Dobby what are you on ! I was about to compliment you on a reasonably well thought out argument regarding the state of Munster Rugby ( tloche he never mentioned anything about Robbie or Leinster Rugby, in fairness but that's for another time ) But this utter nonsense about TOH takes it way to far . That type of crap might be fine for the Trolls on Boards but not here. If you want to do conspiracies / conjecture with no possible good in it go else where

tlocke wrote:

dobby wrote: Amazing the amount of money spent at Munster this year. Credit to their management for convincing the IRFU to part with so much money to support their future. As a Connacht, Leinster or Ulster supporter you have to sit back in wonderment. How have they managed this? At the end of last season you would have said that Munster were in dire straits with a Champions Cup campaign for the following year that was looking 'challenging'. So the IRFU did a balancing act. One thing for sure it has rebalanced things. It does make you wonder that with quality investment you can really turn around any teams fortunes. I suppose, as a Connacht supporter, you ask for just a bit more balance at IRFU level.

Anyway back to our squad (before I start sounding like my bitter self) but will we have Cian and Darragh back to cover Tiernan, will we have Conor Carey back to cover Finlay? Ultan and Kieran are well covered these days

This chip on the shoulder stuff, is just getting so tiring....

"Credit to their management for convincing the IRFU to part with so much money to support their future ...."

Credit to Munster management for doing a fantastic job on the pitch this season and getting the crowds in.

Truth be told, Connacht bring in the least amount of revenue by a long way. Up to Connacht to change that.

So sick of this crap ..... Munster this ... Leinster stealing Robbie .... It's just rubbish.

In truth I only have two shoulders only and the burden of the chips is growing to Herculean proportions. I'm surprised I can get out of bed these days . I think you will find tlocke that Munster paid for a new management structure, paid for state of the art facilities at UL, paid for a raft of new players including changing the rules on NIQ players via intervention from the IRFU. And Leinster did not steal Robbie, Robbie chose to leave after everything Connacht had invested in him. Any bitterness in this area has nothing to do with Leinster but more the lack of belief Robbie had in the Connacht cause. You will see many wish John Cooney the best at Ulster. The reason is simple, he has a better opportunity to promote himself at Ulster. Robbie would always have been our first choice centre, so the question always was if he believed in the future of Connacht. And he answered that question.

Edit: Just to amend this post. It was joked on boards.ie tonight about Tiernan leaving for Leinster. And there is a valid case. Kearney is really not as good as he used to be and Isa is coming to the end of his career. So it would a natural progression for him and likely he would make the Irish 15 shirt his. But if he did this I would feel he has abandoned us. He has made the Connacht 15 shirt his and all he would be saying is Connacht is not good enough for him. So he would get the same reaction that Robbie got. Not that I would for one second think that Tiernan would do this

dobby wrote: Amazing the amount of money spent at Munster this year. Credit to their management for convincing the IRFU to part with so much money to support their future. As a Connacht, Leinster or Ulster supporter you have to sit back in wonderment. How have they managed this? At the end of last season you would have said that Munster were in dire straits with a Champions Cup campaign for the following year that was looking 'challenging'. So the IRFU did a balancing act. One thing for sure it has rebalanced things. It does make you wonder that with quality investment you can really turn around any teams fortunes. I suppose, as a Connacht supporter, you ask for just a bit more balance at IRFU level.

Anyway back to our squad (before I start sounding like my bitter self) but will we have Cian and Darragh back to cover Tiernan, will we have Conor Carey back to cover Finlay? Ultan and Kieran are well covered these days

This chip on the shoulder stuff, is just getting so tiring....

"Credit to their management for convincing the IRFU to part with so much money to support their future ...."

Credit to Munster management for doing a fantastic job on the pitch this season and getting the crowds in.

Truth be told, Connacht bring in the least amount of revenue by a long way. Up to Connacht to change that.

So sick of this crap ..... Munster this ... Leinster stealing Robbie .... It's just rubbish.

Amazing the amount of money spent at Munster this year. Credit to their management for convincing the IRFU to part with so much money to support their future. As a Connacht, Leinster or Ulster supporter you have to sit back in wonderment. How have they managed this? At the end of last season you would have said that Munster were in dire straits with a Champions Cup campaign for the following year that was looking 'challenging'. So the IRFU did a balancing act. One thing for sure it has rebalanced things. It does make you wonder that with quality investment you can really turn around any teams fortunes. I suppose, as a Connacht supporter, you ask for just a bit more balance at IRFU level.

Anyway back to our squad (before I start sounding like my bitter self) but will we have Cian and Darragh back to cover Tiernan, will we have Conor Carey back to cover Finlay? Ultan and Kieran are well covered these days

Never know might be a few useful clauses game time related or Ireland related in a few (grasping at straws). Shame to have guys like Olding and Arnold probably not getting the game time they need.

Devils own wrote: 3 decent signings for munster announced today. With Farrell, Scannell Hanrahan etc in their squad. I wonder would the IRFU see fit to move young Sammy Arnold to Connacht he would be a good fit and would get a lot of game time. Madigan definitely got the better of Jackson on their last encounter it's a real shame he is being excluded from Ireland squad. I think we have a lot of quality players in the forwards but it is smaller than some. We need at least one or two preferably CJ type dam busters. Perhaps we could spot a South Africa project player or two for the forwards.
I'd like to see more of O'Brien at 8 next year, muldoon doesn't need to be flogged in every game.
Of the IQ still available Mads (prob top much money but if he wants to play for Ireland), Jack O'Connell maybe, Marty Moore (not sure very injury prone)
I hope the scouting team is going to keep its high standards and even up them because most everyone around us like I said at the start of the year has upped it.

