If true this is wonderful. Good relationship with Schmidt. Well-respected Kiwi. May even get Bundee to stay!

This could be great news if true - fingers crossed!

RonanL wrote: Sportsjoe.ie reporting that Jonno Gibbes is close to being announced as Pat Lam's successor.

www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/connacht-close-new-head-coach/109070

Please let it be so! Best option out there at the moment and will have the respect from senior players.

Sportsjoe.ie reporting that Jonno Gibbes is close to being announced as Pat Lam's successor.

www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/connacht-close-new-head-coach/109070

I assume whoever is coming in will be taking a team with him? We've lost a lot of coaching staff over the last couple years. Dan McFarland, Andre Bell, Dave Ellis and Pat leaving during the summer, unless I'm mistaken the only one of the first 3 that's been replaced was Dan McFarland with Jimmy Duffy taking his place? I know McPhillips is the backs coach now but he was already an assistant coach to the senior team when Bell departed so they're still down numbers on what was there before unless I'm mistaken.

Porterbelly wrote: Jonno Gibbes with Nacewa as his right hand man

I read your posts last week discussing this on Planet Rugby Porter. Is there any weight to the rumour ????

I'd take it.

Jonno Gibbes with Nacewa as his right hand man

As far as I can see, there is no link between being a good player and being a good coach. O'Gara has no experience of being a head coach. He would be no more qualified than Jerry Flannery for example. The fact that O'Gara is an Irish legend is irrelevant. All that should be considered is his coaching career. He is competely underqualified to be the next Connacht head coach.

Teams fall into this trap all the time. A perfect example is Martin Johnson managing England. He was completely unqualified for the job but he got it on his status as a player.

Betty Swallocks wrote: Ben Ryan would be an interesting option certainly.
Also I wouldn't necessarily rule out O'Gara (even if he did himself in that Examiner piece before Christmas). He can't have been too happy about that spineless capitulation by Racing at the weekend. How much longer does he want to be associated with the kind of outfit where guys like Carter and Imhoff are only phoning it in (even at home).

Dunno if I'd be happy for the new head coach coming in to be transparently using Connacht as a stepping stone to another province, not to mention he has no head coaching experience(though that doesn't necessarily rule anybody out). As an assistant maybe...

Ben Ryan would be an interesting option certainly.
Also I wouldn't necessarily rule out O'Gara (even if he did himself in that Examiner piece before Christmas). He can't have been too happy about that spineless capitulation by Racing at the weekend. How much longer does he want to be associated with the kind of outfit where guys like Carter and Imhoff are only phoning it in (even at home).

Decadence wrote: Here's an extremely left field one, Ben Ryan the Fiji 7s coach:

edition.cnn.com/2017/01/05/sport/ben-rya...ish-lions/index.html

This is a really interesting one as he is looking for an opportunity in the NH coaching the 15 a side game.
Successful, playing an exciting style (albeit with superb athletes built for, and raised on 7's rugby) .
Large depth of knowledge of SH Rugby (following Fiji expats in the various leagues in NZ and further afield) and a wide range of contacts there and in the UK.
Certainly former employees of the RFU are fast becoming a popular choice among Irish teams (Farrell, Lancaster) so that would help.
However the media reports about difficulties signing NIQ players even for injury cover (in Connacht not elsewhere) would be very off-putting for any ambitious coach.
Making the quarter finals of the Champions Cup would increase the pool of interested candidates but that's not a given with 27 injuries and counting.
Honestly, I don't think he'd risk it here. That Olympic Gold should open the door to a bigger and more lucrative opportunity where there's a large chequebook for signing players (from any part of the world).

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: They couldn't possible give enough money to make that kerry GobS***e acceptable for any position other than toilet cleaner

Not sure about tone or context for this. If you feel you can't be polite about a potential candidate and don't feel you can name the party. Perhaps don't post about them...?

Let's hear about candidates you want to see top of the list and why....

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: They couldn't possible give enough money to make that kerry GobS***e acceptable for any position other than toilet cleaner

And this translates as ????????

They couldn't possible give enough money to make that lad acceptable for any position in the coaching ticket

Completely agree Re Holley and don't forget he also lied about being offed and turning down the Head coach position before Lam was hired. IMO he's a guy never to be trusted.