If true, a real shame. That said, he's a Leinster man born and bred and the chance to be a major force in his 'home' team is a major draw.

He's shown his mettle here in a major way, I just hope that if he does go that he gets decent game time and isn't reduced to the occasional off the bench in international window appearance.

That's really disappointing, and for him I would have thought things look tougher at Leinster than when he left. with Lowe, Byrne and Daly having come on the scene, while he can challenge them he's definitely in a better position at Connacht to get decent gametime.

The Indo says Cian Kelleher is “likely” to rejoin Leinster on a two year deal

Bazzo wrote: He has some interest from a French side but if he stays it will almost certainly be with Connacht.

That’s what I heard .... from a connacht man living in Munster that Racing have a significant offer on the table.

He has some interest from a French side but if he stays it will almost certainly be with Connacht.

To be honest I couldn't disagree more. He has more league appearances and starts than any of our locks this season, more minutes (by about 240) overall, and has played the full 80 eight times, which rather knocks any mobility/fitness questions on the head. Sure he runs funny but if we're releasing players on that basis Carty and Farrell will be out the door with him.

Roux is probably first choice lock but Thornbury has a way to go to overtake Ultan, and Cannon (much as I'm a fan) isn't in the same ballpark at all.

No way he'll go to Leinster or to Munster - with Beirne down south and Ultan not scrummaging at tight head lock he wouldn't make the 23 for the big games.

If he decides Ireland don't want him and he heads to France good luck to him. But he'd be an almost irreplacable loss for us.

I wouldn't agree at all Sea Point. Dillane is still a key part of our squad and in our top three locks in front of Cannon and Maksimiw. Presuming he wants to continue in the running for Irish caps he needs to play for an Irish province. You're not advocating Munster getting yet another player handed to them by the IRFU after Haley, Carbery, Mathewson, Beirne are you?

sligsup wrote: Anyone here any rumors circulating re Ultan Dillanes next contract?

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if a move was on the cards. His form has never really recovered since the break following the sad passing of his Mum.

For me his mobility is a serious issue, don't know whether it's related to him bulking up, but he has the most ungainly and inefficient running style. He's down the pecking order in the squad now, behind Roux, Thornbury and possibly Cannon and we have other options coming through too. If he wants to rejuvinate his status and gwt back into the Ireland frame then a move may be the best option, something two seasons back (even though Munster were nosing around) I couldn't have countenenced....

What have you heard?

Anyone here any rumors circulating re Ultan Dillanes next contract?

Would seem Lloyd was unlucky in his timing in trying to get a contract. The following is taken from the link in the post above:

But Lloyd was caught between two stools. He was in Munster as an emergency signing and they had James Hart on the way, his original employers in Ulster had replaced Pienaar with John Cooney and re-signed Dave Shanahan.
“Too little too late, really,” Lloyd says self-critically, but adds:
“If you’d told me back at Christmas that I wasn’t going to get another contract I’d have probably happily accepted it. I’d made no impression, but by the end of the season I’d felt I had possibly done enough.
“But the way circumstances were, I was just unlucky, sort of fell through the cracks.

neill_m wrote:

salmson wrote:

neill_m wrote: From just before the game on Saturday. Scrum Half Angus Lloyd joined on loan from Munster for 3 momths. Was announced on the official twitter feed.

Not sure why Connacht called it a loan deal. He's 18 months out of the pro game and is coming in from the AIL.

Indeed, seems he is playing for UCD in 1A.

He is studying medicine in RCSI so he might have commitments outside rugby at times.

www.the42.ie/angus-lloyd-munster-ulster-3929343-Mar2018/

Fillippe Contepomi also studied there while playing for Leinster so they probably offer some flexibility on the academic workload.

Thought he went well for Munster and couldn't understand why he didn't feature again.

Hope he gets a chance to shine for Connacht. He better have lost the habit of slow setup for box kicking thatMunster love so well.

salmson wrote:

neill_m wrote: From just before the game on Saturday. Scrum Half Angus Lloyd joined on loan from Munster for 3 momths. Was announced on the official twitter feed.

Not sure why Connacht called it a loan deal. He's 18 months out of the pro game and is coming in from the AIL.

Indeed, seems he is playing for UCD in 1A.

neill_m wrote: From just before the game on Saturday. Scrum Half Angus Lloyd joined on loan from Munster for 3 momths. Was announced on the official twitter feed.

Not sure why Connacht called it a loan deal. He's 18 months out of the pro game and is coming in from the AIL.

From just before the game on Saturday. Scrum Half Angus Lloyd joined on loan from Munster for 3 momths. Was announced on the official twitter feed.

Decent signing looking forward to seeing how he gets on. Believe he’s out of contract with Munster in the summer so could be a trail fir a long term deal with Connacht