Tommy Bowe set to return home

Just heard the news whilst in the shower this morning....

according to Today FM Tommy Bowe is set to return home and sign for Ulster

This is probably where they heard / read the news...

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0207/1224311401072.html

Its interesting ( and very positive) to note that Gerry Thornley is the author of the article as he clearly has the "inside track"

Anyways lets hope I wasn't having a Bobby Ewing moment......

This fits exactly with what I have heard.

Tommy has chosen Ulster and it is down to money being agreed.

Great news guys! He didn't have his finest defensive performance on Sunday but is still a class act and showed that for the two tries. Absolutely delighted hes coming home. Over the moon.

Hopefully he can find his very best form again now hes back were he belongs!

That's good. Gives us three great wing options and Presents young Gilroy with a massive challenge but one I think he can handle. Add in Payne and D'arcy and we have good back three options.

This is great news, we've been expecting it for a while now

I think Bowe will return to form with Ulster.

A summer of rest and then the IRFU rest periods should see him return to his best next season.

We are reallying creating a very very good team, lets hope it continues.

It's good news. Bowe is still quite young so I really hope he can hit peak form again with ulster.

He was rubbish at the Ospreys anyway.....

The right choice for all parties.

I think it will be good for him, for Ulster and for Ireland. What would the starting backline be next year?

09 Ruan Pienaar
10 Ian Humphreys
11 Andrew Trimble
12 Paddy Wallace
13 Darren Cave
14 Tommy Bowe
15 Jared Payne

20 Paul Marshall
21 Nevin Spence
22 Adam Darcy

I think Gilroy would be on the bench rather than D'Arcy

Definitely Gilroy over D'arcy on the bench and I would Hope Gilroy pushes the two guys very hard for a starting spot.

Pro 12 team

9 P Marshall
10 P Jackson
11 Gaston
12 Marshall
13 Spence
14 Gilroy
15 D'arcy

Hcup team

09 Ruan Pienaar
10 Ian Humphreys
11 Andrew Trimble
12 Paddy Wallace
13 Darren Cave
14 Tommy Bowe
15 Jared Payne


We are really getting squad depth, to be on at least a par with the other Provinces.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16924378

BBC are running with the story too

Why would Gilroy be on the bench? Where is the fullback cover. Spence can cover winger and centre. However who plays at 15 in event of injury?

Gilroy or Bowe stag

red_stag wrote:Why would Gilroy be on the bench? Where is the fullback cover. Spence can cover winger and centre. However who plays at 15 in event of injury?

Gilroy has played full-back for the Under 20's.

Everyone's a winner. He was going stale at the Ospreys. They can now give their Wales qualified youngsters a chance, Ulster get one of their own back in his prime and he can have a fresh start. Good bit of business.

Cool guys in that case definitely Gilroy. He's the better player.

I'm not going to lie, I'm still a bit even though I knew it was coming. I'm glad he's going home where he'll be happy and continue to thrive in his rugby. I'm am going to miss him sooooo bad though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGNLLJz4Ajw

As an O's fan, I'm grateful for the time he spent with us, and all the tries he scored (there were some corkers). I'll still be keeping an eye on him from across the Irish pond and will pop over next season to have a gawk at him in Belfast.

Don't be surprised if you see Tommy lining out at 13 for Ulster. Frankie Sheahan said on against the head last night that Tommy told him that he wanted to play 13 for Ireland.

Sin é I wouldn't rule anything out at this stage but Ulster aren't as weak in that department as Ireland are

Rava wrote:Sin é I wouldn't rule anything out at this stage but Ulster aren't as weak in that department as Ireland are

But presumably Ulster want Tommy back and if he wants to play 13, they would probably go along with it. It would suit Ireland if he was playing 13 regularly and if he wants a central contract, they will have a big say as to where he plays.

He might get some games at 13 but there is no way he will be a regular for Ulster at 13.

We have only 2 other wingers - Trimble and Gilroy for next year and
5 Centres - Wallace, Marshall, Whitten, Spence, Cave.

It just doesn't stack up

To clarify the only way it does stack up is if Spence and Whitten get much of their game time on the wing

So Centres - Bowe, Wallace, Marshall, Cave
Wings - Gilroy, Trimble, Whitten, Spence

I would think he will spend most of his time on the wing despite the undoubted wisdom of frankie sheahan

As long as Bowe is wearing an Ulster jersey I don't care what number is on his back!

roddersm wrote:As long as Bowe is wearing an Ulster jersey I don't care what number is on his back!

I'd still rather him out of any shirt...

