The Connacht professional side is external to this process as it has recently commenced a new programme of structural and performance development agreed with the IRFU

This means we are not bound to rules the other 3 provinces are. I imagine we can sign anybody willing to come to Connacht if they have not been capped by a different country. Players like George and McGinty are decent squad fillers but I'd say we cannot sign unless we are stuck in that particular position.

Ulster resigned Ruan Pienar, so I'd say we should be ok to resign AJ

If I see this correctly the following is my reading of players these rules apply to
- we would no longer be able to use George as a replacement as he is a project NIQ player
- Jake becomes IQ this year and both Tom and Bundee are on 3 year contracts so they become IQ after the 3 years and are available to be resigned as such
- AJ is a puzzle. Can he become IQ. He has played for the USA 8 times. As such does he become a project NIQ player. If this is the case he can't be used as a replacement player for Connacht
- Nepia is on a two year contract so he won't reach IQ. So there may be an issue resigning him. Everybody else is already IQ on the team.

Open to correction

If other provinces stopped pinching our top players.

Patchy wrote: That said I'd have nothing against Connacht being subject to the same hypothetical rules.

If the funding is the same

How rigidly are those rules enforced?
From wikipedia, Ulster have 5 NIE (2 arriving, 1 leaving next year), Munster have 6 (1 qualified next year), we have 6 (1 qualified next year) and Leinster have 4 (1 leaving next year).
It doesn't look like the position specific rules are adhered to either. EG Ulster, Leinster and Munster each have an NIE lock. Ulster and Munster both have NIE tight heads. There are 4 back three NIEs across Lein, Mun, Ulst.

The IRFU seem happy to allow bending/breaking of the rules, provided there's enough cover across the provinces, which I think is fairly sensible.
That said I'd have nothing against Connacht being subject to the same hypothetical rules.

Wonder if the NIE exemptions that Connacht have as compared to Munster, Leinster and Ulster will be removed should we make Top 4 this year. Certainly I can see a lot of cribbing from the other provinces about the advantage this provides Connacht.

The current IRFU policy is

- One non-Irish eligible (NIE) player only in each of the 15 field positions across the provinces of Leinster, Munster and Ulster e.g. one foreign player allowed across all three teams per position.*

- For the 2013/14 season and onwards, for any given position involving a contracted NIE player, a province will not be permitted to renew that NIE player contract or bring in a new NIE player into that same position in its squad.

- All future provincial injury replacement players must be eligible for selection for Ireland.

- All future provincial non-Irish eligible player contracts will be position specific.

* The Connacht professional side is external to this process as it has recently commenced a new programme of structural and performance development agreed with the IRFU.

Now the Champions CuP is highly likely in the pocket, no more excuses for contract announcement. 3 weeks break = 3 announcements!!
Aly, Heenan and Cooney are the main ones, we have to sign them or a valuable replacement now...

I have the intiution Api, as IQ, will be renewed and do ok next season.
So we need those 3 above, a TH for AhYou and a 10 if IRFU doesn't want NIQ McGinty to be re-signed

CountFurlo wrote: My Bad guys- That was poor shorthand. He was due back last week, took another bang and is aiming to be back for the Leinster game. I have nothing to enlighten about contracts

Persistent rumours having him to the north..

Jerry Sexton with London Irish too.

Ok so no Triggs after this awful missed tackle. 6 IQ possibilities left if you add Mark Flanagan

If Aly goes (hope he won't)

Which of the 4 Leinster locks out of contract there would you prefer?
Tadhg Beirne
Gavin Thornbury
Tom Denton
Hayden Triggs

Also in contention are Sheriff and Darren O'Shea from England
Will be between those 6 IQ IMO

sea_point wrote:

its_phil wrote:

McNamara wrote: What's the story with Api Pewhairangi? Are we to assume that his conversion from league has been a failure? I would have though we'd have seen him on the bench by now

Made a tasty pass in Wegians game against Lansdowne at weekend to put Cleary in.

www.irishrugby.ie/matchdaytv?play=media&id=23013

Scored a very decent try too around the 2:08 mark....great feet..

Yeah these two moves look promising. With Henshaw leaving and his status of IQ utiliity back, I would give him another contract!

its_phil wrote:

McNamara wrote: What's the story with Api Pewhairangi? Are we to assume that his conversion from league has been a failure? I would have though we'd have seen him on the bench by now

Made a tasty pass in Wegians game against Lansdowne at weekend to put Cleary in.

www.irishrugby.ie/matchdaytv?play=media&id=23013

Scored a very decent try too around the 2:08 mark....great feet..

Tom and Bundee are contracted through next year. Check out the Stats section for this year's squad and current contract status.

has anyone got the list of extensions that are still in negotiation for next season. As I understand it the likes of Jake, Tom and Bundee are yet to sign for next season. Is this true? Obviously Muldowney is still to sign? Is there anybody else?