# academy

This year

2023

# Ready to go

Academy duo in line for debuts as Leinster prepare for Cardiff test

Youngsters Aitzol King and James Culhane make the bench for this weekend’s BKT United Rugby Championship match.

8.9k

Jan 27th 2023, 12:52 PM

Last year

2022

# tod

Ex-Munster back row O'Donnell re-joins province as academy coach

Brendan O’Connor and Matt Brown have also been appointed.

7.9k

Aug 23rd 2022, 1:54 PM

# top gong

Mack Hansen named player of the year at Connacht awards night

Matthew Devine is academy player of the year after helping the Ireland U20s to their Grand Slam.

5.8k

May 14th 2022, 12:13 AM

# rugby weekly extra

'That was a big week for Limerick rugby... it has to be about the whole province'

Munster academy manager Ian Costello was the latest guest on The42 Rugby Weekly Extra.

7.1k

Mar 24th 2022, 11:27 AM

All time

# Canberra to Connacht

'I was probably the worst electrician in Canberra... I said I would give footy a go'

Irish-qualified back Mack Hansen has made a strong start to life with Connacht.

27.1k

Oct 21st 2021, 7:30 PM

# young coaches

Connacht announce two key academy appointments

Andrew Browne and Mark Sexton will take up positions as Elite Player Development Officers with the province.

7.5k

Jun 3rd 2021, 3:46 PM

# Sevens

'When it didn't work out in Leinster, I wasn't sure if it was me being a journeyman'

Gavin Mullin is now part of the Ireland 7s set-up who are targeting Olympics qualification.

38.9k

May 23rd 2021, 10:00 AM

# Irish Abroad

Ireland U18 international Karl Martin signs for Top 14 club Montpellier

The Drogheda man will pursue a professional career in France.

14.2k

Apr 2nd 2021, 5:43 PM

# academy

'We’ve all been jealous of Leinster for that' - Ulster aim to keep closing gap

The northern province’s young guns showed their quality again last Friday night.

8.3k

Jan 19th 2021, 5:50 PM

# Looking Up

Leinster's O'Brien takes inspiration from Keenan and Connors' rise to Ireland caps

The 22-year-old back has impressed for the province in recent weeks.

9.9k

Oct 30th 2020, 7:00 AM

# Bienvenue

The Luxembourg international joining the AIL after a year with Stade Français

20-year-old Tony Drennan has signed with Queen’s University and still has professional rugby ambitions.

30.8k

Sep 26th 2020, 7:00 AM

# Update

Munster academy player who tested positive for Covid-19 now asymptomatic

Six other players remain in self-isolation but have tested negative so far.

7.7k

Aug 17th 2020, 5:47 PM

# precautionary steps

Munster cancel training after Academy player tests positive for Covid-19

Six more players are also self-isolating, the province revealed today.

32.5k

Aug 13th 2020, 3:33 PM

# Depth

Leinster backing 20-year-old prospect Clarkson to step up at tighthead prop

Meanwhile, there is excitement about 21-year-old hooker Dan Sheehan’s potential.

12.0k

Aug 6th 2020, 6:17 PM

# Potential

Munster excited about the 'serious, serious young lads coming through'

Meanwhile, the ‘eye-opening’ Stephen Larkham is making a big impact on the squad.

15.6k

Jul 30th 2020, 5:00 AM

# Young Guns

Provincial academies to compete with Ireland 7s in new IRFU tournaments

The provinces’ A teams will also compete in a series of fixtures starting in September.

5.5k

Jul 9th 2020, 5:17 PM

# Prospects

Ireland U20 internationals Ward and Booth among Connacht's academy intake

The western province have brought eight new players on board.

7.8k

Jun 11th 2020, 4:08 PM

# stepping up

Munster promote 21-year-old hooker Barron to senior squad

The Cashel native has signed a one-year deal with the province.

8.5k

Jun 9th 2020, 1:33 PM

# RISE UP

Connacht promote six exciting academy prospects into their senior squad

Niall Murray, Sean Masterson, Conor Dean, Colm Reilly, Peter Sullivan and Jordan Duggan have earned pro contracts.

9.9k

Jun 3rd 2020, 12:38 PM

# Finishing Up

Ex-Ireland captain Anderson retiring from role with Ulster academy

The 65-year-old won 27 caps for Ireland during his playing days.

