connachta wrote: Was the only Connacht player able to offload, that's a quality we need

Slight exaggeration there methinks...

Was the only Connacht player able to offload, that's a quality we need

I'm not too pushed about him leaving - I thought he was rubbish in his one outing, apart from one monster kick which very luckily crept into touch. He was also injured in that game so overall it's no big loss.

I shall now start a one man campaign to bring back Henry Fa'afili!

So.....flop of the season pretty set at this stage? In a way I'd prefer it was homesickness than a tragedy but its difficult to swallow as an excuse. If its not home sickness then Lam should be getting ahead of the story for his and So'oialo's sake imo.

On the plus side such as it is this might save a little money and get the likes of Leader(s) some gametime.

This angers me. Blip in an otherwise very successful recruitment campaign.

Independent now saying the reason for leaving was homesickness. As it's unconfirmed I'm going to hold off, I'd hate to have a rant and then discover there was an actual acceptable reason.

But to be honest, I was unaware of the circumstances of his leaving Pays d'Aix. That should have been a red flag to whoever considered signing him in the first place.

As it is at least this will give Carr some more freedom to get game time. The three quarter line is the only line where we have depth and Carr has lost out far too often. We need him getting game time to play his way into games.

salmson wrote: He didn't leave castres on short notice, he was only there as a medical joker. He left six the following season but as they we're going bust who knows if the issue was with him.

You're correct Salmson. My error. It was Pays d'Aix he left at short notice.
www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/pro-d2/2012-2013/...o3532664/story.shtml

Pays D'Aix Rugby wrote:

15.12.12

For three days, the Aix Rugby Club is a lack of professional training in the group of player James So'oialo. The club regrets this and, after investigation, found that So'oialo took the plane back to Samoa, the country of origin. At a time when it has more than ever need all its strengths, the club takes note of the decision of the player to leave the group without permission, and he has already sent a registered letter. It is currently considering the follow-up to the event while striving to remain fully focused on two upcoming deadlines by the end of 2012, in Brive and opposite Massy.

Doubt it's homesickness as he played 6 months with Castres and a year in Pro D2

I think we should await a bit more detail on this before jumping on his back. He was signed on a two-year deal so he knew what he was getting himself into. After the whole work permit fiasco this is a hard one to take but if the events of this week locally has shown us anything it is that while we all love it sport is insignificant in the overall context of someone's life.

At least both sides have cut the ties at this stage and moved on. If we get the money to reinvent I'd suggest backing up the coaching team would be more important than another player at this stage.

He didn't leave castres on short notice, he was only there as a medical joker. He left six the following season but as they we're going bust who knows if the issue was with him.

mary hinge wrote:
Didn't this guy play in France last season? Was he homesick then? What are we to think when he pitches up playing for Bayonne, Exeter, Edinburgh, or Zebre next season?

He left Castres at equally short notice. I doubt anybody in Europe will touch him again.

I'm with Seapoint and others on this. So'Oialo has taken Connacht for a ride and this whole thing stinks. Either there's more to this than meets the eye and the club are glad to be rid of him for some reason or we're dealing with a bit of a molly here.

Homesickness? Didn't this guy play in France last season? Was he homesick then? What are we to think when he pitches up playing for Bayonne, Exeter, Edinburgh, or Zebre next season?

Does this mean we can bring in someone else???

Agree with seapoint, if its homesickness then he should just man up and get on with life.

If its a family problem then we wish them all the best, the statement is a bit wishy washy "personal problems" leaves it wide open to a lot of theories.

Don't understand professional people signing contracts and then leaving their families in another country.

Connacht were very quick to let him leave and im sure that they had their reasons as well.

Im aware that people need some privacy but that's just leaving it up in the air.

Jave to say I'm feeling more peed of with So'oialo than sympathetic. I appreciate the difficulties in moving away from family and support network to a different culture. But it's part of growing up to be able to stand on your own two feet. When I think of the time, effort, money and emotion wasted on bringing to Galway, his departure after just a few weeks just makes me angry...