The Hulk Returns

Pre-season is upon us, ticking along in the shade of summer blockbusters such as the Tour de France, Wimbledon and of course the World Cup.  Leaving scant morsels for rugby fans, crumbs such as Séan O'Brien's lumbering jack-of-all-trades' approach to training and 1D's Niall Horan's getting a coaching in kicking have been all that has been of note recently...

The Larch! The Pine! The Giant Redwood!

ROG you don't know you're beautiful

Not only that, but any impending jersey releases have been superseded by the shocking news that the heaviest player to compete in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Tony Buckley, has retired...  A moment to reflect as this oft maligned prop returns to his chosen trade of plumbing...

And finally the cogs of commercial venture started to wheel out the impending season's fare.  Connacht Rugby were first up, with their new sponsor Lifestyle Sports announcing their backing by way of a tie dye training top.  Manufactered by blk, it's likely that the new alternate jersey will see it's debut against Clermont on August 8th.

From this...

... To this?

Not one to be outdone, careful research has unearthed adidas' new alternate jersey for the 2014-15 season.  Munster kit manager Pat Kiely gave an insight into what may lie ahead with this snippet:

This year's kit is going down very well, so much so I've yet to receive any complaints. Some of the new colours include luminous orange and green which go down well with the younger lads - you know yourself, they like a bit of flash.

Indeed, this is a tactic oft used by adidas.  A pattern first emerged in 2009, 2010, 2011, and again now in 2014 whereby adidas have tried to emulate the commonplace highlighter.

     

Whereas 2009's yellow and 2011's green elements were training jerseys, 2014's alternate jersey is a recurrence of the neon "Nightwolf" patchwork neon green exhibited in 2010's patchwork alternate jersey, except on a much larger scale, taking inspiration from the Highlanders 2014 alternate jersey.  From the neon green, to the tribal stag pattern, this is a jersey that will thankfully only be used in pre-season friendlies (Gloucester vs Munster 23rd August 2014 in Kingsholm) and the away game against Scarlets in the RaboDirect Guinness Pro12...

Connacht Levelling the Playing Field

For too long Connacht have been at the bottom of Irish rugby.  Most would agree that they have been neglected, and used as a development province for up and coming players.  One need only cast a glance at the prominent careers of:

• Jerry Flannery (2001-3, currently stength and conditioning coach at Arsenal)
• Eoin Reddan (2001-3, 3 time Heineken Cup winner with Leinster and holder of international rugby's quickest injury)
• Tony Buckley (2004-5, now playing for Sale Sharks)
• Gavin Williams (2005-7, after which international Samoan debut and recent Stade Francais signing)

Not to mention the boomerang effect, whereupon those who were deemed surplus to requirements are shipped back to the feeder province:

It looked like the trend might have been bucked last year, with Connacht acquiring the services of accomplished Australian born outhalf, Dan Parks.  Parks sensationally retired from international rugby immediately after a poor performance for Scotland against England in the 2012 Six Nations, and then went on to help Connacht to a famous victory against Biarritz Olympique in the group stages of the Heineken Cup.  The all time PRO12 record points scorer has recently expanded his role to that of under 18s coach.  Breakthrough Irish international lock Mike McCarthy put heed to any chances Connacht had of retaining home grown talent, and him and Fionn Carr crossed paths to and from Leinster.  This transfer irked Connacht, accusing Leinster of "persistently targeting Connacht players in recent years".

Leinster had their own problems to deal with however, and with the loss of Jonny Sexton to big spenders Racing Metro 92 (already trying to make their money back before the season begins), Isa Nacewa to retirement (now dabbling in punditry) and Joe Schmidt to Ireland, they were always going to be in the market for replacements.  Sexton's loss was going to be felt acutest, and despite Cian Healy's reassuring tweet (see right), another outhalf had to be high up on the list of priorities.  Despite clamours to bring acclaimed Exeter Chiefs outhalf Gareth Steenson back to the Emerald Isle, Leinster have opted to sign newly promoted Newcastle Falcons pivot Jimmy Gopperth.  The 29 year old Kiwi left Super 15 rugby in 2009 to fill the void left by Jonny Wilkinson's departure from Newcastle Falcons, and is a record holding kicker, possessing a solid all round game.  Leinster fans will be hoping he can provide assists such as this one:

