They've also signed Ian Nagle and announced SEVENTEEN renewals. Great day to be a Leinster supporter

Renewals:
Michael Bent
Adam Byrne
Tom Daly
Peter Dooley
Tadhg Furlong
Dave Kearney
Cathal Marsh
Mike McCarthy
Jack McGrath
Ross Molony
Isa Nacewa
Sean O'Brien
Garry Ringrose
Mike Ross
Rhys Ruddock
James Tracy
Josh van der Flier

menacethedenis wrote: I suppose all that's left to confirm now is how big of a kick in the balls this is. Provincial contract or have they gotten him for free on a central contract?

It's a central contract so they're not paying a cent. We have to backfill out of our own budget,so we're effectively penalised twice. From a playing point of view his loss isn't huge, given his nonavailability of late, but from a development and marketing standpoint it's bordering on disastrous.

It is your opinion "IntotheWind" and you are of course entitled to it.

IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora said, "I am disappointed for Connacht that Robbie has decided to leave but pleased for Irish rugby that he has committed to a further three years. I know that the decision Robbie has taken to move from Connacht is not one he has taken lightly."

Interesting how Nucifora is re-affirming his "disappointment". Flagging he fought the good fight that his position was put in place to achieve maybe

I suppose all that's left to confirm now is how big of a kick in the balls this is. Provincial contract or have they gotten him for free on a central contract?

I would guess this means it's a central contract as otherwise surely Leinster would have made the announcement

IRFU have comfirmed that Henshaw has signed for Leinster on a 3 year contract.

So over the past week there has been an interesting selection of opinions floating on here. Some heartfelt, some a bit petty and others that are a bit embarrassing.

Let's get a few things straight.
Over the last few years, Robbie's development as a player has been wonderful for Connacht. He's now moving to pastures new and I couldn't wish him enough luck. In many way's he's grown up in front of us and there's is of course a special attachment for supporters. He's 22 and in a profession that is very abrasive. Career's can be cut short and ended in an instant, look at Stephen Ferris, fit and healthy he was one of the most dominate players in his position, until injury ended his career.

It's clear Robbie will have the opportunity to earn significantly more money (outside the game) if he was based in the capital and that is just a fact. Some excellent points were raised earlier about a proper stadium etc. Robbie's played 5 games (correct me if I'm wrong) this year, aside from the loss to the marketability of Connacht, I'm not too worried. Perhaps this may spur the IRFU/Connacht into developing a modern ground, in an effort to match Connacht's facilities with their on pitch performance and ambition.

Alas, I've digressed... So why all the bemoaning of Rob going? Is it the destination that rubs people up the wrong way, or just him leaving? At the end of the day it's the lad's personal choice to go where he wants. If I was Robbie and I scanned some of the posts on this thread I'd be a little pissed off, he's spilled blood and broken bones for Connacht and this is the response of some supporters. He should be afforded all the respect and good wishes we can muster.

It's time we all remember when our first girl/boyfriend broke up with us, sure at the time it was tough to take but we all had to accept that when the break-up happened it was time to let him/her go and wish them all the best.

But you know, that's just my opinion.

menacethedenis wrote:

sea_point wrote:

Big D.P. wrote: Wasn't Bundy Aki offered deals by 3 of the provinces and Connacht outbid the others?

.

No evidence of that at all, even before Nucofora and the new protocols pretty sure the provinces were not allowed engage in a bidding war against each other....

Pat Lam and his recruitment plan is the reason Bundee came, Mils was coming too remember and Clarke was already here....pretty potent draw.....

It was widely reported at the time that we had outbid Leinster, Munster and Glasgow for his services. Remember Penney's rant how we had it so easy getting the likes of him and Mils? I don't know how it happened but I don't recall it being denied by us or the IRFU. Maybe the IRFU agreed to fund a top-up to his wages the way the other provinces can via sponsorship etc..

