I dont usually approve of these short term signings ubt ill make an exception for thorn - one of my favourite players of any era. An absolute beast of a man and one of the greatest second row enforcers ever. hopefully he still has enoguh left in the tank to perform for us. If he was a bit better at the lineout throught his career hed be the BEST LOCK OF ALL TIME

Anything less than a Leinster Hec win now will be concidered a choke

This is seriously fucking awesome. Just had a spectacularly shit day at work and tomorrow is going to be twice as bad probably, but I now don't give a shit.

If we go and sign Ryan, and I am pretty sure it's a case of agent kite flying for a better contract, I'll actually be pretty irritated. Why did the fucking retard not move about 5 years ago if he's going to do it now?

Will he be allowed to play in this years HEC?

Of course, why wouldn't he? Will have a 3 month contract (which is the minimum) and is obviously not cup tied.

Yes - he's being signed for that purpose (and the Pro12 run-in).

Thats fucked up in my opinion.

Why? All sides are allowed a certain number of medical jokers and chanegs to their initial squads. Given the number of players injured/returning from injury through a season that makes perfect sense.

Imagine if a team like Sarries got into the knock out rounds and then signed Matfield, Botha, Juan smith and a few other big name internationals on short term deals. It stinks.

Fuck you flaps you cunt.

He's coming here and that's that.

Cullen out, and Sykes gone. Leaving only Browne and Toner as senior locks.

He wouldnt be signing if it wasnt for these issues.

Well they couldn't for a start - there's a limited number of changes allowed.

And complaining about what could happen is a bit redundant. What if a team suddenly had to cope with a raft of injuries, retirements and released players in one position. Say, the reigning champions and locks? How are they supposed to cope if you don't offer some lee-way from the originally named squad?

They couldn't add that many players to their HEC squad.

You can't do that. Understand the rules of the competition before going off on one.

So what are the rules then? How many of these "medical Jokers" are allowed?

Two or three. Something like that.

Leinster have the money. It isn't even remotely wrong.

You can remove 3 players and add 3 players to your squad for the knockouts. If you use all three changes you must add at least one front row player to your squad.

It's dodgy as fuck. Promote a kid from the academy.

What do you mean dodgy? It's completely within the rules.

we're already the best team in Europe by far.

Now we're going to be even better.

And there's NOTHING you impoverished second rate pigdogs can do about it.

It's great being a Leinster fan

Why? They aren't a charity. They are meaning to win. Thorn helps them win.

Wasn't WDPs first contract with Munster exactly like this?

Pretty much this. He learned all about ambition from Mick O'Driscoll it seems.

fixed

This is a man on a mission to pick up most trophies in two codes:

NRL Premiership
State of Origin

NPC Championship
Super Rugby
Tri Nations
World Cup

If he adds the HEC with Leinster he can go on to Japan and pick up whatever they play for there pretty much singlehanded...

I hate God botherers- should have gone Ulshter

Rabo pro 12 as well

bump

confirmed yet anyone?

Apart from the aforementioned reasons why this can't happen another reason it doesn't happen is because those players would all be playing S15 rugby and wouldn't be at a loose end. The two recent medical jokers in Ireland are 37 year olds, one about to retire and the other not far from that, winding down in Japan.

It also would make no financial sense for them to do so because winning the HEC doesn't actually net the winner much money in England as all winnings are split 12 ways and only the quarter final proceeds go to the club. I think the last time Wasps won it they made a loss on the campaign.

I don't know what Thorn is on but his signing, presuming it's a done deal, will be a calculated risk based on return and we'd probably only be able to do it with one player. 2 players would probably make the return on investement either negative or too tight to risk it.

In terms of promoting a youngster, yes we could and have already this season but our 2nd row stocks are so low that even promoting one wouldn't give us sufficient squad depth and you have to draw a line somewhere. Why would we sacrifice competitivness in the 2 competition we're favourites to win just to give a youngster games before he's ready?

I didn't realise that. It's probably a significant reason that English clubs don't do so well any more.

To be fair, Wasps are probably an exception given how shit their ground is but the point is you make your money in the pool stages and the quarter final. Even in Ireland that's the case but our financial model is totally different.

Not sure how it's done in France.

What's wrong for flaps is that it's an Irish team doing it. Nothing else.

And that it's a world class player (hopefully still the case). New players are always added to squads for the quarters, some better than others.

I think we got a perfect storm of events for this to happen (presuming it does) with Thorn just happening to be at a loose end and an all Kiwi coaching setup. It's unlikely to happen very often in the future.

Ryan isnt going anywhere.

I love seeing Heinz Guderian in an avatar. Do you have S&T #57, or the AH edition?

This.

Very good signing. Probably the best 2nd row around along with Matfield for the past 5 years or so.

I recall saying after some Damien Browne showcase of shitness that we weren't going to have a chance of winning the HEC without a top quality lock. Well, just knock me over with a feather! We have a real chance now. Welcome, Mr. Thorn.

EverReady - not to worry. One night in coppers will sort out his God bothering inclinations.

A renowned enforcer who is quick to sort out anyone who messes with him or any of his team mates. If things get heated on the field he would probably be the player you would most want on your side.

Knock me down with a feather,

an 37 yr old ex mungo getting irelands call and d.d excited.

Suprised he didnt milk it for a few more years in the NRL. I heard it was shit, and uncomplicated.