All this fades in comparison to the high profile signing of Springbok full back Zane Kirchner.  Intended as a like-for-like replacement of Nacewa, Kirchner also can cover wing and outside centre (in November 2010 at international level opposite none other than fellow Leinster back Brian O'Driscoll), and has been immoveable at fullback for South Africa for the past 9 games, including another victory against Ireland in the recent autumn internationals.  At only 29 years old, he takes to the field today for Super 15 outfit the Bulls in a semi-final against the Brumbies.  Few have been to the Bulls' Loftus Verfeld Stadium in Pretorius and outplayed Kirchner, whoever the victor is they face the Chiefs in their home Waikato Stadium for the final next weekend.  The number 15 is good under the high ball and a competent kicker out of hand.  His attacking vision is sometimes called into question, and it should be noted that the Bulls play a brand of power rugby that relies heavily upon forward-orientated play.  While obviously committed to embracing the high tempo Leinster gameplan, it will be interesting to see how new Leinster coach Matt O'Connor shuffles the Leinster backline, will for instance Rob Kearney be moved to a wing opposite his brother Dave to accommodate Kirchner?

Meanwhile Munster have been keeping quiet, if anything silently adding searing pace to their back division.  Andrew Conway comes over from Leinster, most recently victorius on the right wing in the Amlin Challenge Cup final against Stade Francais, providing an assist for Sean Cronin's try.  This week the services of South African speedster Gerhard van den Heever have been attained, with the winger due to link up with Munster in November after completion of the Currie Cup.  Last season his region Western Province won the competition, and he will join previous Blue Bulls teammate CJ Stander in Munster.  The 24 year old has pace to burn, and can cover a multitude of positions in the backline.  Not only that, but at 6'3" and circa 100kg, he is in the mould of new age wingers such as George North.  As fast or faster than new Touloun winger Bryan Habana, Munster will hope he contributes more than the last overseas prodigy - Will Chambers who managed one solitary try before returning to Australia...  One thing is irrefutable, van den Heever has big boots to fill, hopefully he will improve his defensive game to emulate the retiring All Black top try scorer legend and Munster captain Dougie Howlett's bone-jarring hits.  Munster coach Rob Penney will hope this new Springbok can complement Ireland stars Keith Earls and Simon Zebo as Munster look to build upon last season's semi-final defeat to French juggernauts Clermont Auvergne.

The real transfer coup may belong to long neglected Connacht however.  This morning Chiefs took on a star-studded Crusaders in the Super 15 semi-final, and emerged victorious.  Their captain is on his way to the Super 15 final, en route to Connacht.  If Mike McCarthy is Connacht's loss, then Chiefs captain Craig Clarke is most certainly Connacht's gain.  At 29 years old the 6'7" second row was monumental in captaining the Chiefs' 37-6 demolition of the Sharks in last year's Super Rugby final, and has signed a 3 year deal with the western province.  Today he was instrumental again, securing a one point win over a Crusaders team packed with New Zealand names such as Dan Carter, Israel Dagg, Kieran Read and Richie McCaw to name but a few.  The fact that Connacht coach Pat Lam is in a position to acquire the services of such a high calibre player speaks volumes about where Connacht are going, with other new signing Samoan international James So'oialo propelling Connacht rugby forwards.  Hopefully So'oialo will be in the headlines for reasons other than most recently.  Undoubtedly Connacht have a lot to look forward to, perhaps Craig Clarke might even bring tradition such as the Chiefs' own haka across the waters:

New Meaning to Jersey Reveal

Long gone are the dull days of a typed press release announcing a new jersey.  Evolution was forced upon the crowds outside Cardiff library as groups of dancers dressed as members of the public began a very promptu flash mob.  Cardiff Blues "son of a Wexford farmer" Robin Copeland, lines out in this unveiling of the new home jersey.

Not one to be outdone, Bath winger Tom Biggs is literally doing things the opposite way round.  Whereas Copeland stripped to reveal the jersey, Biggs is having the new Bath jersey gradually painted onto his naked torso, until the final jersey will be revealed in time for a pre-season friendly against Bristol on August 17th.

