Sounds like the type of guy for Connacht. Will Bell or Ellis ever be replaced. I see Peel (and previously Gibbes) signed to Ulster backroom. Munster have managed a management reshuffle. Leinster can afford Lancaster. Are we really the poor relations who can afford to replace only 1 while losing 3.

You'd hope that an assistant coach could be released early.

Given the bloke has experience with financially challenged teams, has a history of winning with an unfancied team, and his teams play good rugby, he seems like a great fit.

My issue with him is the same as for lots of those proposed - the Super rugby regular season runs til mid-July and playoffs run til first week of August. We saw what happened with a botched pre-season this year.

Hopefully whoever it is they get it announced soon. A new coach and a decent signing would really help season ticket sales. We need that to keep the funds rolling so we can be competitive.

i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/67...or-super-rugby-coach
Hope this happens.

Chip on Shoulder? - Check.

Outgoing Tasman coach Kieran Keane fires parting shots at Crusaders and Canterbury

Keane, who will work under Chiefs coach Dave Rennie from next season, stated Tasman gets a raw deal from their southern neighbours because they are overshadowed when it comes to political, selectorial and financial matters.

"The relationship with the big brother has never been much good," Keane, who had been Tasman head coach since 2009, told Fairfax Media this week. "Largely we have had the short end of the stick … big brother has remained big brother, whether it be political, or selectorial, financial or where the games are held … it has actually been at the behest of Canterbury and the Crusaders.

Striking similarities between himself and Pat's stories. This is great:

Never heard of him but he sounds like a great fit.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/kieran-ke...t&utm_medium=twitter

Gerry Thornley on Newstalk tonight reckons there should be an announcement on head coach within the next week or 2 and that we were never interested in Johnno Gibbs.

McNamara wrote:

sligsup wrote:

Betty Swallocks wrote: Leon McDonald - interesting choice. Shortlisted with McKee and McGahan according to the article. Let's see what the end result is. Still fear we might end up with McKee. Wife from Ballina, ex Buccs coach and all that!

I have from a reliable source that Mckee was complete pie in the sky stuff so I'm not over concerned on that one.

Would McKee be a poor choice if he was available?

2000–2002: AS Montferrand
2002–2005: Connacht
2005–2006: Cornish Pirates
2006 : S.W England Rugby Academy
2006–2007: Central Coast Rays
2008: Pacific Islanders (Asst. Coach)
2010–2012: Tonga (Tech. Advisor)
2013: Australia U20s (Asst. Coach)
2014– Fiji

Think you'll agree you'd be hoping to attract someone with a slightly stronger CV seems a bit of a journeyman coach to me.

sligsup wrote:

Betty Swallocks wrote: Leon McDonald - interesting choice. Shortlisted with McKee and McGahan according to the article. Let's see what the end result is. Still fear we might end up with McKee. Wife from Ballina, ex Buccs coach and all that!

I have from a reliable source that Mckee was complete pie in the sky stuff so I'm not over concerned on that one.

Would McKee be a poor choice if he was available?

Betty Swallocks wrote: Leon McDonald - interesting choice. Shortlisted with McKee and McGahan according to the article. Let's see what the end result is. Still fear we might end up with McKee. Wife from Ballina, ex Buccs coach and all that!

I have from a reliable source that Mckee was complete pie in the sky stuff so I'm not over concerned on that one.

Leon McDonald - interesting choice. Shortlisted with McKee and McGahan according to the article. Let's see what the end result is. Still fear we might end up with McKee. Wife from Ballina, ex Buccs coach and all that!

What I see, after this week-end premiership results, is that, as expected earlier, it is likely we have a top coach and an All-Black 2nd row playing against Richmond or Esher in front of 800 souls.
Professional rugby comes from interesting to crazy and stupid because of money

m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-ru...ht-job-35449382.html
Thoughts?