McKinney - unlikely to be available (No good, have seen him play with Malone) - McKinney in the AIL is a disaster and he has got plenty of stick for not trying hard enough yet when he plays for Ulster its a different story. 50/50 depending on his attitude.


Bring Damien Browne back from France? - Suits the french game but would be lost in the Rabo also he is on a wedge of cash and quite frankly why? Unlike his brother he has never shown any loyalty/interest in playing for Connacht. We're trying to get rid of our oldies not sign new ones.

On your suggestions for signings:

Godman - not good enough to waste a NIQ spot on
Cooney - (I would take him for sure)
Marshall - (I would take him for sure)

O'Connell - unlikely to be available, Front Row is the least of our worries anyway.
Denton - God no (I would take him for sure)

Ryan - don't need another 7, better off putting money elsewhere
McKinney - unlikely to be available (No good, have seen him play with Malone)
Porter - yes (I would take him for sure)

Cochrane - don't know enough about him
McPenaltyish - no better than what we have
Nagle - ditto
O'Callaghan - unlikely to be available
Dineen - signed until summer 2015(I would take him for sure, if availible)

Holland - don't know enough about him (I would take him for sure)

Dorrian - don't know enough about him (if that is the lad who was with Bedford last year before going to Irish? Rubbish, what has he done with LI?)

What about Quinn Roux?(I would take him for sure)
Peter Stringer as a player/coach? (I would take him for sure)
Billy Holland (though I reckon he could get a good wodge of cash in France)?
Chris Farrell and/or Jordan Coghlan? (Chris Farrell has a long history of injury, if Ulster are letting him go, I would leave him)

Bring Damien Browne back from France? Anyone from Taranaki or the Chiefs we should be looking at? (Know nothing about them)

I'd say your release list is pretty accurate. Would hope TOH would stay, but he seems utterly unwanted round these parts.

As for Loughs, he's signed up to 2015, wouldn't want to see him go. Muldowney is signed until 2016, no getting rid there unless he fancies playing somewhere and asks for a release. As for George, he's signed until 2015, with an option for us to extend his contract to 2016. This prevents us bringing in a NIQ/NIE no. 8, and I don't see too many IQ no. 8s available.

On your suggestions for signings:

Godman - not good enough to waste a NIQ spot on
Cooney - only if POD's going :evil:
Marshall - no
O'Connell - unlikely to be available, Front Row is the least of our worries anyway.
Denton - God no
Ryan - don't need another 7, better off putting money elsewhere
McKinney - unlikely to be available
Porter - yes
Cochrane - don't know enough about him
McPenaltyish - no better than what we have
Nagle - ditto
O'Callaghan - unlikely to be available
Dineen - signed until summer 2015
Holland - don't know enough about him
Dorrain - don't know enough about him

What about Quinn Roux? Peter Stringer as a player/coach? Billy Holland (though I reckon he could get a good wodge of cash in France)? Chris Farrell and/or Jordan Coghlan (we badly need at least one more specialist 12)? Bring Damien Browne back from France? Anyone from Taranaki or the Chiefs we should be looking at?

2014 Potential signings! LEINSTER Andrew Godman Leinster Outhalf/Centre, John Cooney-Scrum Half, Ben Marshall 2nd Row, Jack O'Connell Prop Tom Denton 2nd Row, Dominic Ryan Back Row,ULSTER James McKinney Outhalf ,ULSTER Ian Porter Scrum Half, Chris Cochrane Wing, Mike McComish no8, Ian Nagle, Dave O Callaghan 2nd rows, I van Dineen Centre, Johnny Holland Outhalf, Myles Dorrian Outhalf at London irish would be a good signing!!

Release-James Rael, Danny Qualter Dave Nolan, Michael Swift, Frank Murphy, Paul O Donoghue, Miah Nikora,, Dan Parks, Kyle Tonetti, Tiernan O'Halloran, Gavin Duffy, Mata Fafita.

any early release clause for George Naupo,Ronan Loughney and Aly Muldowney#?

Looking forward to yer thoughts guys!!

Indeed. Himself and Parks I'd imagine are the highest wage in the camp.

FACECUTTR wrote: George is in contract so if he goes we will still have to pay the balance.

And it would be a hefty balance

George is in contract so if he goes we will still have to pay the balance.

Angree with porterbelly.I cant see George being retained he is a high earner and 3rd choice no8. Frank murphy parks and duffy aswel as Swift being released would free up a chunk of our budget.Dave Nolan hasnt played much I dont think it the last number of years.Intresting to see will Tiernan O halloran get a new deal he doesnt seem to be in favour at all.

Porterbelly wrote:

Qualter unlikely to be retained.