That time can't come quick enough.  Not wanting to be overtaken, and not at all competitive (see video), Paul O'Connell took a break from his acting career to get involved.

They say Superman wears Paul O'Connell's pyjamas, well sometimes Paul O'Connell has to wear some things he doesn't like.  Recently on his stag do, the lifelong Everton fan was forced to dress as the famous 1980s Liverpool legend Ian Rush.  This sparked rumours that perhaps this was a thinly veiled Munster 2013-14 jersey.

Of course, the revelation of Munster's jersey was always going to be something of a surprise.  With Toyota outgoing as sponsors (along with a healthy fund of €900,000 per annum), it was only in May that Bank of Ireland (whose name already adorns the jerseys of Ulster and Leinster) were confirmed as sponsors.  The car manufacturer had sponsored Munster for 9 years and Bank of Ireland were their predecessors.  The news comes after retirement of talismanic Ronan O'Gara and 2012-13 captain Dougie Howlett, and paired with this season's Heineken Cup semi-final achievement will go some way towards providing future stability in the form of signings such as winger Gerhard van den Heever. 

Making a boomerang turnaround from the Lions tour (when he represented Munster) and his stag, Paulie came down to Cork for the Adidas Munster Rugby home jersey 2013-14 launch.

Received well thus far, there is no sign of following fellow European heavyweights Toulouse with gold stars representing Heineken Cup success.  The return of the navy shorts is welcomed by many.  One criticism is that the blocking of navy on the shoulders has the effect of reducing the apparent size, this paired with the curtailed course of the Adidas stripes gives the appearance of shoulder patches.  It has a retro feel to it, with some likening it to the jersey from 2003-4 - most memorable for the miracle match against Gloucester - hopefully new memories in the same vein will be forged in this jersey.

The full range including the alternative jersey will be released on August 23rd, and may well take its cue from the alternate jersey from 2003-4, with healthy smatterings of navy in a relatively straightforward reversal of the colour pallette.

The difficult economic climate also has repercussions when it comes to the Irish kit sponsors.  The IRFU announced earlier this year that Puma were to renege on their agreement 4 years into an 8 year contract.  The sportswear giant will provide for this coming season, giving the IRFU time to source a new kit supplier.  Current front runners include Nike and Adidas, although hot on the heels of securing a deal with Connacht, BLK are outside runners.  Suppliers of Super 15 teams Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies, they are embarking upon international contracts with Fiji and Samoa.  Regardless, this has not stopped Puma from making some minor tweaks to the existing kit and unleashing it upon the general public in time for the upcoming Joe Schmidt era.

Old jersey

New jersey

While the subtle change back to "an immediately recognisable green" will be welcomed by some, the new alternate jersey is dividing opinion.  Some have compared it to a Tron outfit, some have said it resembles two cars passing each other with a cat jumping out of the way.

Finally, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs announced their entry into the lucrative rugby market this morning, as Leinster's new Canterbury gear was released.  The motif running throughout is that of the four strings of the Ryanair harp dividing into 12 to signify the 12 counties of Leinster.  If this wasn't clear enough, "@leinsterrugby" adorns the nape as an additional design element.

Chelsea Magic

Jimmy Gopperth confused at the prospect of playing for Tottenham Hotspurs

Munster's First Third Jersey

When Rob Penney's team take on Saracens this Saturday, they aren't talking about the medieval term for Muslims, or the British armoured personnel carrier, they're referring to Saracens F.C., the professional rugby team - and they're defending an unbeaten 3-0 Heineken Cup record against the north London side...

Saracens were arguably the first of the English clubs to dip into the high profile transfer market, in 1995 bringing in players such as Michael Lynagh, Philippe Sella, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon's "we've got to win the world cup") and the Dublin-born England captain Kyran Bracken.  A foray into aggressive marketing in 1997-8 seems to pre-date the efforts of even Stade Francais' Max Guazzini, leading to the Fez Army as the most fervent London Boks supporters are called.  Ever since the introduction of South African scrum-half Neil de Kock, there has been a steady Springbok supplementing of the team, with Schalk Brits, John Smit and even director of rugby Dr Brendan Venter doing nothing to shirk the "Saffracens" tag with his exploits...