5.8k

Jun 2nd 2020, 11:16 AM

# Irish Abroad

'We were getting relegated, everything had gone to sh*t. I was done'

Ruairí Cushion played in the Championship for six years and now coaches with Exeter.

11.7k

May 17th 2020, 7:45 AM

# Moving West

Leinster academy tighthead Aungier set to make switch to Connacht

The 21-year-old made five senior appearances for the eastern province this season.

15.4k

109

May 14th 2020, 9:56 AM

# lineage

There's just one Limerick player in Munster's academy. What's being done about it?

Some of the province’s greatest days have been heavily influenced by Limerick men.

47.6k

Apr 11th 2020, 7:00 AM

# hotshot

The emerging stars of the 2019/20 season: Niall Murray

The 20-year-old second row has featured for Connacht in the Pro14 and Champions Cup.

10.7k

Apr 9th 2020, 1:04 PM

# first years

Ireland U20 stars Flannery and Hodnett enter Munster academy

The southern province have added four new players to their academy for the 2019/20 season.

10.3k

Jul 18th 2019, 4:45 PM

# first years

Ryan and Turner among Leinster's new academy players for 2019/20 season

The eastern province have confirmed their roster for the upcoming season.

11.8k

Jul 9th 2019, 12:20 PM

# 7s

'There was just blood everywhere... I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy'

Greg O’Shea has overcome injury and disappointment with Munster to become an Ireland 7s star.

48.8k

Apr 26th 2019, 3:23 PM

# RISE UP

Ex-Limerick minor hurler Fitzgerald promoted to senior Connacht contract

Matthew Burke and Conor Kenny will also step up from the academy next season.

10.2k

Apr 9th 2019, 4:36 PM

# Loosehead

Academy prop Eric O'Sullivan shining with opportunity in Ulster

The 23-year-old has come through the AIL with Trinity and Banbridge.

9.5k

Dec 9th 2018, 7:45 AM

# gorey's finest

'The sky's the limit for that one' - Wexford man Paul Boyle shines for Connacht

The 21-year-old was man of the match as Connacht earned a bonus-point win against Zebre.

14.5k

Sep 8th 2018, 8:37 PM

# Academy Awards

Oscars to postpone controversial 'Best Popular Film' category as it needs more study

The move came after some backlash from people in the film industry.

9.1k

Sep 7th 2018, 8:47 AM

# Chip off the old block

Cristiano Ronaldo's son joins Juventus youth academy

Other senior Juventus players have children in the team at underage level.

17.9k

Aug 28th 2018, 8:00 PM

# Impact

Leinster's academy to Bedford to Galway: Farrell finds his feet in Connacht

The 24-year-old was superb in midfield for the western province last season.

10.7k

Aug 26th 2018, 7:30 AM

# Hollywood

The Academy is to create an Oscar award for 'popular' films

It’s unclear whether the category will be in place for next year’s ceremony.

15.9k

Aug 8th 2018, 7:23 PM

# forging new talent

'We're trying to develop something that leaves a legacy'

We spent a day within the Ulster academy, where Kieran Campbell is putting structures and frameworks in place to develop great people as well as players.

14.7k

Aug 6th 2018, 10:30 AM

# Prospects

Irish-qualified Bristol back Hughes among new additions to Ulster academy

The northern province have brought six youngsters into Year 1 of their academy programme.

10.3k

Jul 25th 2018, 2:22 PM

# Prospects

Two promising Cork youngsters sign for Top 14 club Pau's academy

Eoghan Barrett and Ben Roche are heading to France to pursue professional rugby careers.

23.0k

Jun 28th 2018, 4:25 PM

# Departures

Munster release seven young players from academy programme

The departing players include Shannon’s Conor Fitzgerald and former Ireland U20 fullback Jack Power.

25.4k

May 8th 2018, 6:03 PM

# expelled

Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski expelled from the film Academy

The Academy last October also voted to expel disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein.

13.7k

May 3rd 2018, 10:50 PM

# pathway

'It's a big difference to start getting players from Donegal and Cavan, where we haven't before'

We spoke to former Ireland scrum-half Kieran Campbell about his role as the head of Ulster academy.

18.9k

Mar 11th 2018, 7:30 AM