I'd say our offer was superior only in terms of length of contract, not yearly salary... for the other three provinces the IRFU would also have been reluctant to let them sign project players on three year deals based on their HEC participation and the queue of IQ players waiting for opportunities.

The length we would have been able to offer would have been based on immediate and developmental needs, and we had Griffin heading off to LI, we lost Tonetti to retirement, McShaz was as now on and off the physio table....

ConnachtCows wrote: I believe that provinces cant outbid each other on players currently playing in Ireland. That was the case with Mike McCarthy. Leinster could only match our offer.
I dont think that rule applies to offering contracts to players not based here.

Yeah, I don't think it would be workable for players not already contracted here.
Otherwise couldn't Connacht screw over the other 3 by offering every out of contract player in world rugby two packets of Taytos and a shiny apple to play for us for the rest of his natural life?
Actually that might be worth a try anyway.

mary hinge wrote: Robbie is a good communicator so no doubt he will come out soon and actually tell the truth on why he's going.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

"Brand Robbie" is the priority here, and I've a feeling (I've no inside information here by the way) that if the truth were known about his motivations, his dealings with various parties and his loyalties to anyone but himself, he wouldn't come out of it all that well. Neither would his new employer for that matter.

I'd say he's learned more from Dricco than how to sit down a defender, and from now on his public statements will be bland, inoffensive or sponsored.

sea_point wrote:

Big D.P. wrote: Wasn't Bundy Aki offered deals by 3 of the provinces and Connacht outbid the others?

.

No evidence of that at all, even before Nucofora and the new protocols pretty sure the provinces were not allowed engage in a bidding war against each other....

Pat Lam and his recruitment plan is the reason Bundee came, Mils was coming too remember and Clarke was already here....pretty potent draw.....

It was widely reported at the time that we had outbid Leinster, Munster and Glasgow for his services. Remember Penney's rant how we had it so easy getting the likes of him and Mils? I don't know how it happened but I don't recall it being denied by us or the IRFU. Maybe the IRFU agreed to fund a top-up to his wages the way the other provinces can via sponsorship etc..

According to this morning's Indo, Henshaw has been in negotiations with Munster as well as Leinster up to last week. This for the opportunity to improve his game playing outside the likes of Ian Keatley and Denis Hurley!!!!
Unbelievable.
Robbie is a good communicator so no doubt he will come out soon and actually tell the truth on why he's going.

Connnnnacht wrote:

sea_point wrote:

Big D.P. wrote: Wasn't Bundy Aki offered deals by 3 of the provinces and Connacht outbid the others?

.

No evidence of that at all, even before Nucofora and the new protocols pretty sure the provinces were not allowed engage in a bidding war against each other....

Pat Lam and his recruitment plan is the reason Bundee came, Mils was coming too remember and Clarke was already here....pretty potent draw.....

Munster certainly made a claim that that was the case

Yip, Munster came out, giving out that we had outbid them.
I believe that provinces cant outbid each other on players currently playing in Ireland. That was the case with Mike McCarthy. Leinster could only match our offer.
I dont think that rule applies to offering contracts to players not based here.

As for playing Robbie, you got to think Connacht have been prepared for this for months now, and that hasn't stopped Robbie from playing. Keep playing whenever he's available

sea_point wrote:

Big D.P. wrote: Wasn't Bundy Aki offered deals by 3 of the provinces and Connacht outbid the others?

.

No evidence of that at all, even before Nucofora and the new protocols pretty sure the provinces were not allowed engage in a bidding war against each other....

Pat Lam and his recruitment plan is the reason Bundee came, Mils was coming too remember and Clarke was already here....pretty potent draw.....

Munster certainly made a claim that that was the case

Big D.P. wrote: Wasn't Bundy Aki offered deals by 3 of the provinces and Connacht outbid the others?

.

No evidence of that at all, even before Nucofora and the new protocols pretty sure the provinces were not allowed engage in a bidding war against each other....

Pat Lam and his recruitment plan is the reason Bundee came, Mils was coming too remember and Clarke was already here....pretty potent draw.....