JJ up for young player of the year.

[Magma]

From the deadsite:

Players InSean Dougall (Flanker from Rotherham Titans); James Downey (Centre from Northampton Saints); Casey Laulala (Centre from Cardiff Blues); CJ Stander (Flanker from the Bulls (SA).Christy Condon (Prop from Dolphin RFC); Barry O'Mahony (flanker from Clontarf RFC) both on first time contractsAlan Cotter (Prop); JJ Hanrahan (Centre); Luke O'Dea (Full back); Dave O'Callaghan (Back row); Cathal Sheridan (scrum-half) have all been promoted from the Munster Academy to Development contracts.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10581.php

[Evil Omer]

Has anyone ever mentioned coherent punctuation to whoever put that release together?

[FORWARD....]

Has anyone ever mentioned coherent punctuation to whoever put that release together?

We are in a season of goodwill and rebuilding, all working to a singular goal. Please don't upset the Ayatollah this early in the season. He is already stressed, some might cruelly say always stressed. But I am confident that one day, the Editor will do himself proud with a carefully and concisely crafted press release. G'wan Pat, I know you can do do it.

[Evil Omer]

We are in a season of goodwill and rebuilding, all working to a singular goal. Please don't upset the Ayatollah this early in the season. He is already stressed, some might cruelly say always stressed. But I am confident that one day, the Editor will do himself proud with a carefully and concisely crafted press release. G'wan Pat, I know you can do do it.

Soooo tempted as to what the content of his one and only carefully drafted press release should be

[3Crowns3Stars]

He played his first 7 games at 10, after that he played mainly at 12 (sometimes at fullback) for the next season and a half (and that includes the Air New Zealand Cup for Canterbury, not just the Crusaders).

In Sept. '04 he was starting at centre for Canturbury. He didn't really start playing centre for Canturbury/Crusaders at 10 until Oct. 2005.

He started played 10 for NZ in Nov '04 (against Italy).

Was at the Jade stadium in Feb 2003 to see 'Saders v 'Canes.(S12)
Carter played centre in that match outside Mehrtens.
Similar perhaps to ROG/JJ?

[Evil Omer]

Was at the Jade stadium in Feb 2003 to see 'Saders v 'Canes.(S12)
Carter played centre in that match outside Mehrtens.
Similar perhaps to ROG/JJ?

Other than the fact that Mehrtens had way more miles left in the clock than ROG

[mtcmolloy]

Hanrahan one of Munster’s brightest young stars





UL Bohs outhalf JJ Hanrahan is one of Munster's brightest young talents


Published on Friday 14 September 2012 08:50


Limerick Leader rugby correspondent Colm Kinsella talks to JJ Hanrahan, one of Munster rugby’s hottest prospects.


AS one of the hottest young properties in Irish rugby, JJ Hanrahan was much in demand last season. The 20-year-old jumped between the Munster ‘A’ side, the Irish U-20s and with his club UL-Bohemian.


Not surprising then that the classy out-half admits calling a few Irish U-20s moves while playing for UL-Bohs’ and getting a few blank stares from confused team-mates.


Hanrahan first served notice of his star quality at Castleisland RFC and has embellished his reputation further at Rockwell College, UL-Bohs’, the Irish U-20s and Munster.


Born in Currow, Co Kerry, an area which has produced more than its share of Irish internationals over the years, including Mick Galwey, Moss Keane and the Doyles, Mick and Tom, rugby played second fiddle to Gaelic football for Hanrahan until he was in his teens.


“I always enjoyed rugby. I always liked it. Maybe I was a bit too physical playing Gaelic football and committed fouls,” Hanrahan said.


“Rugby played second fiddle to Gaelic football until I was about 15 or 16. I had the opportunity to play minor but didn’t go through with it. I played centre back or midfield. Eventually rugby took over. I was fortunate to be part of a really good team in Castleisland. We got to an All-Ireland semi-final and got spotted from there to Rockwell.


“I spent three years at Castleisland Community College. After my Junior Cert, I went to Rockwell. I had two years there. It was a great time. We got to two Senior Cup finals, but unfortunately lost both. It was a good experience.”


After Rockwell, Hanrahan moved to Limerick and UL and is currently studying for a Business Degree Through Flexible Learning. He revealed that he opted to play his club rugby with UL-Bohs’ because the Annacotty club provided him with the opportunity to play at senior level more quickly than other clubs.


“Some people wonder why didn’t I join one of the traditional powerhouses in Shannon and Garryowen. Basically, I enquired a lot into it and I wanted to play top level senior rugby straight away,” Hanrahan explained.


“I had a relationship with Ian Costello from under-age rugby. But the deciding factor was being in the shop window. I wanted to be at a club where I felt I could play straight away. With Garryowen or Shannon I probably would have been playing U-21 for a year and sit on the bench for another year. With UL-Bohs’ I think I played my first AIL game in my first season there. That has helped me come on in leaps and bounds as a player.”


Hanrahan spent two years in the Munster Academy and has now been elevated to a development contract with the province.