I'd still rather we play cave at 13.... And we will

I think he's better off at 14. He seemed a bit lost at 13 with the Ospreys, but then I don't know the Ulster squad, so it might work there.

Standulstermen wrote:I would think he will spend most of his time on the wing despite the undoubted wisdom of frankie sheahan

Maybe that is the reason then why his contract renewal is taking so long.

IRFU want him to play at 13.
Tommy wants to play at 13.
Tommy wants to go home to Ulster.
Ulster want a winger.

IRFU won't give a central contract for a winger.
Ulster have to come up with the cash themselves to pay him if they want him on the wing.

Sin é, give it up man. HE'S NOT GOING TO MUNSTER!!

End Of.

I don't know where the Munster rumour came from. That was bandied about before he signed to the Ospreys. I knew he'd go to Ulster if he went back to Ireland at all.

Is he a South African then

Sin, you have a very active imagination son. I think Earls is the winger tipped to move inside to 13. I've seen no indication that the IRFU don't see a future for him on the wing. They might see him as an option to cover 13, but they guy consistently plays on the wing for Ireland.

I suspect he'll play 90% of his rugby on the wing and get the occasional run-out at centre. Same with Tom Court and loosehead/tighthead.

Rava wrote:Sin é, give it up man. HE'S NOT GOING TO MUNSTER!!

End Of.

Rava, if you look at the beginning of the thread you will see a post from me saying I'd prefer if Bowe went to Ulster as if he came to Munster, we would more than likely lose Howlett, one of the greatest wingers of all time.

Notch wrote:Sin, you have a very active imagination son. I think Earls is the winger tipped to move inside to 13. I've seen no indication that the IRFU don't see a future for him on the wing. They might see him as an option to cover 13, but they guy consistently plays on the wing for Ireland.

I suspect he'll play 90% of his rugby on the wing and get the occasional run-out at centre. Same with Tom Court and loosehead/tighthead.

Notch, I'm repeating what Frankie Sheahan said on Against the Head. He claimed on national tv that Tommy Bowe told him he wanted to play 13 for Ireland.

I think the IRFU would like a situation where 3/4 provinces had IQ players starting in each position which would mean that all the provinces would have an international starting at 13.

Furthermore, Ireland are not short of young wingers coming into their prime (D. Kearney, Luke Fitz, Zebo, Gilroy) not forgetting Andrew Trimble (a bit older) playing fairly well at the moment.

Ulster have Cave at 13 and his understudy Spence, both of whom I feel will be the future at 13 for Ireland. Bowe won't be our starting 13.

Sin é wrote:

Rava wrote:Sin é, give it up man. HE'S NOT GOING TO MUNSTER!!

End Of.

Rava, if you look at the beginning of the thread you will see a post from me saying I'd prefer if Bowe went to Ulster as if he came to Munster, we would more than likely lose Howlett, one of the greatest wingers of all time.

I know, but don't let that get in the way.

Ulster peeps - more importantly...when is Tommy's first game for you likely to be? I need dates...

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Ulster have Cave at 13 and his understudy Spence, both of whom I feel will be the future at 13 for Ireland. Bowe won't be our starting 13.

And that may be the reason why the IRFU central contract negotiations are taking so long!

Cave may get one or two starts for Ireland, but he is far too injury prone to make the Ireland 13 jersey his own.

Rava wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Rava wrote:Sin é, give it up man. HE'S NOT GOING TO MUNSTER!!

End Of.

Rava, if you look at the beginning of the thread you will see a post from me saying I'd prefer if Bowe went to Ulster as if he came to Munster, we would more than likely lose Howlett, one of the greatest wingers of all time.

I know, but don't let that get in the way.

Its a good for us all then !

Sin é wrote:Notch, I'm repeating what Frankie Sheahan said on Against the Head. He claimed on national tv that Tommy Bowe told him he wanted to play 13 for Ireland.

I think the IRFU would like a situation where 3/4 provinces had IQ players starting in each position which would mean that all the provinces would have an international starting at 13.

We already have an international option for the national team at 13. And another as his understudy. I think Bowe may play 13 occasionally for Ulster, but most of his rugby is going to be on the wing.

As for 'injury prone'- thats you making up things, again.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:Notch, I'm repeating what Frankie Sheahan said on Against the Head. He claimed on national tv that Tommy Bowe told him he wanted to play 13 for Ireland.

I think the IRFU would like a situation where 3/4 provinces had IQ players starting in each position which would mean that all the provinces would have an international starting at 13.

We already have an international option for the national team at 13. And another as his understudy. I think Bowe may play 13 occasionally for Ulster, but most of his rugby is going to be on the wing.

As for 'injury prone'- thats you making up things, again.

