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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.
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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.
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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
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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
Thanks 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?
4 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.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments