National team players won’t be playing in the first few weeks of the league

I see on insta that Bundee is in NZ .... strange three weeks before season kick off

connachta wrote: Fanga'a looks good
I'd go with Butler 6 Fainga'a 7 Masterson 8 Copeland 20
SOB doesn't seem anywhere for this pre-season, E. McKeon is a luxury back-up
Harsh on Connolly though

Don’t think that backrow offers enough ball carrying threat. Would prefer McKeon or Copeland at 8. Of course a lot depends on form, fitness, and how well lads adapt to Friend’s system.

Fanga'a looks good
I'd go with Butler 6 Fainga'a 7 Masterson 8 Copeland 20
SOB doesn't seem anywhere for this pre-season, E. McKeon is a luxury back-up
Harsh on Connolly though

Jarrad Butler is the new Club Captain

RonanL wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Robin Copeland is up in Dublin representing Connacht at the Eir Launch. I thought that migth point to something, but Sexton isn't there representing Leinster, so could be nothing

Yeah I noticed that too. Interesting. I'd be happy enough with Copeland as Captain, despite him only joining over the summer. I've high hopes for him.

Yep so do I, but I'd rather he focus on leading by example and being a good senior player than taking on extra duties required of the captain for this first season...

RonanL wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Robin Copeland is up in Dublin representing Connacht at the Eir Launch. I thought that migth point to something, but Sexton isn't there representing Leinster, so could be nothing

Yeah I noticed that too. Interesting. I'd be happy enough with Copeland as Captain, despite him only joining over the summer. I've high hopes for him.

I'd be of the opinion that him being in Dublin indicates he wil not be captain as whoever is on media duty in Dublin will not be expected to be on media duties tonight also.

ConnachtCows wrote: Robin Copeland is up in Dublin representing Connacht at the Eir Launch. I thought that migth point to something, but Sexton isn't there representing Leinster, so could be nothing

Yeah I noticed that too. Interesting. I'd be happy enough with Copeland as Captain, despite him only joining over the summer. I've high hopes for him.

Robin Copeland is up in Dublin representing Connacht at the Eir Launch. I thought that migth point to something, but Sexton isn't there representing Leinster, so could be nothing

sea_point wrote:

Conancht Rugby on Twitter wrote: The new Connacht Rugby captain will be exclusively announced at tonight’s Season Launch at @Elverys Headford Rd Galway
#StrongerInGreen

So, whg'll it be...

Methinks it'll be Jarrod, good player who will be a starter again this season under Friend.
Media friendly, speaks very well and looks good in front of a camera..

Butler and Tiernan. Co Captains

sea_point wrote: Methinks it'll be Jarrod... ...Media friendly, speaks very well and looks good in front of a camera.

After that assessment (which I don't disagree with) I think I'll start referring to him as Nu-Loughs.

Conancht Rugby on Twitter wrote: The new Connacht Rugby captain will be exclusively announced at tonight’s Season Launch at @Elverys Headford Rd Galway
#StrongerInGreen

So, whg'll it be...

Methinks it'll be Jarrod, good player who will be a starter again this season under Friend.
Media friendly, speaks very well and looks good in front of a camera..

www.the42.ie/shane-delahunt-connacht-bir...ter-4151162-Jul2018/

Mark Balaski played with St Geralds & Castlebar RFC I'm not sure if he is still a member of Castlebar

Mark Mostyn wrote: Someone posted this academy and sub academy list on Boards. Normally take anything I see on there with a pinch of salt but it looks pretty much right to me

Prop
Conor Kenny(Buccaneers) - u23
Matthew Burke(Corinthians) - u22
Jordan Duggan(Naas/Newbridge) - u21
Kuba Woitjowicz(Sligo) - u21
Ryan Lomas(Roscrea) - u20
Liam Winnett(Buccaneers) - u19

