Connacht Signing Announcments - 2012-13

Connacht are delighted to announce the signing of former Waikato captain and Chiefs prop Nathan White from Leinster.
www.connachtrugby.ie/2012022082764/natha...ite-to-join-connacht

2017 - McCartney, Aki,

2016 - Clarke, Muldowney, Heenan, Marmion, Healy, Faloon, Ronaldson,Ah You, O'Halloran,
2016 - Muldoon, Porter,

2015 - White, Loughney, Poolman, Buckley, george, harris wright, Leader, Heffernan
2015 - mckeon, kearney, henshaw, Carr, Henry, Cooney, Browne, McSharry, Carty, Nikora,
2015 - Finn, Quarter, Bealham, O' Leary, Swift, Fifita




props-- White, Loughney, Buckley, Cooney, Ah You
hookers-- harris wright, henry, Heffernan,
locks-- Swift, kearney, Clarke, Muldowney, Qualtar
6-- Muldoon, Browne
flanker-- Faloon, Fifita, Heenan
8-- george, McKeon
scrum half-- Marmion,
out half-- nikora, Ronaldson
wingers-- O'Halloran, carr, Poolman, Healy
centres-- McSharry,
full backs-- Henshaw,

I think this is a good signing. Probably spells the end for Rodney

fuck me just noticed, A 3 YEAR DEAL!!!!!

Great signing! Hopefully Parks soon too.

If White can bring some much needed leadership to the squad this will be a very good signing. Not sure about the 3 years but at least it means they anticipate Connacht still being around that long.

Agree great signing!

Great news, between him and loghney great to have options at tight head. Loghney deserves a medal for the game time he has put in this season.

Great news, cant wait to see him in the green, with him and Loughs we will have strength in depth covering a key position. Starting to show real signs of intent, hopefully the recruitment will continue to be positive until the squad for next season is finalized. If we do get Dan Parks, I won't be complaining, he was always used as a scapegoat for Scottish loses, Jim Telfer gave a good account of the failure to back him publicly before his retirement from International rugby www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16954576

Great signing locks will learn a great deal with this guy.
Now were sucking diesel !!!!!!

Absolutely delighted with this signing. Has really impressed me any time I've seen him play with Leinster and has a good track record. This is the standard of signings we need to improve. We now have 3 good props on our books, Ronan Loughney has done well at tight head but we badly needed this signing, if either prop was out we'd be in major trouble and most importantly it gives us strength in depth at prop for the first time since Robbie Morris retired.

I'd like to see possibly one more backup signing at prop but this is a major step forward and him being there can hopefully accelerate the development of the likes of Buckley and Maguire.

It looks like the end for Rodney which is a pity but I'm happy the management are acting decisively to solve one problem area in the team.

Super stuff

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant signing. He's a former captain who won regularly at Waikato, is winning regularly at Leinster and can lock a scrum really well. His winning mentality and playing ability are exactly what we need and we'll have him for the prime years of his career.

Said to myself that I would register today and post on signing I would like to see happen and Nathan White was the No.1 for tight head. I assume this means the end for Ah You, but with Loughney and Wilkinson we have really decent depth in the front row.
Some one like Alan Cotter from Young Munster and the Munster Academy would go well too, a very decent scrumager.

Hooker could well be Denis Fogarty, who Im told is definatly being released by Munster, his throwing can be a bit off but Macca is an unreal lineout jumper and Fogarty is v good in the loose, much better than Flavin or Reyneke.

Second row is a position where outside of Munster I hoenstly believe we have more depth than the other provinces. Macca, Browne, Swifty, Nolan, Gannon, Kearney (if he is around next season??) and even big George can do a job there.

Back row is a bit trickier, we are desperatly lacking a good 7. While Grace has gotten a bit of a rap for the silly penalty the last night, I think he is a good player for a down and dirty dog fight, like Saturday. A player that I think could be available is Willie Faloon. With Wilson signed on for next season, it means Ulster will keep Henry at 7, not the mention the talk of Jerome Kaino etc. Will Johnny is an absolute warrior he cant go on for ever, and has picked up knocks every season. Ofisa is now sadly NIQ and we shouldnt put Mul at 7 cause he is such a champion of a 6.

Scrum half has been a major annoyance for me this season, was glad to see Moore get some time in last few weeks. Has looked decent tbf and deserves a go v Edinburgh. I think Stringer is outside our budget, but I would imagine he will come back to get the tax rebate. While also probably outside our budget too, both Reddan and Boss are out of contract this season, and with Luke McGrath bubbling under there may be an opportunity there.

Outhalf has proven another annoyance, has Nikora dissappeared off the face of the earth? All this talk of Parks in as a player/coach is rediculous to me. He is a fine player, certainly not as bad as some would make out, but we have already got a kicking outhalf as head coach, and a backs coach. For me someone liek Gareth Steenson, who cant get game time at Exeter at the minute, would be great. Has slummed it in lower leagues, so knows what it is like to fight for wins, good kicker off ground and would come with a chip on his shoulder.

Centres is another funny one, we can safely assume Benson Stanley wont be on his way but with Griffin seemlingly suffering from shit hamstrings there is a need for depth that I dont feel Tonetti gives. Some Munster mates were saying Tom Gleeson has been sounded out by Connacht, personally I would stay away but what can you do.

Our back 3 are in decent fettle, with McCrea and Tuohy (if he gets back from awful injury) providing cover.
Just need the try machine Tiernan to stay injury free, and to pull up his socks!!!!

Would have taken Denis Fogarty and Tom Gleeson two years ago but both have stagnated into below-average players. With TOL off to France next year Stringer will go back to Munster and play as 2nd choice and with Murray off on Irish duty he can be offered decent gametime.

Wanted to ask this does anyone know how this affects the Borlase deal? Is he gone at the end of the season?

Good question exile.

My best guess is that he has been brought/sent here to A. give us cover because of injuries and b.(more importantly for irfu given his project status)to see if he is worth sticking with and giving him a new contract at munster. Hes iq soon but shown no potential at all in admittedly limited game time due to injury. All indications are that they are leaning towards releasing him in summer so its last chance saloon for him. For some reason he hasnt even featured in AIL since returning from injury to the best of my knowledge.