He does indeed and I doubt it's the last gift either !
Seems like a good signing. Blues development side and ITM which is a but like pro 12 level.

Pat always brings us back something when he goes on holidays.

Edit: made just 3 appearances for an absolutely appalling Northland team (played 10, lost 10) in last year's ITM Cup, so very much backup/potential signing I'd imagine. Pat sure likes his ambipropsterous front rows; this lad is a TH who can play LH, Loughs is a LH with significant TH experience, Tom Mc is a hooker who turned out to be a pretty damned handy emergency LH, and no less than 4 other senior props - Finlay, JP, Conan O'Donnell and the departed Rodney - played on both sides of the scrum last season.

Connacht Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to announce the recruitment of Irish qualified, tighthead prop Dominic Robertson-McCoy from New Zealand.

The 22-year-old, who has played for the Auckland Blues Development side as well as Northland in
the ITM cup, will arrive for pre-season in July and will boost Pat Lam’s front row options for the new season.

Robertson-McCoy is Irish qualified through his grandfather who hails from Drumgane, Mowhan, Co Armagh.

Commenting on the new signing, head coach Pat Lam said:

“I first saw Dominic as he came through the Auckland Schools system and played for the Blues U18 in NZ. He is a young prop who can play on both sides of the scrum and I believe he has huge potential. I know he will continue to thrive and develop in a fulltime professional environment which will be very beneficial for Connacht and Irish Rugby. We’re looking forward to getting him over for the pre-season as we build towards the start of a new season in both the PRO12 and European Champions Cup.”

I'm absolutely delighted that Eric is directly involved with the squad again

Changes to coaching team -

www.connachtrugby.ie/mcphillips-appointe...-coach/#ConnachtNews

Conor McPhilips to Attack Coach, new hire Simon Kavanagh to Head Performance Analyst, Eric Elwood taking Goal Kicking coach, Andre Bell returning to New Zealand.

Worth noting that 4 of the 6 senior coaches are now Irish and that all have been appointed by Lam.

Here's an interview he did from the times in January. Bit of a weird format, but it's worth a quick read...

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/bun...-jersey-on-1.2515795

It confirms that he was working as a bank teller alright. As Connacht fans, we all clearly hope he'll extend his contract with us. It would make a serious statement. I don't think we should get too into Bundee's personal life, but maybe with a bigger contract he'll be able to bring the family up here.

Bundee's family did travel to Galway with him initially, or at least his wife did.
She was here for about a month or so, and then moved home.
Bundee also did confirm that he initially moved to Connacht for money. His number 1 concern was/is supporting his family.
There was also the story when he moved over first, about him taking a 1year break from rugby when he was still in NZ, to work in a bank, so he could support his family.
He also said that playing International rugby means a lot to him

Who know's what, if anything has changed in his situation since then.
He has admitted that he was driven by money initially, but there are plenty of people who are driven to earn a certain amount, and dont care after they reach that amount. There are also plenty of people who are driven by money, who just keep wanting more and more.

In my opinion, Bundee will stay with Connacht, if he wants to stay in Ireland. I dont see him moving to another team in Ireland.
If he moves to France or England, he has another 3 years to wait, before he can play internationally.
Basically I feel that his options are:
Staying with Connacht - Get a central contract. Play internationally
Move to France/England - Make more money. Dont play internationally
Return to NZ - Earn less money. Be with his family. Play internationally

I'd imagine each of those options have pluses and minuses.
Tough decision for him. Can only hope he decides to stay in Galway

Then again, all his goals may have changed since he was signed 2 years ago

He was the starting 12 with the Chiefs before he came to Connacht. I know they got a boost in revenue from the tv deal but I don't think they would splash enough cash to attract him back.

We could do worse than look at Max Deegan.

Not a lot of Irish 8 talent around. Big queue ahead of him at Leinster.

Cillian Gallagher having a good game for the U-20's. Good workmate. Good carrier.

Kerins is a bit hit and miss for me.

Connor Kenny injured early sadly.

Wow that is complicated sea point.

Thanks first the update

I thought his family was here? I thought I read an article where he said moving to Ireland was a big decision for him and his family and that he made the move to try and guarantee his families future. I obviously read this wrongly as him moving his family to Ireland.

As I said before him being a family man then his family living in NZ would be quite worrying. Unless they move over then I'd say he'd take any reasonable offer with a NZ team. I really don't think money is his biggest motivation. He seems to be more motivated by providing for his family and being an important part of something.

EvoGeo wrote: New Zealand don't do offers Siob, you make yourself available and if they want you they pick you. If you don't make yourself available (ie play in new Zealand) then you don't get picked no matter how good you are.

The only thing new Zealand might do is offer him a semi decent contract and this might persuade him to move the whole family again but I doubt it would be enough. I'd be more afraid of big offers from France or england tbh but I think there is a real chance we hold him if the terms are even 3/4 what he'd get in France and for Irelands best player he should be getting top dollar.

The weather is the biggest thing going against Galway/Ireland, outside of that as Pat has said there's a lot of similarities between the way Irish families/communities operate as Samoans so that's a real plus box ticked for Galway.

Unless someone comes in with an absolutely ridiculous offer, (and you're looking at the big money French clubs like Toulon/Racing/Toulouse etc) I don't see him moving even if it's only for another year so he gets his Irish Cap..

Once he's capped he's free to move on anywhere and earn as much as he likes. He's talented enough that whoever is Irish coach will come calling come Test time regardless of where he is.

Aki's whole family are still in NZ including his daughters; that to me is the only real stumbling block. Nucifora & IRFU will offer him a 0.5 Million a year carrot. But if he was IQ'd now he wouldn't be going home for a month to see his family. I hope he signs come October and I hope he is happy doing so.

I had meant from a club, not the country, if one of their top clubs told him they wanted him as their starting 12 I don't think there's much that could keep him in Europe.

EvoGeo wrote: New Zealand don't do offers Siob, you make yourself available and if they want you they pick you. If you don't make yourself available (ie play in new Zealand) then you don't get picked no matter how good you are.

The only thing new Zealand might do is offer him a semi decent contract and this might persuade him to move the whole family again but I doubt it would be enough. I'd be more afraid of big offers from France or england tbh but I think there is a real chance we hold him if the terms are even 3/4 what he'd get in France and for Irelands best player he should be getting top dollar.

I think this could be a more likely threat that a French/English club offer. He didn't move his family here, his partner and their 2 little girls are still living in NZ. Hope the IRFU really push the boat out on this offer.