All the new signings as the Irish provinces prepare for Guinness PRO14 return
After a five-month layoff, the 2019/20 Guinness PRO14 finally returns this weekend with a series of regional derbies. The league’s two Italian sides, Benetton and Zebre, will kick things off on Friday night before a bundle of Scottish, Welsh and Irish derbies follow across the weekend.
In Ireland, the four provinces will take part in a weekend PRO14 double-header of closed doors interprovincial derbies at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. It will be a strange return for all four teams, not least because of the amount of change that has taken place at each province since they were last on the pitch.
Here, we run through the new arrivals at each PRO14 province as well as listing players who have headed for the exit prior to this weekend’s Leinster vs Munster and Connacht vs Ulster showdowns.
MUNSTER
Munster pulled off one of the most exciting double-singings in recent memory when they announced that Springbok pair RG Snyman and Damian de Allende would both be coming to Thomond Park.
Watch out, Leinster ? https://t.co/7O9SpCpaOB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 22, 2020
Their signatures were confirmed in January and the World Cup winners are both in line to make their Munster debuts against Leinster this weekend. The long-term plan is that the duo will provide the extra muscle to turn Munster from perennial nearly-men into champions.
Europe remains the ultimate goal, but a PRO14 medal would be greeted with much enthusiasm by the Munster faithful – they last won the league in 2011, losing four semi-finals and two finals in the years since.
Munster have also recruited well beyond those headline signings. Irish-qualified full-back Matt Gallagher joins from Saracens while the capture of highly-rated tighthead Roman Salanoa from Leinster could prove significant down the line.
The province have released a number of squad players, while Tyler Bleyendaal has been forced to retire due to a neck injury, an absence exacerbated by Joey Carbery’s continuing injury problems.
Players In:
RG Snyman (Honda Heat)
Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights)
Matt Gallagher (Saracens)
Roman Salanoa (Leinster)
Players Out:
Alex Wootton (Connacht)
Arno Botha (Bulls)
Sammy Arnold (Connacht)
Conor Oliver (Connacht)
Alan Tynan (released)
Sean O’Connor (Jersey Reds)
Ciaran Parker (Jersey Reds)
Darren O’Shea (Vannes)
Jack Stafford (Harlequins)
Tyler Bleyendaal (retired)
'It's weird going straight into big games after so long away.' ??
Listen to Felipe discuss how Saturday's clash with Munster under new circumstances will require everyone to be switched on. ??#ReturnToRugby #LEIvMUN pic.twitter.com/eoTdWEyt3k
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) August 19, 2020
LEINSTER
Leinster are the only Irish team who haven’t welcomed any new signings from outside the country, although the province have once again promoted a number of players from their academy to first-team contracts. That is no surprise given Leo Cullen’s side had won all 13 of their PRO14 outings and another six games in Europe before the season was put on ice.
Few sides in world rugby boast the kind of resources Leinster enjoy and there are no obvious areas where they need to strengthen in the short term. Yet those riches can come at a cost, Leinster losing more and more young talent to rival provinces as players seek game time.
The most notable departee during the lockdown period was tighthead Salanoa, whose path was blocked by Ireland internationals Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter. Having invested so much time and energy into the Hawaii native’s progress, Leinster are now resigned to watching the 22-year-old progress at Munster.
He wasn’t the only young talent to pack his bags. Jack Aungier and Oisin Dowling both moved to Connacht, Joe Tomane finished his disappointing two-year stay, while hooker Bryan Byrne made his loan switch to Bristol permanent.
Veteran back Fergus McFadden postponed his retirement to see out the remainder of the season but he could have played his last game after suffering a calf injury.
Players Out:
Joe Tomane (released)
Roman Salanoa (Munster)
Jack Aungier (Connacht)
Oisín Dowling (Connacht)
Bryan Byrne (Bristol)
Gavin Mullin (released)
Barry Daly (retired)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOahOuCSUQ/
CONNACHT
There’s no shortage of new faces in the west of Ireland, with Andy Friend welcoming seven new singings on board. Five have come from within the Irish system, so the aim for Connacht is to turn squad players from other teams into valuable first-team assets of their own.
Alex Wootton joins on a year-long loan from Munster and will hope to find more consistency in his game. Former Bay of Plenty No8 Abraham Papali’i and Dublin-born Munster academy product Conor Oliver could prove valuable signings but will have to earn opportunities in the back row, while Ireland midfielder Sammy Arnold finds himself in the same boat.
Ben O’Donnell – Australian Sevens player of the year in 2018 – is an exciting addition to the backline. Connacht head coach Friend handed him his sevens debut in 2017 and the 25-year old went on to score 47 tries in 95 appearances for his country. With a nickname like ‘BOD’, expectations will be high. Connacht fans, though, will have to wait to see second row Oisin Dowling, as he continues to rehab a back injury.
The departures could prove as telling as the incomings at the Sportsground. Connacht have let go more players than any other Irish province since the PRO14 season was suspended and handling such a significant turnover of players will be a challenge for Friend.
Players In:
Alex Wootton (Munster)
Ben O’Donnell (Australia Sevens)
Abraham Papali’i (Bay of Plenty)
Sammy Arnold (Munster)
Conor Oliver (Munster)
Jack Aungier (Leinster)
Oisin Dowling (Leinster)
Players Out:
Colby Fainga’a (Lyon)
Tom McCartney (retired)
Robin Copeland (Soyaux-Angouleme)
Niyi Adeolokun (released)
Rory Burke (released)
David Horwitz (released)
Darragh Leader (released)
Angus Lloyd (retired)
Peter McCabe (released)
Eoin McKeon (released)
Luke Carty (released)
Conor Hayes (released)
Hugh Lane (released)
Mikey Wilson (released)
Kyle Godwin (Western Force)
Joe Maksymiw (Dragons)
'It’s not a weight issue with us. What we’re looking at is the speed and velocity' @UlsterRugby coach Kieran Campbell talks pace with @heagneyl @PRO14Official #SUFTUM https://t.co/NnkpMf4J3d
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 18, 2019
ULSTER
Ulster’s new signings may not grab many headlines, but they seem to have recruited smartly. Former All Black Alby Mathewson was a hugely popular figure on and off the field during his time with Munster – having initially signed on a four-month deal he ended up staying at Thomond Park for 15 months – and the experienced scrum-half will provide quality cover to the main man, John Cooney.
The versatile Madigan returns to Irish rugby after four years away and will hope to nail down a spot at out-half, although the improving Billy Burns won’t be pushed out quietly.
Madigan will feel he has a point to prove on the PRO14 pitch and may find it difficult to wrestle kicking duties away from Cooney, but Ulster boss Dan McFarland will also hope his experience rubs off on his teammates. At 31, Madigan is the comfortably the senior 10 out of himself, Burns (26) and Bill Johnson (23).
Players In:
Ian Madigan (Bristol)
Alby Mathewson (Free agent)
Players Out:
Zack McCall (released)
Clive Ross (released)
Tommy O’Hagan (released)
Angus Kernohan (Ealing Trailfinders)
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments