Good Connacht representation in the 7s training squad:

Jordan Conroy & Shane Layden from Buccs; Adam Leavy, Josh Rowland & Ed O'Keeffe from Wegians; Fionn Carr, once-of-this-parish.

I note that Conroy is listed as Buccaneers/Connacht, as per Leavy (Wegians/Connacht) who has just finished year 1 of the academy; the others are just listed by club. We know Layden left a year or two ago, and Rowland is leaving, anyone heard if O'Keeffe has left the academy and if Conroy has been signed, as these listings might suggest?

Sounds good to me. I take it they are sh guys that Keane is bringing in ?

I hate being that guy but we need to stick our best 23 out in Limerick. The benefits of heading into the play-off on the back of a win greatly outweigh the negatives of having players potentially injured for it imo. I'm sick of this lack of attacking precision that has been abundant all season. We somehow lost our ability to run smart support lines and protect our own ball. We deserve to sign Pat and Co. off in the best possible fashion. We absolutely have the players and the ability to do just that.

There's a few more in the pipeline, with one or two that will excite us a little.

If I was a betting man I'd put money on a few announcements this week now that the early bird season ticket sale is over.

Banm wrote: I like to think we had a bromance ...

I'll have to go easy on the sauce or the aul emotion might be a bit too much altogether.

... 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back, when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow.
'Tis I'll be there, in sunshine and in shadow,
Oh Danie boy, oh Danie boy, I love you so ...

Loughs has been a great servant for Connacht he'll be missed.

I'm sad to see Poolman go, I like to think we had a bromance (one way anyway!). I threw a few quid on him from his first game and he won me a tidy sum and he rarely let me down after! I made sure he knew how much he made me when I'd bump into him over the years. He was always up for a chat. I wish him the best.

Cooney another sound guy on and off the pitch and has given time freely to those less fortunate over the last few years. I'll follow his progress hopefully to a green shirt.

The other bucks have all played their part and some may return.

I'll have to go easy on the sauce or the aul emotion might be a bit too much altogether.

Fantastic news. Things starting to take shape now. News of 3-4 signings and another coach or 2 now would set us up lovely.

Delighted for him. If he can impart a fraction of his knowledge to the young lads we'll be in very good shape

www.connachtrugby.ie/elwood-appointed-co...anager/#ConnachtNews

Eric Elwood appointed as Academy Manager.

I was wondering if we'd every be able to get anyone to fill Nigels shoes. Turns out we could! Great bit of work.

dobby wrote:

sea_point wrote: Always a tough time of year for supporters as favourites move on or retire to pastures new.
Injuries have blighted Ro Lough's later career, but he has achieved far more than I suspect he ever imagined when he started out.

Particularly sad to be losing Neeps and Cooney who for me are the standout players from the list of departees...

For the younger players, playing AIL for local clubs and Eagles (especially with our appalling B&I Cup record) is probably not sufficient if they are serious about making it at the top of the game.
Moving on may be the best thing for them and a catalyst to becoming the players their potential hints at, and sure there's no guarantee that they won't rock up back our way again in the future...

Wish all the departing players well in their future careers, just not against us if they keep playing ...

I am particularly saddened to see Ronan going. He has been around for so long and just to see the tears in his eyes as he understood we were about to win the Pro12 really endeared him. I am also sad to see Dani go. He has been great utility player for Connacht. I met his Dad on the way to the Ulster match in the Kingspan and he was so proud of his son. I hope Pat brings both of them to Bristol with him.

As for our younger players, I think they are better off trying new pastures. Connacht and the B&I cup simply don't seem to fit. The games I have watched have been of very poor standard. And I don't believe it's the players fault. The focus is on the main team and the B&I cup seems to be about just dragging players you have together to make up a 15. I expect and hope they will find a more professional setup wherever they go. I think Connacht fringe players would be better served playing with their local AIL teams than involved with what seems to be a shambolic B&I setup. I thought Parata has played some great games for the first team and being so young thought he had a great future at Connacht. So I am really disappointed for him

As you say we wish them all the best.

I agree. The problem is next season Buccaneers will be the only club in Connacht playing at a decent level. AIL 2A is not a high enough standard for prospective professional rugby players.

sea_point wrote: Always a tough time of year for supporters as favourites move on or retire to pastures new.
Injuries have blighted Ro Lough's later career, but he has achieved far more than I suspect he ever imagined when he started out.

Particularly sad to be losing Neeps and Cooney who for me are the standout players from the list of departees...

For the younger players, playing AIL for local clubs and Eagles (especially with our appalling B&I Cup record) is probably not sufficient if they are serious about making it at the top of the game.
Moving on may be the best thing for them and a catalyst to becoming the players their potential hints at, and sure there's no guarantee that they won't rock up back our way again in the future...

Wish all the departing players well in their future careers, just not against us if they keep playing ...

I am particularly saddened to see Ronan going. He has been around for so long and just to see the tears in his eyes as he understood we were about to win the Pro12 really endeared him. I am also sad to see Dani go. He has been great utility player for Connacht. I met his Dad on the way to the Ulster match in the Kingspan and he was so proud of his son. I hope Pat brings both of them to Bristol with him.

As for our younger players, I think they are better off trying new pastures. Connacht and the B&I cup simply don't seem to fit. The games I have watched have been of very poor standard. And I don't believe it's the players fault. The focus is on the main team and the B&I cup seems to be about just dragging players you have together to make up a 15. I expect and hope they will find a more professional setup wherever they go. I think Connacht fringe players would be better served playing with their local AIL teams than involved with what seems to be a shambolic B&I setup. I thought Parata has played some great games for the first team and being so young thought he had a great future at Connacht. So I am really disappointed for him

As you say we wish them all the best.

Always a tough time of year for supporters as favourites move on or retire to pastures new.
Injuries have blighted Ro Lough's later career, but he has achieved far more than I suspect he ever imagined when he started out.

Particularly sad to be losing Neeps and Cooney who for me are the standout players from the list of departees...

For the younger players, playing AIL for local clubs and Eagles (especially with our appalling B&I Cup record) is probably not sufficient if they are serious about making it at the top of the game.
Moving on may be the best thing for them and a catalyst to becoming the players their potential hints at, and sure there's no guarantee that they won't rock up back our way again in the future...

Wish all the departing players well in their future careers, just not against us if they keep playing ...

Borders no.2 wrote: It's a sad day to see a lot of these players leaving. Ronan Loughney in particular has had to battle his whole career. Picked up a lot of injuries the first few years, played in a lot of Connacht teams who looked to be going nowhere fast but bounced back when it'd probably have been easier to chuck it in. Got his rewards in the final last year and of course his Ireland cap. Wish him well in whatever he does next.

Danie Poolman has been dogged with a lot of niggly injuries but especially initially he made a big contribution and had a good try scoring record for us. Still would be a good signing for a lot of teams.

John Cooney is an excellent player and will be real asset to Ulster. Would have loved him to stay but probably the right move for him at this stage of his career.

Nepia Fox-Matamua is a player I've great time for. Again injury saw him miss out on a lot of gametime but he'll be a good signing for whoever picks him up.

We knew Danny Qualter was going to Nottingham, its a good challenge for him. He never quite made it but shouldn't be forgotten he started a vital game against Ospreys last season and had a great game. Similarly with Shane O'Leary he's a talented player and stepped in when he had to last season. No contribution to that title win should be forgotten.

Rory Parata is a player I'd like to have seen stay. Had a few injuries this season but a good player and a good age profile to improve.

The other lads never really got much of a chance to shine with Rowland and Soroka being out injured most of the season.

There's no mention in the piece of John Andress I presume he's going too? Can't really see him getting a new deal?

I have to agree with everything you have said, particularly regarding Rory Parata. Sorry to see him go, I think he has a bright future and should improve considerably with the experience he will get in New Zealand. Hopefully, we might see him back in the green again some day (Maybe even for Ireland?)

It's a sad day to see a lot of these players leaving. Ronan Loughney in particular has had to battle his whole career. Picked up a lot of injuries the first few years, played in a lot of Connacht teams who looked to be going nowhere fast but bounced back when it'd probably have been easier to chuck it in. Got his rewards in the final last year and of course his Ireland cap. Wish him well in whatever he does next.

Danie Poolman has been dogged with a lot of niggly injuries but especially initially he made a big contribution and had a good try scoring record for us. Still would be a good signing for a lot of teams.

John Cooney is an excellent player and will be real asset to Ulster. Would have loved him to stay but probably the right move for him at this stage of his career.

Nepia Fox-Matamua is a player I've great time for. Again injury saw him miss out on a lot of gametime but he'll be a good signing for whoever picks him up.

We knew Danny Qualter was going to Nottingham, its a good challenge for him. He never quite made it but shouldn't be forgotten he started a vital game against Ospreys last season and had a great game. Similarly with Shane O'Leary he's a talented player and stepped in when he had to last season. No contribution to that title win should be forgotten.

Rory Parata is a player I'd like to have seen stay. Had a few injuries this season but a good player and a good age profile to improve.

The other lads never really got much of a chance to shine with Rowland and Soroka being out injured most of the season.

There's no mention in the piece of John Andress I presume he's going too? Can't really see him getting a new deal?

ConnachtCows wrote: I think most of those releases were telegraphed, but I'll be most disappointed to see Danie leave. Always a huge fan.
Nepia will surely get a new team easily
Poolman will probably have to aim a bit lower

Wish Locks all the best. Hope he has something lined up. Perhaps some coaching job. He's only 32/33 as far as I know, so could potentially go over to England and play with a lower league team, such as Bristol.

A fan of Danie's as well but for whatever reason don't think he ever fully hit his stride at Connacht. Not surprised to see him leaving, sure he wishes he left a couple of years earlier as Pat did not seem to rate him.

Good luck to Locks. He is a real study in perseverance as he has had to fight through some serious injuries in his time here. Thought he might retire after this season though the article doesn't specifically say he is. Has this been confirmed elsewhere or do we think he is weighing his option and may continue playing? If he keeps himself in shape and sticks around home with the way props get injured he probably could be back with Connacht at some point next season.