Best known as an out-half - probably due to the major impact he made playing for the Irish U-20s at the summer’s Junior World Championship - Hanrahan has also played at 12. While he believes the switches into the centre has benefitted him, he prefers the 10 role.


“I played a lot of 12. At the start you are wondering why are you not playing 10,” Hanrahan said.


“I have learned an awful lot from playing 12, especially in the defensive game and the way the game moves. But number 10 is my preferred position, my number one position. But ultimately it’s up to the coach where they want to put me.


“The Junior World Championship during the summer was the most I enjoyed my rugby, probably ever, since school 100%. I got lucky I suppose that Paddy Jackson was pulled. I don’t know if I would have played 10 there or not. I didn’t make the best of starts in the first game against South Africa. I had three kicks out on the full in the opening 10 minutes. After that things seemed to click. All I can say is that it was down to the boys who were there. They were absolutely outstanding. It was the best team morale I have experienced.”


The new season is still in its infancy and Hanrahan, like several of his club mates is moving between the Munster ‘A’ side and UL-Bohs, who he helped guide to Limerick Charity Cup success on Saturday.


He said: “I always feel it is a breath of fresh air to come back and play with UL-Bohs. You are given the licence to play. That is what I enjoy about playing for the club. It can take a night or two to learn all the calls with different teams. It has happened a few times on the field where you might call something from the Irish U-20s playing with UL-Bohs. You have guys looking at you wondering what it this fella saying. It has happened and you have to say ‘sorry about that.’ It is a great learning experience.”


Hanrahan appreciates that his form with the club side will dictate his chances of making a breakthrough into Munster’s senior side.


“It all comes down to performance. Playing with UL-Bohs’ in the Charity Cup final, not only do you want to win, but you want to set off your form,” he explained.


“I really enjoy playing with UL-Bohs because it is my game of rugby. It is exactly what I like. It gives you confidence going into ‘A’ games and senior games. I see playing for UL-Bohs as a great opportunity from a tactical point of view to learn at training and the same with the Munster ‘A’ side. I am really looking forward to playing in Division 1A in the AIL this season, especially the Friday night derby matches when I am involved. I am hoping the crowds will come out.


“I am a big believer in the view that if you are good enough you play. In my second year with the Munster Academy I trained with the seniors for the year. If you are good enough you should play. I never really liked to use my age as a factor.


“I think Rob (Penney) has been absolutely excellent. He really mixes up the game. He wants a mix between playing with width and going through the middle, crashing ball up. He really wants that mix. Whether it be wingers on the touchline or forwards, whoever is there, gets the ball wide and plays off that and trust their skills. That is the approach.”

[mtcmolloy]

looking forward to playing in the AIL no less.
The guy sure seems conservative enough in his talk-himself-up-ability..
Maybe he's the kind of fella that lets his play do the talking.

[lactose intolerant]

Sounds like he thrives with big attendances too....big game mentality?

[Colliniho]

It is there in black and white anyway that he wants to play 10. Hopefully he'll get moved in there for a little while this afternoon and the management can see where he stands in comparison to Deasy.

[Captain Average]

It is there in black and white anyway that he wants to play 10. Hopefully he'll get moved in there for a little while this afternoon and the management can see where he stands in comparison to Deasy.

I could have sworn I'd read elsewhere a few months ago that he preferred 12. Delighted that I'm wrong about that though.

[Tobyglen]

Congrats to him, first senior cap last night.

[isola ciarrai]

See his refernce to being 3 years in Castleisland Community College - Castleisland Rugby Clubs allows the school use its facilities FOC and this gives access to young fellas who might not otherwise ever handle a rugby ball. Think that encouraging rural clubs to create alliances with their local schools with allowing use of facilities etc is a way to make inroads in non-traditional aresa. Know that many clubs do so already but it should produce the odd fine player. A classic example is how the legend (really) that is Christy McLoughlin aka Porky has worked with St Nessans and, I think, St Endas over the years.

[Ruckuss]

Really liked how he saw and tried that crossfield kick so soon after coming on last night, had it been a winger out there and a slightly kinder bounce it would have been a try

[mtcmolloy]

See his refernce to being 3 years in Castleisland Community College - Castleisland Rugby Clubs allows the school use its facilities FOC and this gives access to young fellas who might not otherwise ever handle a rugby ball. Think that encouraging rural clubs to create alliances with their local schools with allowing use of facilities etc is a way to make inroads in non-traditional aresa. Know that many clubs do so already but it should produce the odd fine player. A classic example is how the legend (really) that is Christy McLoughlin aka Porky has worked with St Nessans and, I think, St Endas over the years.

good point and great to see this kind of community ethos,
but there must be more to the currow/castlisland oddity than this, to explain
how so many grade A players have come from there.

[greenback]

good point and great to see this kind of community ethos,
but there must be more to the currow/castlisland oddity than this, to explain
how so many grade A players have come from there.

is sean MacCarty the munster u20 from the same area?

[ormond lad]

is sean MacCarty the munster u20 from the same area?

yes he's from currow. he's mick galweys nephew isnt he?