s well earned and wish him the best.
@PJ Smith: hear hear
Delighted for him. What a servant and top player. I hope he goes out on a high!
@Mark Murphy: he’s 29, in his prime, and heading to an English side competing for the league. “Going out on a high” would suggest he’s winding down his career when he is anything but. Will be badly missed by Leinster.
@Pierce O’Hehir: It doesn’t suggest that. “Going out on a high” points to winning 1 or 2 trophies in his final season with Leinster. Basic stuff.
@Pierce O’Hehir: Not at all Pierce… Just referring to his Leinster career. He’s given so much to Leinster, I would see it as fitting if he got to lift a trophy this year before he heads to Bath…i.e. go out on a high! For sure, he has plenty of rugby left in him and I expect he will make a big impact in England.
@Mark Murphy: fair call Mark, I took it up wrong! Would love to see him stay in the Irish system in Connacht or Ulster.
@Pierce O’Hehir: He’ll get more money at Bath, and with no Irish caps yet, he might as well go try something new and earn a few more bob while he is at it. Irish provinces can’t outbid each other for a player so he’d have been offered the same money at Connacht for example that he’d have got offered at Leinster. At the end of this deal, there is nothing to say that he won’t return home.
Super player. This is a big loss. With him and Jenkins going we are light enough in the second row foe next season. Joe and Ryan will be with Ireland for long periods.
@chris mcdonnell: Love him for his service, but he’s not a big loss, 29 years old, small for a modern lock, and would never make our strongest 23 this season or next. We’ll have 3 WC locks next season with Baird able to cover and Deeny showing massive potential
@Andrew Slazenger: he’s not small for a modern lock… maybe internationally but not for club. He is in his prime next few years so is a big loss to the squad…
@Andrew Slazenger: I disagree, he’s not first choice if everyone’s fit but that rarely ever happens. Ryan has many injury issues and RG well let’s wait and see on that one. Also he was alway available during international windows.
@chris mcdonnell: Fair point on RG haha! I’m not saying he’s no loss, just not a big loss if he’s not part of our all are fit strongest 23 OR is young with loads of potential. International windows (only 4 matches now) can be covered by RG, Deeny and Mangan. Also as an aside, he probably wanted to leave to get more first team rugby
@chris mcdonnell: light enough in 2nd row: McCarthy, Ryan, Snyman FFS
@Michael Corkery: Did you stop reading early to register your outrage? Why not read the next sentence Chris wrote. 2 of the 3 players you mentioned he addressed as being absent for long periods. It was during these periods Molony featured prominently. 2 locks out but one incoming = …?
@Andrew Slazenger: You also have O’Tighearaigh who was an Ireland U20 last year & the year before.
@Michael Corkery: for the past 3 months only Mccarthy is actually playing rugby.
@Andrew Slazenger: He’s a huge loss to the squad in terms of his reliability and his leadership. Ryan and McCarthy will be away with Ireland, as will Baird (who is a 6 now anyway). Snyman – we’ll have to wait and see if he can stay fit. I don’t think Deeny has shown any of the potential that you mention so don’t think he’s ready. COT is a kid and won’t be ready for a couple of years. Mangan is not a second row, he’s a backrow. Not tall enough for second row. We’ll be desperately light at second row next season when internationals won’t be there.
@Carmine Lorenzo: COT will be 22 next year the age as Joe McCarthy broke on to the international scene. He’s nearly as tall and with the right gym work
@TL55: contd: he’ll be heavy enough (based on recent stats. I suspect he’ll be well capable of filling in when the internationals are away.
@TL55: You know your stuff so will take your word on that. He’s got a big frame alright but my point is he’s still very unproven. Deeny aswell hasn’t really shown any stand out performances for me either so unless there is dramatic improvement, I don’t see him being a week in week out URC standard type player.
@TL55: I think aswell it’s very unusual the way McCarthy came about, he was a standout and developed very quickly. His rise is the exception vs the norm. E.g. he was playing AIL, got a debut for Leinster in January 2022 and then was fast tracked into the 6N squad in 2022 as a development player. So his development has been massively accelerated due to his regular exposure to the best in the country from an early age, and he wasn’t flogged by Leinster either. They held him back at times in the first year or two.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Deeny has been really good when I’ve seen him play, and Mangan is listed as 2nd row on Leinster website + he’s 6’6, the same as Molony! The internationals aren’t away like they used to be, far less games
@TL55: Where did Sorrocco (spelling?) go? He had shown well under 20′s and got a few games for Leinster. Had the frame but not the tallest. Anyone?
