All good options and I know I'm repeating myself here but I think Thornbury is the pick of the bunch here if for no other reason but his height at 6'8". Cannon is the only senior lock we currently have at this height and we've all seen the difference it makes to the lineout when he's in the team. But apart from that Thornbury looks to be very mobile and athletic and I think he could be a major ball carrier which is something else we're currently in need of.

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: I still think given his age, height and athleticism, Gavin Thornbury ticks an awful lot of boxes if Leinster don't offer him a full contract first. Anybody know anything about John Madigan at Munster. Seems to have suffered a lot from injuries and has seen his chances curtailed a lot since Kleyn arrived.

Off the top of my head Thornbury, Nagle, McCarthy, Kearney, John Madigan, and Dave Foley are all out of contract this summer. Plenty of options there.

The idea of a back 3 of Lowe Kelleher and O'Halloran is extremely exciting. Do think a back 3 player would be more of a luxury signing though, would like to see us get in a loosehead, second row, backrow, and centre first.

connachta wrote: Ed Byrne (LH), Nagle+M.Kearney (locks), Reid/T.Daly (centre), are the Leinster guys out of contract in the spots we may need someone

And even if we don't need him as such I think Jordi Murphy would be an amazing signing for us

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-...s-move-35497842.html

Now this is a guy I'd love to see KK bringing with him. Leinster are just taking the p*** now given the array of talent they have in their backline. If he's really looking to move abroad and not just negotiating for a better deal with NZRU then I hope KK can sell him on Connacht.

It would seem that McCarthy and Triggs are being let go so seen as a hard nose direct replacement for those and replacing one NIQ with another , and with Toner in Ireland squad won't be blocking any development anymore than previously

I still think given his age, height and athleticism, Gavin Thornbury ticks an awful lot of boxes if Leinster don't offer him a full contract first. Anybody know anything about John Madigan at Munster. Seems to have suffered a lot from injuries and has seen his chances curtailed a lot since Kleyn arrived.

Weird signing, they currently have Toner, Moloney, Triggs, Kearney McCarthy and Nagle plus whoever is coming through the academy.

Why they feel the need to sign a back row who can play in the second row baffles me, esp when Ruddock fills that role too!

So 7 on the books and they sign another one , go figure.

Ed Byrne (LH), Nagle+M.Kearney (locks), Reid/T.Daly (centre), are the Leinster guys out of contract in the spots we may need someone

it is a huge incentive for Mick Kearney to come back...

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: And now the news that Leinster are signing Scott Fardy for next season, supposedly as a lock but his best position is at blindside so if things aren't working at lock expect to see a quick change to 6. If guys like Leavy, Conan, Ryan & Ruddock can't see the writing on the wall and make an "Exit stage West" their careers will all be about what might have been. Still as the saying goes, "You can lead a rugby player to water" and all that.

I was pretty shocked to read that this morning. I can stomach it a little if he plays exclusively at lock I guess, but he has played most of his footy in the back row. Doesn't quite make sense really and got to wonder the logic that was accepted by Nucifora if this comes to fruitition?

But yet again, it's an example of the type of quality signings our peers are chasing and more often, getting. We have got to sign quality.

It's a bit like the arms race!!!!!!

And now the news that Leinster are signing Scott Fardy for next season, supposedly as a lock but his best position is at blindside so if things aren't working at lock expect to see a quick change to 6. If guys like Leavy, Conan, Ryan & Ruddock can't see the writing on the wall and make an "Exit stage West" their careers will all be about what might have been. Still as the saying goes, "You can lead a rugby player to water" and all that.

www.the42.ie/dan-leavy-leinster-ireland-...iew-3265461-Mar2017/

Dan Leavy not completely ruling out a move away from Leinster

The optimist in me would hope we would hear something with season ticket renewals opening tomorrow, more likely for the start of open sales though

phatguerilla wrote: I think Lam was signed in January and Bundee was announced in April. If we're expecting Keane to be the one that attracts signings he'll need more than a few weeks. We also need to keep in mind that Lam was not working at the time so could give his full attention to any potential scouting whereas Keane can't do that. I expect Ruane will probably go out to NZ when there is a break in the Super Rugby schedule and meet up with Keane on a scouting mission.

We can't expect Keane to have an extensive knowledge of IQ players yet so hopefully Allnutt and Ruane are being proactive in preparing a shortlist and consulting with Keane on who he would like to target.

I wonder how many NIQs we'll be able to sign? Will McCartney and Aki count towards our NIQ total next season, given they qualify in October? If they are excluded we have two NIQs contracted for next season, and Ili and Fox potentially to stay on too

Darragh wrote: Was Craig Clarke signed under Elwood or Lam?

He was a big signing for us at the time. I felt one of the biggest we've ever had.

Such a shame it didn't work out.

Signed about a month after Lam was named coach

Good point, his signing was announced mid February.