Good choice, glad to see our own given a chance to shine.

Delighted for him and think that it is a great appointment. The closer the coach is to the team the better and Jimmy has been working with them for a while now and also bringing the academy players through, he has also got good background in coaching Irish age grade teams. He will know Dan's systems very well and give the players continuity.

How are we ever going to develop good Irish coaches if they do not get jobs like this? We all shout for big coaches from big clubs to be brought in, but for me a home grown man who deserves his chance is the right choice. Best of luck Jimmy.

Westie85 wrote:

salmson wrote: Second-worst kept secret (after Dan's Glasgow appointment) of the season finally confirmed:

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-appo...-coach/#ConnachtNews

Jimmy Duffy is new forwards coach.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Good move or is it penny pinching a little bit?

Jimmy's been at coaching a lot longer than John Fogarty, and with measurable results,
For me it's the ideal solution for Connacht. with Dan leaving, we need someone who can hit the ground running not take a season to settle in and establish some repartee with the squad and management..

He has the experience, the local knowledge of the province and the Squad to fill the void left post Dan....
Really hope he can make the step up, because it's important that Connacht develop indigenous top class personnel at every level..

Westie85 wrote:

salmson wrote: Second-worst kept secret (after Dan's Glasgow appointment) of the season finally confirmed:

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-appo...-coach/#ConnachtNews

Jimmy Duffy is new forwards coach.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Good move or is it penny pinching a little bit?

My own take on it is we could have got Jonno Gibbes for more than Pat's on and it would (at best) be a like-for-like replacement for Dan. There simply isn't a better forwards coach around. So we're probably as well to go for a cheaper alternative with potential.

Incidentally the Denis-O'Brien-Daily reported last week that John Fogarty turned down the position before it was offered to Jimmy.

salmson wrote: Second-worst kept secret (after Dan's Glasgow appointment) of the season finally confirmed:

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-appo...-coach/#ConnachtNews

Jimmy Duffy is new forwards coach.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Good move or is it penny pinching a little bit?

Second-worst kept secret (after Dan's Glasgow appointment) of the season finally confirmed:

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-appo...-coach/#ConnachtNews

Jimmy Duffy is new forwards coach.

Ah cool, he would be a good signing & we could do with a back row but I'd be more bothered about what's happening at out-half

McNamara wrote: Why would they have to let Thompson go?

By the sound of the Reds statement when he signed it was a one season deal...

www.redsrugby.com.au/News/NewsArticles/t...ll-Blacks-back-rower  Adam-Thomson.aspx

Why would they have to let Thompson go?

Was watching super rugby this morning, they were saying that if cooper leave for Toulon then the Reds will more than likely look abroad for an out half. This means they will have to let Adam Thompson go. I'm probly dreaming but I'd love to c him at connacht, just what we need

Equally, after the last two big name signings I would be wary of him making another one, and would much prefer a few of the likes of Marshall (rated by his own club/fans but never made the full breakthrough) than one big name who could go wrong, or just get injured and end up sidelined. The teamsheet is crying out for depth!

The short of it for me is I'll continue to keep faith in Pat that he will more times than not bring in players that will help the Connacht cause. I get the sense he would rather go with a smaller squad backed by a good academy than fill in the numbers with players coming just to collect cheques.

Oops- see I was one of the ones that fell afoul of the injunctions

So the more solicitor friendly version is- not sure Dineen or Murphy are what we need but this lad D'Arcy, who both us and Munster seem to be after, would seem to fit the bill better:
www.balls.ie/rugby/matt-d-arcy-rugby/295132
Could be the next Matt Healy with a bit of luck :woohoo:

Sorry for the offending post, thought it was all fairly public knowledge :sick:

Deleted a few comments there that I assume ye didn't mean to make outside the Dail chamber
Feel free to re-post with suitable editing.

Was D'Arcy not announced in the Sevens Squad?

If so, would be away a good bit due to trying for the slim chance of Ireland getting an Olympic qualification spot.

Talk of Ivan Dineen, Johne Murphy and Luke O'Dea leaving Munster. Given how hard it'll be to find any real quality in the market, I'd be inclined to look at Dineen and Murphy in particular. I know Dineen has turned us down before but we look a bit light on options in the centre. We are unlikely to see a lot of Henshaw, that doesn't leave us with many options. Johne Murphy has a lot of experience and crucially can cover anywhere from 11 to 15. I know a lot of the Munster lads are allergic to going to Connacht but there could be some tidy business to be done there.

Luke O'Dea impressed me a couple of years back but has had injuries or hasn't been considered since so not so sure on him.