@Noel Lynn: Injured. and he’s more of a 6 than a second row.
@Andrew Slazenger: Hi Andrew, wouldn’t always read into those stats. Mangan is even playing at 8 in AIL for UCD recently. He’s a chunky enough unit when you see him in real life but he’s defo not a second row, build of a backrow. Genuine question, what games were those that Deeny stood out for you? I will go back and try rewatch. Just haven’t seen it at all myself.
Great player and even last week it was a toss up between him and Jenkins starting. He had an immediate impact when he came on. Would have liked to see him stay at Leinster but at least in Ireland, however, I wish him the best of luck at Bath and for the future.
Great signing. As an aside, is there any professional rugby player who isn’t ‘a great human being’?It’s just a cliche at this stage whenever a new signing is announced!
@Aidan Farrell: isreal falou
@Aidan Farrell: Izzy Folau? I’m sure there’s a fee more
@Conor Morris: I’m sure Israel is nice guy
@Aidan Farrell: Shannon Frizell is a vile piece of work no matter how much New Zealand police and the All Blacks want to brush him beating up and threatening women with more violence under the table
@Ultán Corcoran: Kurtley Beale, Sevu Reece, Gareth Thomas!!
@Aidan Farrell: Papé
So they swapped an IQ player still in his twenties for a NIQ player who is very rarely available and likely much more expensive?
@Johnny Knox: No, they swapped a NIQ player (Jenkins) for a NIQ player (RG). Please keep up. RG is more expensive than Jenkins but a major upgrade.
@Andrew Martin Farrell: and who did Jenkins replace? Jack Dunne. Murray Kinsella went to town on Munster when they signed Jenkins, saying that he would affect Tom Ahern’s development. Yet when Leinster signed Jenkins (after getting rid of Jack Dunne to facilitate), it was seen as a shrewd move. Murray is very bitter again Munster for some reason, probably for not making it through their academy as he wasn’t good enough. Leinster probably got rid of Jack Dunne in case he caused any aggro after being knocked out by Stan Wright at a Leinster event
@I92wJ21M: lol. They have 3 NIQ slots, vacated this summer. Leinster are filling the slots. You really have to admire the persistence of Munster fans claiming to have some concern for the development of young Irish talent in Leisnter. If JB (6 month deal) for RG (12 month deal) block someone’s development, will your province be able to plug the gap? Didn’t think so. Especially not at centre with Munster. How many consecutive seasons is it hiring a new centre? We’ve been waiting 10 years for a Munster developed player to become an Irish regular. That’s a big bigger scandal and disgrace than short-term deals. You might also want to ask your province why they keep getting knocked out in the Last 16, whereas 90,000 people have paid through the gates 2 weeks in a row to see Leinster. €€€€€
@I92wJ21M: did munster actually have an academy? Don’t recall many players coming through.
@Andrew Martin Farrell: did you bank your head? Whatever about seemingly not considering Nash, Crowley or Casey to be Irish regulars. Thinking there was 90,000 in the Aviva these past 2 weekends, isn’t it 50000 capacity?
@Ciaran Kennedy: If you care to add up the tickets sold vs Leicester and the tickets sold vs La Rochelle, you come to over 90,000. Simple mathematics. Selling out the Aviva with less than a weeks notice really shows that Leinster are the biggest draw around.
Best lineout caller in the country by an absolute mile. Leinster have lost big games but their ljneout has never crumbled with Molony. Shame he didn’t have the athletic profile to be an international
What a player. Always love hearing him roar over the refs mic. Best of luck in Bath.
Pity to see him going. Consistent performer and club stalwart. Who is now going to slog it out week on week in the URC?
@Roland Clear: seems they are expecting Ryan to stop making Irish squads
Best of luck Ross
Don’t you love the way he’s shouting the odds about 10 seconds before he even comes onto the pitch :)