Hooker
Dylan Tierney(Corinthians) - u20
Eoin de Buitlèar(Corinthians) - u18

Lock
Mikey Wilson(Garryowen) - u22
Niall Murray(Buccaneers) - u20
Iarlaith Laheen-Morrin(Galwegians) - u19
Darragh Murray(Buccaneers) - u18

Backrow
Paul Boyle(Buccaneers/Gorey) - u22
Sean Masterson(Buccaneers/Portlaoise) - u21
Neal Moylett(Roscrea) - u20
Cian Huxford(Corinthians) - u20
Joshua Dunne(Exile) - u19
Oisin McCormack(Ballinasloe) - u18

Scrumhalf
Stephen Kerins(Corinthians) - u22
Colm Reilly(Ballinasloe) - u20
Cathal Forde(Coláiste Iognáid) -

Outhalf
Conor Fitzgerald(Shannon/Ard Scoil) - u22
Conor Dean(St. Marys/Blackrock) - u21
Dylan Prendergast(Westport) - u19

Outside Back
Kieran Joyce(Corinthians/Exile) - u22
Colm de Buitléar(Corinthians) - u22
Luke Carty(Buccaneers) - u22
Corey Reid(Buccaneers) - U2 1u21
Sean O'Brien(Clontarf/Mullingar) - u21
Mark Balaski(Mark Balaski) - u21
Conor Hayes(Young Munster) - u20
Hugh Lane(Galwegians) - u20
Adi Donovan(Roscrea) - u20
Saul O'Carroll(Garbally) - u19
Oran McNulty(Exile) - u19
Shane Jennings(Ballinasloe) - u19
Conor O’Shaughnessy(Galwegians) - u19
Adam Cunningham(Galwegians) - u19

If you write down any U18-19
you can count 24. Friend talked about 22 in the Academy IIRC, so 2 of them won't make it into it

Someone posted this academy and sub academy list on Boards. Normally take anything I see on there with a pinch of salt but it looks pretty much right to me

Prop
Conor Kenny(Buccaneers) - u23
Matthew Burke(Corinthians) - u22
Jordan Duggan(Naas/Newbridge) - u21
Kuba Woitjowicz(Sligo) - u21
Ryan Lomas(Roscrea) - u20
Liam Winnett(Buccaneers) - u19

Hooker
Dylan Tierney(Corinthians) - u20
Eoin de Buitlèar(Corinthians) - u18

Lock
Mikey Wilson(Garryowen) - u22
Niall Murray(Buccaneers) - u20
Iarlaith Laheen-Morrin(Galwegians) - u19
Darragh Murray(Buccaneers) - u18

Backrow
Paul Boyle(Buccaneers/Gorey) - u22
Sean Masterson(Buccaneers/Portlaoise) - u21
Neal Moylett(Roscrea) - u20
Cian Huxford(Corinthians) - u20
Joshua Dunne(Exile) - u19
Oisin McCormack(Ballinasloe) - u18

Scrumhalf
Stephen Kerins(Corinthians) - u22
Colm Reilly(Ballinasloe) - u20
Cathal Forde(Coláiste Iognáid) -

Outhalf
Conor Fitzgerald(Shannon/Ard Scoil) - u22
Conor Dean(St. Marys/Blackrock) - u21
Dylan Prendergast(Westport) - u19

Outside Back
Kieran Joyce(Corinthians/Exile) - u22
Colm de Buitléar(Corinthians) - u22
Luke Carty(Buccaneers) - u22
Corey Reid(Buccaneers) - u21
Sean O'Brien(Clontarf/Mullingar) - u21
Mark Balaski(Mark Balaski) - u21
Conor Hayes(Young Munster) - u20
Hugh Lane(Galwegians) - u20
Adi Donovan(Roscrea) - u20
Saul O'Carroll(Garbally) - u19
Oran McNulty(Exile) - u19
Shane Jennings(Ballinasloe) - u19
Conor O’Shaughnessy(Galwegians) - u19
Adam Cunningham(Galwegians) - u19