Was going to ask about him. He's a big lump of a lad like Swift and if he had the skill setting could be an asset as Nolan unfortunately will never reach he level he could have before injury struck him down. What about Coneely how is he doing this season?

The Outlaw wrote: The backrow cannot stay the same

We have no choice. Everyone is locked into a contract and we haven't the money to add anyone unless we can get someone like Dave O Callaghan on the cheap

Porterbelly wrote: In terms of addressing the budget deficit, cutting Parks and Duffy for next year would address a good bit of it. We don't need to bring anyone in, we've plenty of lads who can play 15 and Ronaldson and Carty can fight for the 10 jersey, with Sean O Hagan as no3. Nikora to be cut as well.

Griffin will more than likely move on. Tonetti will probably retire though injury. We will need to find one player to replace these 2. Conor Finn can come though as backup and hopefully make a breakthrough.

Frank Murphy and POD to go. One, maybe 2 replacements needed as Blade and Walsh are very very small. And Walsh isn't up to it. Michael Heaney would be who I'd be looking at.

Swifty will retire, Dave Nolan won't get a new deal. Qualter unlikely to be retained. Might need to get one in.

Hooker is ok

Prop is ok

Backrow will stay the same.

We have to be realistic and cut the dead wood and promote more young players on academy/development contracts. Is there an argument perhaps to cut the Eagles team altogether to make savings?

I would agree with this. I hope that Griff stays.

I worry more about the budget problems than the drubbing by Sarries.

I would cut the Eagles, tough i know but i can see merit in it.

The Eagles have been indifferent in form and strength in depth. Somewhere to bring the young lads through fair enough but for me I would bring their development through the AIL rather than playing huge professional clubs from abroad. Our Eagles team is a development squad really and for me they are best served playing with our own clubs where seasoned top club players can help bring the young lads through. More importantly they would be competitive as Buccs, Corinthians and Wegians are showing this year. No travelling abroad either. A series of Eagles games could be played as an interpro series against the other provinces like the U20's as well. I hope the lack of funds does not also impact on the academy and recruitment of new talent.

Porterbelly wrote: In terms of addressing the budget deficit, cutting Parks and Duffy for next year would address a good bit of it. We don't need to bring anyone in, we've plenty of lads who can play 15 and Ronaldson and Carty can fight for the 10 jersey, with Sean O Hagan as no3. Nikora to be cut as well.

Griffin will more than likely move on. Tonetti will probably retire though injury. We will need to find one player to replace these 2. Conor Finn can come though as backup and hopefully make a breakthrough.

Frank Murphy and POD to go. One, maybe 2 replacements needed as Blade and Walsh are very very small. And Walsh isn't up to it. Michael Heaney would be who I'd be looking at.

Swifty will retire, Dave Nolan won't get a new deal. Qualter unlikely to be retained. Might need to get one in.

Hooker is ok

Prop is ok

Backrow will stay the same.

We have to be realistic and cut the dead wood and promote more young players on academy/development contracts. Is there an argument perhaps to cut the Eagles team altogether to make savings?

The backrow cannot stay the same

Agree with a lit of what you're saying but disagree about the eagles. If we are going to rely more on the academy thenwe need somewhere for the players to cut their teeth.

In terms of addressing the budget deficit, cutting Parks and Duffy for next year would address a good bit of it. We don't need to bring anyone in, we've plenty of lads who can play 15 and Ronaldson and Carty can fight for the 10 jersey, with Sean O Hagan as no3. Nikora to be cut as well.

Griffin will more than likely move on. Tonetti will probably retire though injury. We will need to find one player to replace these 2. Conor Finn can come though as backup and hopefully make a breakthrough.

Frank Murphy and POD to go. One, maybe 2 replacements needed as Blade and Walsh are very very small. And Walsh isn't up to it. Michael Heaney would be who I'd be looking at.

Swifty will retire, Dave Nolan won't get a new deal. Qualter unlikely to be retained. Might need to get one in.

Hooker is ok

Prop is ok

Backrow will stay the same.

We have to be realistic and cut the dead wood and promote more young players on academy/development contracts. Is there an argument perhaps to cut the Eagles team altogether to make savings?

Rory McTiernan wrote: So we got beaten by the English champions by 60points,after this Im sure there are a few guys that could hold theyr hands up and admit to not being of professional standard im aware beating Saracens at home is a big ask but the manner of which Sarries got some of there tries was pretty dismal,Squad overhaul maybe needed with a few of the older brigade stepping asside,

Think more the "stepping aside" is called for. Radical Spring clean.

So we got beaten by the English champions by 60points,after this Im sure there are a few guys that could hold theyr hands up and admit to not being of professional standard im aware beating Saracens at home is a big ask but the manner of which Sarries got some of there tries was pretty dismal,Squad overhaul maybe needed with a few of the older brigade stepping asside,