Dragons sign 30 year old SH Sarel Pretorius from Cheetahs for next season

Brendon Leonard moving from Zebre to Ospreys this summer on 3 year contract.

Sean Maitland leaving Glasgow at end of season to join L. Irish

he'll come after our game against them I hope...

Dragons have signed 28 year old flanker Nick Crosswell from Chiefs/Manawatu. Lots of super rugby experience. Arriving next month. Looks like a good signing.

swiftys-cat wrote: what does the future hold for Tiernan O Halloran,Andrew Browne and Fionn Carr big names who haven't delivered this season

I'd definitely hold onto Browne even if he hasn't been great on the admittedly limited opportunities he has got this year. He's had injuries and his versatility is a problem. It won't be long before John Muldoon will have to be phased out so who is going to fill that hole? Do we see Browne as an option at 6 or is he going to be used in the 2nd row. At this stage I think we need to nail that down.

In terms of Tiernan O'Halloran and Fionn Carr it may depend on whether we can keep hold of Dannie Poolman. If we lose him they could move up the pecking order but if we hopefully hold on to Poolman one or indeed both are in trouble.

Tiernan O'Halloran has been hugely unlucky with injuries but is heading towards a crossroads now. For me him and Carr are battling it out for 4th choice (at best) on the wing. He's still young enough to make a decent go of it if he can stay injury free, whether that's with Connacht I don't know. At this stage, if he can come back from injury he needs games. A few years ago the other provinces were sniffing around him but he may need to look abroad at this stage. Even a year with a championship side in England has been a springboard for a lot of players to move up the ladder if he chose that route.

Fionn Carr gave it a shot going back to Leinster but it didn't work out and signing him again for Connacht hasn't really worked out. I wouldn't complain if we held onto him for another season on reduced terms as a back up but wouldn't be giving him any longer of a contract.

Diom wrote:

swiftys-cat wrote: what does the future hold for Tiernan O Halloran,Andrew Browne and Fionn Carr big names who haven't delivered this season

Tiernan has been injured for the vast majority of the season... not great but you can hardly say he hasn't delivered when he hasn't had an opportunity..

You can, because he hasn't delivered in any consistent way when fit. Whoever keeps getting his contract extended with Connacht is not doing so on the basis of any form and certainly not doing him any favours. Tiernan if he's serious about a rugby career needs to move away from Galway and get outside his comfort zone instead of just hanging with his homeboys and selling his rugby potential short. If he can be, he should be encouraged to leave Connacht early and go away and discover some hunger for his career.,

Browne'rs versatility when fit means he's guaranteed to be retained.

Fionn's a goner, Always had defensive frailties, but his sojourn back in Leinster has destroyed his attacking menace....

rossie wrote: TH prop Salmson Lee signs NDC with scarlets and Wales becoming the third scarlet and 7th player so far to do so. Scarlets seem to be embracing this initiative more than others. I thought that Ospreys in particular would have been keen to avail of this but not so far. Only osprey on a NDC is Lydiate who was brought home by WRU.

I wonder if the hairsprays are waiting for the next round of contracts - I expect Roberts Charteris and others abroad are being targeted by the WRU, but those lads will want not-HEC rugby.

TH prop Salmson Lee signs NDC with scarlets and Wales becoming the third scarlet and 7th player so far to do so. Scarlets seem to be embracing this initiative more than others. I thought that Ospreys in particular would have been keen to avail of this but not so far. Only osprey on a NDC is Lydiate who was brought home by WRU.

swiftys-cat wrote: what does the future hold for Tiernan O Halloran,Andrew Browne and Fionn Carr big names who haven't delivered this season

I would keep browne
Toh is under contract so unless himself and connacht agree he is better of going, he'll be here. He is 100% a full back according to pat lam so currently leader and mils is ahead of him. I felt he would of been let go last season but since Griffin was leaving, I think the branch thought they couldn't get two young players go

Carr is sadly more than likely gone which is a pity cause he is our top try scorer. There is a few backs I'd get rid of before carr tho but they would be on a lot less money

swiftys-cat wrote: what does the future hold for Tiernan O Halloran,Andrew Browne and Fionn Carr big names who haven't delivered this season

Tiernan has been injured for the vast majority of the season... not great but you can hardly say he hasn't delivered when he hasn't had an opportunity.
Browne has done alright when he has played, especially when given a chance at openside which is his natural position. I think we should be using him more there to let Mul have a rest more often, especially as he can cover 2nd row at a push as well (like George).
As for Carr, he has a lot of very talented players to contend with. It's not that he hasn't delivered either, it's just that the quality of that position is really high and other have out-performed.

what does the future hold for Tiernan O Halloran,Andrew Browne and Fionn Carr big names who haven't delivered this season

Cardiff have signed Hurricanes and Samoan international centre Rey Lee-Lo. will arrive after super rugby or world cup.

clanman wrote:

Shelflife wrote:

Craic Head wrote:
not sure i'd agree with you, ask Ronan Loughney what it would mean to him if Connacht won a trophy, even if he's not playing every game he still contributes to the team

Locky is an integral part of the Connacht squad and when fit would make most match day squads.

My point is that I dont think that JJ will be an integral part of the Saints squad and will be a bit player over there.

clanman wrote:

Shelflife wrote:

Craic Head wrote: Of course the money was better in Northampton, but I also think that it is the desire to win a big trophy that lures people like JJ away. They are Prem champions, Amlin champs, not going to be far away from retaining the title again in England, he will be playing with some top players etc. top money and in a top team that will be in with a chance of winning the Heino for a few years is a big draw.

But if youre only a bit part player and they win some trophies what does that mean to you, if youre not part of the match day squad on a regular basis then a winners medal means nothing. Coming on as a sub in 4 or 5 games in the prem may entitle you to a medal but if youre not an integral part of the team they are IMO meaningless tokens.

not sure i'd agree with you, ask Ronan Loughney what it would mean to him if Connacht won a trophy, even if he's not playing every game he still contributes to the team

Loughney is a Connacht man though so he'd be a fan as much of a player. Ask any player playing any sport and being a sub winning stuff is not the same as being on the team.

Shelflife wrote:

Craic Head wrote: Of course the money was better in Northampton, but I also think that it is the desire to win a big trophy that lures people like JJ away. They are Prem champions, Amlin champs, not going to be far away from retaining the title again in England, he will be playing with some top players etc. top money and in a top team that will be in with a chance of winning the Heino for a few years is a big draw.

But if youre only a bit part player and they win some trophies what does that mean to you, if youre not part of the match day squad on a regular basis then a winners medal means nothing. Coming on as a sub in 4 or 5 games in the prem may entitle you to a medal but if youre not an integral part of the team they are IMO meaningless tokens.

not sure i'd agree with you, ask Ronan Loughney what it would mean to him if Connacht won a trophy, even if he's not playing every game he still contributes to the team