in relation to your point about only 3 of connachts niqs being stonewall starters, thats a recruitment issue that connacht have and not a valid reason for getting another.The question begging to be asked is why would you recruit an NIQ who isnt as good as his irish qualified counterpart?

seapoint, i dont know what you thought my point was but everytime munster are mentioned you appear to fly off the handle and their mention is a red rag to a bull(pun intended). its sad really.

My point was that with so many irish qualified players either in the acadamies or squads of other provinces not getting game time and also abroad it will be difficult to prove a case for signing a niq centre outside of the allocated 5 niq spots.

All exceptions to the Niq rule permitted by the irfu have been short term contracts to cover injuries etc to my knowledge. There are a lot of good irish players out there. Its just a matter of Eric finding the right one for connacht.He managed that quite well with Mcsharry and Tonetti. With his knowledge of irish underage rugby i see no reason why he cant do it again.

And by the way munster have 4 Niqs signed for next season. the exact amount they are allowed under irfu rules. They still have a project player position available to them should they wish to use it.

sea_point wrote: George - has finished about 20 months (should be IQ by Dec 2013).

Nice summary except for this point - George played 7s for NZ, at least according to the Connacht site, and therefore can never be IQ. More's the pity. Also I think the 36 month residency qualification refers to 36 consectutive months residency, so (though it's moot) for George this would have restarted summer 2011 when he returned from Japan.

rossie wrote: Difference is Munster are within their Quota of 4 NIQs. Id be very surprised if irfu grant extra NIQ to connacht esp with so many players in the acadamys. Connacht are going to have to find another Tonetti or Mcsharry out there somewhere.

For the first season in more than a decade Munster have less than half a dozen NIQ's. So what, they'll still all be first choice players if fit holding back Irish players, and as sure as eggs is eggs we're guaranteed to see another couple more NIQ's being drafted in during the HEC if Munster have a slow start.

We basically have six NIQ's of which one is genuine project player, and of them only three are likely to be stonewall starters (George, Nathan and Fet's)...

In the backs only Parks & Vainakolo are NIQ's,

• Miah has finished his three years as a Project Player this summer so is not deemed a NIQ next season. The way he finished last season also he will be our starting flyhalf
• Loxton & Jarvis are classified as Irish under IRB Reg 8.1 (c) www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/regulat.../23/28/42328_pdf.pdf (as was Swifty when he first came over.).

In the pack

• Ah You - is into year three and will be IQ next summer,
• George - has finished about 20 months (should be IQ by Dec 2013).
• Ethienne - unless he establishes himself as first choice this season he won't be around long enough to become IQ.
• White - Has a year done with Leinster, by time his contract with us is up he'll be IQ (and nearly 33 though)

Think there's plenty of cause for us to argue that scope to acquire a NIQ is essential especially if we're recruiting a centre.

Difference is Munster are within their Quota of 4 NIQs. Id be very surprised if irfu grant extra NIQ to connacht esp with so many players in the acadamys. Connacht are going to have to find another Tonetti or Mcsharry out there somewhere.

Robbo wrote: Henry was around last week and all, driving one of the branded Mazdas.

There'll have to be an exception made; who is there available to is IQ/potentially IQ and isn't already spoken for?

I'm afraid they'll the IRFU's response will just be "Everyone in the AIL"

You'd think that they could make an exception for Henry I mean if Munster can get one of there SA props an extension (an area Ireland are bare in) then surely an exception could be made for a center?!

Henry's left Galway, tweeted as much the other day..

Chap at back right of photo, don't know the face but this is the backs training run from the start of the week so could be someone here on trial. Tall chap by the looks of it, and not from the Parish..

www.connachtrugby.ie/images/Backs_Training_680.jpg

Henry was around last week and all, driving one of the branded Mazdas.

There'll have to be an exception made; who is there available to is IQ/potentially IQ and isn't already spoken for?

ummm, wrote: According to Henry Fa'afili he was released because of the quota, so it looks like we're all filled up with NIQ players. The only way we'd get an NIQ centre would be if the IRFU agreed to waive the quota.

If they did I'd be after Henry again like a rat up a drainpipe. He's already a known commodity and in turn he knows our system, zero learning curve. We'll be a more settled team this year and that bodes well.

Can't imagine the IRFU will be all that keen to allow a new NIQ player, though.

Yeah, if we get the nod, and we can afford him, I'd gladly welcome Henry back next year.

According to Henry Fa'afili he was released because of the quota, so it looks like we're all filled up with NIQ players. The only way we'd get an NIQ centre would be if the IRFU agreed to waive the quota.

If they did I'd be after Henry again like a rat up a drainpipe. He's already a known commodity and in turn he knows our system, zero learning curve. We'll be a more settled team this year and that bodes well.

Can't imagine the IRFU will be all that keen to allow a new NIQ player, though.

If Linley says it's so....

New centre being sought, suspect it'll be a NIQ or Project and hopefully with a bit of experience as we're a bit callow with our options..

GalwayAdvertiser wrote: O’Connor to leave Connacht
Galway Advertiser, June 07, 2012.
www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/52627/o...r-to-leave-connacht-

By Linley Mackenzie

Connacht outhalf Niall O’Connor is set to return to Ulster after one season at the Galway Sportsground.

Coach Eric Elwood recruited the Limavady-born O’Connor last season on a two-year deal, but it is understood Connacht have agreed to allow the 23-years-old to return to his native province.

O’Connor, having taken a back seat to Ian Humphreys, moved west last season in a bid to boost his career. And with Miah Nikora injured, he established himself as Connacht’s first choice outhalf, particularly after a fine display against Gloucester in the Heineken Cup. A head injury in the February game with Edinburgh ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Now the departure of Ulster’s Ian Humphreys for London Irish has left a vacant spot for another Irish-qualified outhalf in the province, and Ulster have come calling for O’Connor’s services again.

Connacht, with former Scottish veteran Dan Parkes joining next month, have agreed to release O’Connor.

With Miah Nikora already in situ, talented Irish u-20 youngster Jack Carthy, who is expected to take a leading role in the Eagles’ season, and Matthew Jarvis, Connacht have sufficient cover in that pivotal area.

As a result Elwood may well utilise the vacant spot to boost his three-quarters line. The Connacht management has been on the look-out for an Irish qualified centre, but Elwood may be forced to look elsewhere, pending IRFU approval.

Devils Own is quite entertaining

Its like salem, no love for the mumha fans need to get their own songs the gypsies. Ya so as rogue alluded to back to mr o'conner, I think he should stay work in progress and at least he is irish no where near a madigan mind you he will be irelands best 10 ever i reckon, keatley and jackson are also very poor relations.

If this is what becomes of a Niall O'Connor thread then it's probably why we needed 5 or 6 of them. :whistle:

rossie wrote: another bite and n your first visit too!

yor are good devils own, very good!

he's very good.
my guess is that he is a connacht man, maybe went to a few games back in the early 2000's but then went to munster when they started playing well in hec.


some far away points there. are you unhappy that the niall o connor gag was unsuccesful