Arnold is under contract with Munster, I don't think the IRFU would or could move a contracted player between provinces without consent from his team.

O'Brien is a perfect 6 I don't know why everyone is so determined to move him around. Hopefully Masterson can rotate with Muldoon when he comes back. Robin Copeland is IQ and would be the sort of ball carrier you're suggesting. Think we used up our NIQ back row token with Dawai.

Madigan is contracted til 2018 and Moore 2019 so we may forget about them. Don't know much about o'Connell but we definitely need loosehead cover and Carey has set a good precedent for bringing props back from Ireland.

3 decent signings for munster announced today. With Farrell, Scannell Hanrahan etc in their squad. I wonder would the IRFU see fit to move young Sammy Arnold to Connacht he would be a good fit and would get a lot of game time. Madigan definitely got the better of Jackson on their last encounter it's a real shame he is being excluded from Ireland squad. I think we have a lot of quality players in the forwards but it is smaller than some. We need at least one or two preferably CJ type dam busters. Perhaps we could spot a South Africa project player or two for the forwards.
I'd like to see more of O'Brien at 8 next year, muldoon doesn't need to be flogged in every game.
Of the IQ still available Mads (prob top much money but if he wants to play for Ireland), Jack O'Connell maybe, Marty Moore (not sure very injury prone)
I hope the scouting team is going to keep its high standards and even up them because most everyone around us like I said at the start of the year has upped it.

Great to have Muldoon on for another year to provide SOME continuity into next year and the new coaching setup.

Betty Swallocks wrote: Particularly if that coach is Jonno Gibbes.

The 42 stating Gibbes not moving from Clermont

Good news.

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Mul's staying another year.

Query: Connacht release says he has 291 caps (225 league + 66 European). I think he's got a few more - caps were awarded for the South Africa and Samoa games in 2007 and 2010 (Mul didn't play v. Portugal in 2008). Definitely when Brett Wilkinson retired his appearances in those three minor tests were counted towards his caps total. Just asking as I'd like to make sure we celebrate Mul's 300th cap on the right night! Can anyone confirm or contradict?

Muldoon extends Connacht run with new deal

Connacht Rugby and the IRFU are delighted to announce that John Muldoon has signed a new contract for the 2017/18 season. The latest deal will extend Muldoon’s professional career at the province to an impressive 15 seasons. This current season marks his sixth as captain of the club.

The Portumna man made his senior debut in 2004 and has since played 291 times for his home province, including 66 European games. The highest capped player, both for Connacht and in the PRO12 championship, the 34-year-old has started 16 of Connacht’s 17 games this season.

Commenting on the news, John said:

“It’s hard to believe next season will be my 15th with Connacht. In one way the time has flown by but we have also changed immeasurably as a club in the time since I started out. I am proud of everything we have achieved, highlighted by the PRO12 win last season, but I believe there is a lot more to come from us as a club.

“I have always said that I would like to continue playing if I had the physical fitness and mental hunger to do so. I am loving my rugby and continuously learning and it was an easy decision in the end to sign on again. It remains a huge honour playing for and leading my home province and I am really excited about the future of Connacht Rugby.”

Connacht Rugby CEO Willie Ruane said:

“It’s no surprise that everyone at Connacht Rugby is delighted that our captain John Muldoon will be playing another season at the Sportsground. John continues to be a vital member of our team highlighted by the fact that he is still the first name you expect to see on the team sheet week in week out.

“He is a role model in our community and to every player that comes in the gates of the Sportsground.”

Head Coach Pat Lam added:

“John represents so much of what Connacht Rugby is about. He continues to drive high standards of himself and everyone around him. I have seen how others constantly look to him as an example of what you can achieve with hard work and determination.

“Personally, I’ve enjoyed every minute of working with him the last four seasons and I’m delighted that he’ll continue to play and lead in the Connacht jersey next season.”

Conan, Would I like him out west yes. His a good player and Ive watched him for a long time. The competition is fierce in the backrow with Leinster. He had a poor enough year last year and has had some good ones this year.
I was at the game Friday night where he got his hat trick. It has to be taken into account that the French side werent interested and he had the luxury of being able to spend time with the outside backs that said he took his chances well.
I'd be hoping he can put back to back games together before we can establish his true worth.
Heaslip
Sob
Jvdf
Jordi Murphy
Ruddock
Jack Conan
Leavy
Tibbets
Max Deegan Thats some choice to have. Must be hard getting noticed. But its a position with high attrition so lads will get chances

clanman wrote: After his MOTM performance the leinster fans will be fuming if he leaves, it's very likely Ulster have him signed already

It's hard to see Leinster letting him go, but if they do he won't be heading to Ulster, they have two Saffir 6/8s now. I doubt they'd have wasted a NIQ spot on Arno Botha if Conan was on the way.

After his MOTM performance the leinster fans will be fuming if he leaves, it's very likely Ulster have him signed already

Particularly if that coach is Jonno Gibbes.

Diabhal wrote:

Mark Mostyn wrote:

fatgav wrote: A Munster-supporting friend has told me Dave O'Callaghan will be switching to Connacht next season. No idea of where the source came from.

Really hope that's not true. Apparently Tony Ward is saying that Jack Conan has an offer from another Irish province, which by process of elimination must be us. if it's even true in the first place

It's Ulster I think for Conan. Would love to have him here but I doubt it's us.

I was ruling Ulster out because it was reported that every Leinster back row had already rejected him, but you could be right. Realistically a player of his calibre isn't going to sign for a coachless team anyway, but I think if we could bring in a highly respected coach we could pull off that kind of major player signing off the back of that.