Shading it against Gloucester last week, Saracens will have their full complement back at their disposal for this weekend's trip to Thomond Park.  Scotland back row talent Kelly Brown, as well as Springbok Schalk Brits are back in the fold.  This is not to mention the All Black-slaying England stars:

England's Saracens contingent hold aloft the Sir Edmund Hillary Shield

Under the tutelage of ex-Saracen Andy Farrell, tries from Brad Barritt and Chris Ashton helped England to a 38-21 victory over a norovirus-struck New Zealand on Saturday 1st December 2012.  Not only will the Ash Splash return to Vicarage Road, IRB 2012 Player of the Year nominee Owen Farrell (four penalties and a drop goal against the World Champions), Alex Goode and Mako Vunipola will all fill the teamsheet.

Backs Coach Leinster 2000-02
Head Coach Munster 2002-05
Director of Rugby Saracens 2006-08
Technical Consultant Leinster 2008-10
Backs Coach Ireland 2008-11

Shane Byrne spent two years hooking at Saracens

A tough task for Munster so, but they have an ace in the pocket in Peter Stringer.  It wasn't only Alan Gaffney and Shane "The Mullet" Byrne who spent time at Vicarage Road, the diminutive scrum half was rented by Saracens from Munster on a 3 month contract last season following injuries to Neil de Kock and Richard Wigglesworth on Saracens' side, and the emergence of Conor Murray on Munster's side.  Having lost two Heineken Cup finals and won two with Munster, Strings instilled invaluable experience to the London side, with the result that this season, Saracens sit 3 points clear of Munster atop Pool 1.  Conor Murray is now picking Stringer's brain ahead of the back-to-back clashes, such is the insight the 98 times capped Irish scrum-half possesses... 

Whilst Munster have their own Ireland internationals to welcome back to the fold, an interesting predicament has cropped up.  Saracens are taking the rules of the Heineken Cup to the extreme, and insisting that when Munster visit Vicarage Road next weekend, they neither don their home nor their alternative jersey.  Heineken Cup Tournament Rule 3 states:

For pool matches and quarter-finals, in the event of a colour clash, the away club will change jerseys.  For the semi-finals and final in the event of a colour clash the club selected to change jersey will be by toss of a coin.

Saracens are literally following the letter of the law, with a clash of colours meaning adidas have to produce a new jersey specifically for this one match.

Saracens home jersey 2012-13

Munster home jersey 2012-13

Because the broadcasters found that there was not sufficient difference between Munster's home jersey and Saracens' red hooped home jersey, and subsequently Munster's alternative jersey and Saracen's home jersey, Munster are being forced under competition rules to change.

Munster alternative jersey 2012-13

Saracens alternative jersey 2012-13

It begs the question, is this necessary when Saracens' alternative jersey produces no such offensive clash of patterns or colours.

More than likely not, and insiders say that the ERC pleaded with Saracens on two occasions to cease with such trifles and take their alternative kit off the hangars.  Regardless, adidas are making this one-off exclusive, with none available for for retail.  Whilst this jersey should arguably not even be in existence, curiosity begs as to why last season's white hooped alternative jersey was not employed, or the alternative jersey from 2008-09?

Munster's first third (Heineken Cup) jersey

Doug Howlett asking what's wrong with
2011-12's alternative jersey?

Donncha perplexed as to why 2008-09's
alternative jersey isn't good enough

Saracens may feel the have a psychological edge won, a victorious skirmish before the battle.  Whilst such matters presumably don't irk consummate professionals, a jersey as honoured as the red one can possess intangible power.  Only in 2008 did the New York Yankees shell out $50,000 to excavate a Boston Red Sox jersey from the stadium, surreptitiously entombed as a hex by a construction worker hailing from Chicago.  Whatever the case, the matches will be titanic to watch, with both teams possessing impressive stats, Saracens having 100% success on their own lineout throws, and Munster currently able to maintain 97% of ball at rucks and mauls, a tournament record.  The one-off jersey fiasco brings up unpleasant memories from the 2008-09 season, when Toulouse pulled a fast one on Munster, tweaking tournament rules so that Toulouse would play in red in the final, and therefore Munster would have to play in navy.  Not that this mattered a damn.