He seems to miss out on selection a lot through injury though. He is 6 months younger than Earls - Earls has 26 international caps and a B+I Lions tour under his belt. Cave has 2 Ireland caps. He missed a call-up just now through injury and he missed the world cup because he was out injured for most the previous season. Its also going to be difficult for Cave to get a start because he can only start a game as he doesn't play any other position. And Brian O'Driscoll is going to be around for another while.

You are seeing it correctly what the situation is in Ulster. I'm seeing it from maybe what the IRFU want - Tommy Bowe (a proven international player) playing as a 13 who can also play on the wing.

And I'm saying where is the evidence IRFU want this

Notch wrote:And I'm saying where is the evidence IRFU want this

There is none Notch, sin is on the wind up man and playing a blinder as usual.

His only purpose here is to, not very subtly, have a a dig at Cave and Bowe whilst bigging up Earls and Howlett at the same time.

Secretly hes green with envy that Bowe has chosen Ulster over Munster but he'll never admit it.

Notch wrote:And I'm saying where is the evidence IRFU want this

I never said I had any evidence as to what the IRFU wanted - I'm pointing out that it might suit them. They have their quota of wingers already on contract (don't forget, Bowe has not been on the IRFU's payroll for the last couple of years). Bear in mind that Sean O'Brien doesn't have a central contract, while Paddy Wallace does. It looks to me as if they give the central contracts on the position played and how important it is to the team. Ireland have plenty of wingers.

Now, can you give me an explaination as to why Tommy Bowe would make very public his desire to play Outside Centre for Ireland?

roddersm wrote:

Notch wrote:And I'm saying where is the evidence IRFU want this

There is none Notch, sin is on the wind up man and playing a blinder as usual.

His only purpose here is to, not very subtly, have a a dig at Cave and Bowe whilst bigging up Earls and Howlett at the same time.

Secretly hes green with envy that Bowe has chosen Ulster over Munster but he'll never admit it.

Rods, Bowe & his agent wouldn't be the first to drop Munster's name when looking for a new contract.

Expect to see Kanio linked to Munster shortly - his agent confirmed that he had made contact with Garret Fitzgerald (Munster's CEO).

PS - No one has to big-up Howlett If it upsets you comparing Cave to Earls, how about Luke Fitz who is another one of Cave's contemporaries - despite missing a lot through injury he has 20 caps and a couple of test starts on the Lions.

For the record - I think Felix Jones may suffer something of a similar fate - a few caps because he is so injury prone.

Sin é wrote:


Now, can you give me an explaination as to why Tommy Bowe would make very public his desire to play Outside Centre for Ireland?

Sin é wrote:

Notch, I'm repeating what Frankie Sheahan said on Against the Head. He claimed on national tv that Tommy Bowe told him he wanted to play 13 for Ireland.

I fail to see how Frankie Sheahan claiming Bowe told him something constitutes Bowe making a public announcement.

You have a great way of developing a story Sin. Got to hand it to you!

Rava wrote:

Sin é wrote:


Now, can you give me an explaination as to why Tommy Bowe would make very public his desire to play Outside Centre for Ireland?

Sin é wrote:

Notch, I'm repeating what Frankie Sheahan said on Against the Head. He claimed on national tv that Tommy Bowe told him he wanted to play 13 for Ireland.

I fail to see how Frankie Sheahan claiming Bowe told him something constitutes Bowe making a public announcement.
You have a great way of developing a story Sin. Got to hand it to you!

Wow, you think Frankie Sheahan would say something like that on national tv without Bowe's approval? RTE is the national broadcaster - not the daily mail and Frankie is an agent, who is presumably looking for more clients than what he has, so blabbing something like that on the public airwaves about a player wouldn't go down too well in that player's colleagues dressing rooms.

For those who didn't watch the show Sheehan, Wallace and Thornley suggested playing Bowe at 13...they didn't just say that Bowe wanted to play there.

Interesting that Sheehan and Wallace thought Bowe was a better option than Earls....and if your story about the IRFU wanting him to play 13 is true (I doubt it) then clearly they think he is too, if they wanted Bowe at Munster

.... you left that out Sin.....

That's the thing though Sin. How can we be sure of Bowe's exact words if he actually didn't utter them publicly.

Did Sheahan "quote" Bowe verbatim?

But then Sheahan is a Munsterman so of course it has to be true.

No Rava Sheahan said he couldn't understand why Bowe wasn't tried in the center and that he knew from talking to Bowe that he'd be keen to get a run there.

Thornley said something similar and let slip that Bowe had been tried at 13 in training.

There was no big revelation as Sin is making out.