Connacht Squad 2016/2017

@roadrunnerr1 my point was they are not badly off with funding despite IRFU so I wouldn't be feeling sorry for them.

They are doing extremely poorly at bringing through rugby talent considering the playing Base they have up there.

If they didn't have the kingspan sponsorship and state aid facilities you can be sure the irfu would not leave them hanging like they do Connacht. They are not even close to being in the same boat as us.

I don't disagree with you and believe me when I tell you I'm not expressing any sympathy for Ulster here. I'm simply trying to avoid seeing and talking about this situation from just a Connacht point of view and being labelled as someone with a chip on his shoulder. Also think if you do have to go into a fight alone against three opponents, it makes sense to try and convince one of the three that their interests are aligned with yours and to change sides. 2 v 2 is a lot better than 1 v 3.

@roadrunnerr1 interesting tactics but I wasn't aware we were about to go into battle. If we are then yeah might as well get as many on our side as possible. Why let semantics get in the way even if our situations are far from analogous

No AIL last weekend and Saba didn't make the squad for Doncaster so nothing to report

Prop

Ivan Soroka (Senior) - Came off the bench for Clontarf (AIL 1A).
Saba Meuargia (Year 3) - Didn't play this weekend.
Jamie Dever (Year 3) - Started at 1 for Buccaneers (AIL 1B).
Conan O'Donnell (Year 2) - Back in training after injury.
Conor Kyne (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.
Conor Kenny (Year 1) - Didn't play this weekend.

Hooker

Jack Dineen (Year 3) - Didn't play this weekend.
Pat O'Toole (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.

Second row

Danny Qualter (Senior) - Started at 4 for Buccaneers.
Cian Romaine (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.
Peter Claffey (Year 1) - Started at 5 for Galwegians (AIL 1B).
Cillian Gallagher (Year 1) - Injured.

Back row

James Connolly (Senior) - Started at 7 for Corinthians (AIL 2A).
Rory Moloney (Senior) - Started at 7 for Buccaneers.
Eoghan Masterson (Senior) - Started at 8 for Galwegians, 1 try.
Marc Kelly (Year 3) - Started at 6 for Galwegians.
Stephen McVeigh (Year 2) - Started at 6 for Buccaneers.

Scrum half

Conor McKeown (Year 3) - Started at 9 for Buccaneers.
Conor Lowndes (Year 2) - Came off the bench for Galwegians.
Stephen Kerins (Year 1) - Bench for Corinthians.

Out half

Shane O'Leary (Senior) - Came off the bench for Buccaneers.

Centre

Eoin Griffin (Senior) - Started at 13 for Buccaneers.
Rory Parata (Senior) - Started at 13 for Galwegians.
Cormac Brennan (Year 2) - Injured.

Back 3

Ciaran Gaffney (Year 3) - Started at 14 for Galwegians.
Ed O'Keefe (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.
Matthew Byrne (Year 1) - Didn't play this weekend.
Adam Leavy (Year 1) - Didn't play this weekend.


Jordan Conroy (22, Buccs, has played for the Eagles and Ireland 7s) scored a hat-trick to bring him to 17 tries for the season. Buccaneers got promoted, it will be good to have a team in 1A again.

This Conroy fella looks interesting. I was just looking for a little more info on him and came across this article dairewalsh.com/?p=5409 and they mentioned Shane Layden.

Where is Shane now career wise? Has he any chance of making it as a Connacht player? He looked world class at Ireland U20 level.

High praise for Layden here in a World Rugby Future faces article from none other than Mike Ruddock.

www.rugbyworld.com/news/future-faces-ben...d-shane-layden-21883

How many of the underage inter pro winning team have come through does anyone know?

Nice trip down memory lane re squad players from that team, quite a few have come through which is great to see.

community.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-u20-claim-inter-pro-title/

and a where are they now piece shows where some from the next years academy team have ended up

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/four-prov...ung-talent-1.2507320


Back to the original post, is it too late for the likes of Layden and any of the other backs to come through now? I know you can see forwards come on in later 20's but most backs are established by mid 20's if they are going to make it no?

sea_point wrote:
I would say the ship has currently cleared the outer docks, and is not long for the horizon...

Prop

Saba Meuargia (Year 3) - Didn't play this weekend.
Jamie Dever (Year 3) - Started at 3 for Buccaneers, 1 try (AIL 1B).
Conan O'Donnell (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.
Conor Kyne (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.
Conor Kenny (Year 1) - Didn't play this weekend.

Hooker

Jack Dineen (Year 3) - Didn't play this weekend.
Pat O'Toole (Year 2) - Bench for Corinthians (AIL 2A).

Second row

Danny Qualter (Senior) - Started at 5 for Buccaneers.
Cian Romaine (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.
Peter Claffey (Year 1) - Started at 5 for Galwegians (AIL 1B).
Cillian Gallagher (Year 1) - Bench for Corinthians..

Back row

Rory Moloney (Senior) - Started at 7 for Buccaneers.
Eoghan Masterson (Senior) - Started at 8 for Galwegians.
Marc Kelly (Year 3) - Started at 6 for Galwegians.
Stephen McVeigh (Year 2) - Started at 6 for Buccaneers.

Scrum half

Conor McKeown (Year 3) - Didn't play this weekend.
Conor Lowndes (Year 2) - Bench for Galwegians.
Stephen Kerins (Year 1) - Didn't play this weekend.

Out half

Shane O'Leary (Senior) - Started at 13 for Buccaneers, 1 try & 1 con.

Centre

Rory Parata (Senior) - Started at 13 for Galwegians, 1 try.
Cormac Brennan (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.

Back 3

Ciaran Gaffney (Year 3) - Didn't play this weekend.
Ed O'Keefe (Year 2) - Didn't play this weekend.
Matthew Byrne (Year 1) - Didn't play this weekend.
Adam Leavy (Year 1) - Bench for Galwegians, 1 try.

Gaffney and romaine are playing in New Zealand