The last time a team tried to pull a jersey change on Munster

2012-2013 New Munster Alternate Jersey

With the new season underfoot, fresh changes are to be expected.  The penultimate year of Munster's deal with Adidas sees only an alternate jersey filling the shelves on August 9th 2012.  This dark coloured jersey will be revealed on July 27th, but those keen to scratch and sniff can help in de-tiling the jersey - here's Paul O'Connell to explain how:

As of now, only 50% is revealed, although it appears a charcoal colour has been chosen, with the luminous yellow - familiar from the training gear - embossing the emblem and trim, the Adidas 3 stripes in Munster red.  Will it sell like hot cakes?  Probably not.


In other news, Leinster's success has meant yet another new jersey for this season, leaked pic below.

And finally, here's BO'D, proving that jerseys do matter...

"Hybrid" Home H-Cup Jerseys

Munster Rugby and Toyota recently announced that Munster will be wearing special edition jerseys for their Thomond Park Heineken Cup pool games over the coming months.  Originally when I saw "Hybrid" in the title I was awash with excitement, were they going to have a third European jersey, a jersey with two Heineken Cup stars, a sleeveless version?  But no, clicking into the article I was disappointed to learn it referred to Toyota's Auris Hybrid car.

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against Toyota's flagship of environmental technology (I can only assume that's why there are windmills in the background of every second catalogue shot of the car), but is it really acceptable to be plastering it on the front of a jersey as prestigious and revered as Munster's?  Munster Rugby and Toyota argue that it is, since they are giving away 23 of these "special edition" jerseys for charity.  One counter argument amongst many would be it's a slap in the faces to those who paid nearly €70 for a replica jersey not more than 4 months ago.

This is not the first time sponsors have "tagged on" to the shirt space they paid for.  During Ireland's World Cup warm up game against England in August, O2 decided to advertise their O2 Money prepay Visa card across the lower midriff of the Irish team.  Admittedly it could be worse, and us Irish could just be yearning for the simpler times, back when Bank of Ireland sponsored everyone.  I mean, have a look at some of the Italian teams, or even the Ospreys!

Benetton Treviso going fairly heavy on the advertising hoarding front alright - even giving Captain Amazing from Mystery Men a run for his money, but nothing compared to the Ospreys, who have no less than 9 sponsors on their jersey:

• Embroidery:
• Small maximuscle logo on left collar
• Small Doors Warehouse logo on right
• Printing:
• Large RWE npower renewables logo on front of shirt
• Stabili s.r.l. logo on right arm
• Jewson logo on left arm
• Small Veolia Transport logo on left arm
• Cuddy Group logo on left arm
• Small Nathanial cars.co.uk logo on back of collar
• Large Persimmon logo on lower back

Seeing as Toyota are sticking this up our Auris for charity, it'd be negligent not to mention Osprey's unique take on a third jersey - a charity jersey.  Quite a novel concept, Ospreys team up with Welsh cancer charity the Joshua Foundation, whereby £3 from each of a limited run of 1,500 jerseys sold goes to this honourable charity.

Above and to the right we have Connacht Rugby's awesome third European jersey.  Yes, they might have a rough time propping up Pool 6, but they'll look class doing so.  Legend has it that the eagle and sword crest used by Connacht were granted to Ruaidhrí Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, by the Irish monastery (Schottenkloster) founded in Regensburg, Bavaria in the 11th century.  Oddly enough the Connacht jersey colours do not match up to those of the province, which are blue, black and white (no green present).  The origin of the green is unknown, to this day underage Connacht teams wear a blue and black/white kit which matches the flag [edit: this is no longer the case].

At least you don't see Connacht's sponsors - Mazda - pushing their all new CX-5 compact SUV across their jerseys.  Still though, if Munster Rugby can generate extra funds from this minor extra embroidery, then so be it.  Maybe we'll be able to afford a good signing, who knows!  Perhaps one with "sustainable mobility" - just like the Auris Hybrid...

Will we see Jean de Villiers' hybrid vigour once more?