RUGBY/News round-up: The injury jinx which afflicted Leinster throughout last season has hit the province again without a ball being kicked. Keith Gleeson sustained a broken leg in training yesterday, having received the all-clear to resume full training just a week ago after recovering from the broken forearm which had sidelined him since January.
The squad were just coming to the end of a defensive session which was being run by Irish defensive coach Mike Ford when, in an apparently innocuous looking tackle, Gleeson sustained the fracture. The full extent of the injury was not known last night, and will become clearer over the next few days, but the Leinster and Irish openside looks set to be sidelined for a few months.
This season had promised a more leisurely pre-season, which formally kicks off this evening when Ulster play Rotherham in a friendly in Sheffield in Mark McCall's first match in charge. The standout friendly, however, is probably next Tuesday between Connacht and the Newcastle Falcons, given it marks the return after an eight-month absence of the world's most famous player.
Jonny Wilkinson has been sidelined since December, when he aggravated a long-standing shoulder problem which required an operation. "There's been a lot of interest from the UK but there doesn't seem to have been as much on this side of the water," commented Connacht coach Michael Bradley yesterday in reference to the presence of an ITV camera crew and a sizeable contingent of English print media in Galway next Tuesday.
The game also has resonance for Connacht in that their legendary number ten, Eric Elwood, will be making his 150th appearance for the province. "It's a great reflection on him and he will be starting the game," said Bradley. "He's in great shape physically and is as keen as ever."
However, Bradley has moved to lighten Elwood's load at half-back with a number of interesting close-season acquisitions. In addition to the arrival of one-time Munster and Irish scrumhalf Tom Tierney from Leicester, the 23-year-old Australian sevens captain Paul Warwick has joined as an outhalf option. "It'll be interesting to see how he goes. He's expressed an interest in declaring for Ireland via the (three-year) residency ruling. He's a very, very good player and a beautiful passer of the ball."
Another option could be Dave Slemen, son of former English winger Mike and a utility back signed from Orrell who, like his father, qualifies for Ireland. Offsetting the loss of Damien Browne is the capture of Pete Myburgh, a 24-year-old South African lock who was signed from Parma in Italy, while Stephen Knoop, a 23-year-old South African tight-head, has joined from Western Province.
Henry Bourke, the Galwegians hooker, has been upgraded to a full-time contract, while the Shannon prop Tony Buckley, the Buccaneers lock cum number eight Dave Kelly and the Irish under-21 flanker Brendan O'Connor have all been acquired.
Marnus Uijs has followed Tim Allnutt (now the team manager) into retirement, while prolific winger Wayne Munn has returned home after the birth of his second child. Warren O'Kelly, Dave Hewitt and Shane Moore have all been released.
"It is overall a stronger squad than last year," says Bradley, confidently. "We've made a big effort at half-back to support Eric, and getting Tom was a big scoop for us."
Connacht are hopeful that the IRFU will agree to the proposal to have Heineken Cup qualification based on the Celtic League, which would give the province three possible routes into the main European competition.
Newcomers to Ulster hoping to make their first appearances tonight are Campbell Feather, Andrew Trimble and Michael McComish. New Zealander Feather transferred from The Borders on a two-year deal, while 19-year-old Trimble has taken up a development contact with the squad. McComish is on a training contract.
Meanwhile, the IRFU yesterday formally announced that the provinces are effectively going to be running a regionalised academy system. The objective of this process is to increase both the quantity and quality of Irish players capable of entering the professional team structures in Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht. The Provincial academies will work in very close alignment with the professional teams and their coaches.
ULSTER (squad, v Rotherham tonight): Forwards: R Moore, P Shields, R McCormack, B Young, S Shawe, P Shields, N Brady, M Mustchin, G Longwell, T Barker, R Frost, N Best, C Feather, N McMillan, A Ward, M McComish. Backs: K Campbell, N Doak, P Wallace, A Larkin, S Stewart, S Mallon, J Topping, A Maxwell, B Cunningham, A Trimble.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Today: Rotherham v Ulster, The Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield (7.00). Tuesday 17th: Munster v London Irish, Thomond Park (7.00) tbc. Connacht v Newcastle Falcons, The Sportsground. Friday 20th: Leinster v Worcester, Castle Avenue (7.30). Connacht v London Irish, The Sportsground (6.30). Monday 23rd: Munster v Newcastle Falcons, Thomond Park (7.00) tbc. Thursday 26th: Coventry v Leinster, Butts Stadium (k.o. tbc). Saturday 28th: Worcester v Leinster, Sixways Stadium (2.00). Junior Interpro: Munster v Leinster.
