Frank81 says...

@ howrtings - Fitzgerald surely?!! O'Leary isn't a bad player, but I'd rather keep Fitzgerald if I had the choice.

Posted 16:43 21st February 2012

melkdave says...

The big problem atm for Wales and Scotland is falling attendances.Mainly for the LEAGUE games which are their bread and butter games.Everywhere else attendances are rising why is this ??.Because every game matters if you want H/Cup rugby and you are a french or english club then you have to perform in your LEAGUE or win the AMLIN or this year if english the LVcup giving up a league place to accomadate it.So every game matters if you want H/Cup rugby.Comtrast that with the Pro12 the two scotish sides could finish 11th-12th and still qualify for H/Cup rugby and for welsh clubs its not finish last of the welsh regions So again two clubs could finish 11th-12th and only one wouldnt qualify.This makes most of the Pro12 matches imo meaningless to the clubs espically the scotish clubs who underachive every year given they are packed with internationals .The answer is make the Pro12 meanigful by only having the top 6 clubs qualify for the H/Cup while the rest play in the Amlin .Then you would have 6 english 6 french qualfied places and 6 from the celtic nations/ Italy With the Amlin winners and defending champions making it upto 20 teams.Of course the SRU will most probaly object but it has to be imo otherwise the scotish clubs will fold and some welsh clubs may also.As to Ireland well they have a differant set up for players and Connacht to be honest is viewed by the IRFU as a feeder province for the likes of Munster / Lienster mostly and now Ulster who concentrate on winning the H/Cup and then have the depth of players to win the Pro12 most years

Posted 15:54 21st February 2012

howrtings says...

@ thatllbeme:

What a rediculous thing to say. O'Leary has always had big weaknesses in his game but was also, not that long ago considered amongst the best scrumhalves in the northern hemisphere. If he didn't break his ankle in 2009 he would be a Lion!! and you say good riddance...crazy stuff!!

He's far from the best scrumhalf in the country but he certainly has alot to offer especially for Munster. Who will they replace him with...Stringer?

He has lost alot of form and confidence due mainly to a horrific run of injuries, but I think he's 100% right to take the opportunity to play in France, and will probably turn out to be an excelent signing if he can avoid injuries.

I for one wish him all the best in France, and hope he show's the IRFU that they were stupid to let him go.

Luke Fitzgerald has been offered a new Two year IRFU contract....I know who I would prefer to stay in Ireland....

Posted 12:38 21st February 2012

howrtings says...

What a huge mistake by Cardiff....losing a talisman like that will have huge negative implications on the club. WRFU need to address this mass exodus quickly or the club game is going to suffer dramatically.

Posted 10:44 21st February 2012

sheridan says...

Tomas O'Leary gone to France too...

Posted 08:17 21st February 2012