Evil_g wrote:

green13 wrote: Nucifora explained that they were aware of the interest internationally in Connacht’s Bundee Aki but should the player indicate that he wants to play international rugby with Ireland, the union would move swiftly to extend his contract that is up next summer.
Aki qualifies for Ireland on the three-year residency rule in October next year.

(From today's Irish Times, last paragraph of article re Joe Schmidt contract renewal).

Are we the only province that doesn't hate Nucifora?

I'd say Pat bought himself a few favours with how he handled the Robbie fallout. i.e. Making it clear that the IRFU had done all they could to get him to stay.

Ha ha, I'd say your right re Nucifora, though on the other hand he wouldn't bend the rules to let us keep AJ so have to hate him a little bit! If he gets the deal done on Bundee for us it'll be all lovin again!!

green13 wrote: Nucifora explained that they were aware of the interest internationally in Connacht’s Bundee Aki but should the player indicate that he wants to play international rugby with Ireland, the union would move swiftly to extend his contract that is up next summer.
Aki qualifies for Ireland on the three-year residency rule in October next year.

(From today's Irish Times, last paragraph of article re Joe Schmidt contract renewal).

Are we the only province that doesn't hate Nucifora?

I'd say Pat bought himself a few favours with how he handled the Robbie fallout. i.e. Making it clear that the IRFU had done all they could to get him to stay.

green13 wrote: Nucifora explained that they were aware of the interest internationally in Connacht’s Bundee Aki but should the player indicate that he wants to play international rugby with Ireland, the union would move swiftly to extend his contract that is up next summer.
Aki qualifies for Ireland on the three-year residency rule in October next year.

(From today's Irish Times, last paragraph of article re Joe Schmidt contract renewal).

Just to add some fuel to the fire, Bundee was seen in Dublin yesterday...................in the beer garden of Dicey's!

We'd all love to see his contract with us extended. That would be massive. I wonder is he off home for a few weeks now? Hopefully he doesn't talk business to anyone down there!

If he is indeed bigger and he has not lost those great hands in his time away he could be a revelation for us next season.

I don't see us going for a marquee signing at centre with Ronaldson, Robb and Parata as well as Griffin in there (and Aki of course) and none of these are going to be missing during international breaks.

I could see us getting a marquee lock and really hope we do. It could be the final piece in the jigsaw in making sure we can push on next season. Even outwith losing Muldowney in open play I think his loss to our Lineout (I think he was top three for lineout takes in pro12 last season?) and overall experience could also be a huge knock.

Nucifora explained that they were aware of the interest internationally in Connacht’s Bundee Aki but should the player indicate that he wants to play international rugby with Ireland, the union would move swiftly to extend his contract that is up next summer.
Aki qualifies for Ireland on the three-year residency rule in October next year.

(From today's Irish Times, last paragraph of article re Joe Schmidt contract renewal).

Not sure where you are going there Salmson?

Fardy is a cracking player but he is 6'6" to SOB 6'4"? Paul O'Connell was considered just about big enough for lock at 6'6".

I saw Griffin up town during the celebrations and he looked a lot bigger than when he left. Thornley mentioned yesterday that we might still be in the market for a marquee signing to replace Robbie and Murray Kinsella today said replacing Muldowney would be a priority for Pat. He also mentioned Qualter would be rearing for a chance next year. Not sure if he knows something we don't re his contract.

EvoGeo wrote: SOB is a bit of an enigma, he has so much power but is he tall enough for the second row? if not is he mobile enough to make an international class 6 or 8? He seems a real smart rugby player too, his timing when hitting rucks, tackling and coming onto passes is excellent. I really want him to go on and become an International but I'm not sure where he fits in yet?

Two words: Scott Fardy.

Kelleher is a diamond in the making, he is not the biggest but he is very quick and very skillful. I think his best position will be FB but I see it mentioned he can play centre too (not to sure how effective he would be here). Most of what I have seen of him has been AIL and Ireland U20 (he was part of a very good back line at the time with Dardis and Daly if memory serves me right).

I am really excited to see how Griffin does. I hope he has been improving his conditioning in England and if he has done that couple with his excellent handling skills and running lines I think he could be epic in the attacking system we are now employing. I was distraught when I heard he was leaving in the first place, so I am delighted to see him coming back.

SOB is a bit of an enigma, he has so much power but is he tall enough for the second row? if not is he mobile enough to make an international class 6 or 8? He seems a real smart rugby player too, his timing when hitting rucks, tackling and coming onto passes is excellent. I really want him to go on and become an International but I'm not sure where he fits in yet?

Re Aki, get him signed up quick. new contract improved money and a private sponsor from Connacht to top it up to what he would be getting at Leinster please.

Edit: I just checked Kelleher's profile there and he is 5'8" 14st 10lbs, defo not centre material then.

I've been doing a bit of thinking about next season already.

So a few bits of waffle.....

How good is Cian Kelleher folks? I don't know much about him. Will he start for us? Bit more in the media today about how sore Leinster are at him coming to us.

Be interesting to see how Eoin Griffin does too.

I think SOB 2.0 will come to the front next season and into the national team at some stage. He has huge potential.

David Nucifora suggested today that if Aki wants to play for Ireland they would be willing to talk contracts sooner rather than later with him. Would love him to stay here.

MarinersBlues wrote: I thought Qualter got a contract but the duration wasn't clear.
The implication was he was getting two years.

You're thinking of Andrew Browne, they announced a contract extension but didn't give a duration; Browney confirmed it was two years on twitter.

I thought Qualter got a contract but the duration wasn't clear.
The implication was he was getting two years.

EvoGeo wrote: Afaik menace conor finn has been confirmed out, JP and O'Leary confirmed in but I don't recall anything on Qualter.

I'm not 100% on that as am going off memory of what I've read.

AFAIK there's been no formal announcement on any of the four.

Finn reported as leaving by Thornley in today's Times; after the Glasgow (round 22) match Eoin McKeon collected a jersey for a departing player. I was pretty sure at the time that Conor Finn was the name called out, but some thought he might be collecting it for cousin Connor McKeon (who is academy but made senior appearances this season and last).

From the 4th of April :
" Fionn Carr, Jason Harris-Wright, AJ MacGinty, Aly Muldowney, George Naoupu, Api Pewhairangi and Ian Porter will depart the province with coach Pat Lam admitting difficult decisions were made."
You would assume the above mention have being retained.

Afaik menace conor finn has been confirmed out, JP and O'Leary confirmed in but I don't recall anything on Qualter.

I'm not 100% on that as am going off memory of what I've read.

Edit: I did a bit of searching there and don't see anywhere confirming finn as being cut. Apologies menace I think I might be wrong here, don't know why I thought he was gone.

Are we still waiting to hear on whether Shane O'Leary, Danny Qualter, Conor Finn and JP Cooney will be here next season?