connemara man wrote:

Accidentally Onside wrote: I think that's an excellent signing tbh.
He never suited Munster's game and if he can stay fit I think he could be a top player for us.
Probably the best wheels of any backrow in the country, you give him space and he's gone.

The best Irish backrow available this summer (with Murphy gone to Ulster) so I'm not sure why people aren't more excited by this.

Because he's a potentially expensive squad player. Our starting backrow next season all going well is 6 SOB 7 Butler 8 Masterson with 20 McKeown. If we get a good NIQ he falls down that list. With Heenan and possibly Dawai gone we need a 7 and a general cover. He's been injured more often than not in the past 4 years.

Is it wrong that I'm not happy with Solid. Shouldn't our aspirations be more than solid? Good cover? Etc...

I want to be excited, I want to see good to great signings.

I want Alannah Beirne to bring me dancing

Accidentally Onside wrote: I think that's an excellent signing tbh.
He never suited Munster's game and if he can stay fit I think he could be a top player for us.
Probably the best wheels of any backrow in the country, you give him space and he's gone.

The best Irish backrow available this summer (with Murphy gone to Ulster) so I'm not sure why people aren't more excited by this.

Because he's a potentially expensive squad player. Our starting backrow next season all going well is 6 SOB 7 Butler 8 Masterson with 20 McKeown. If we get a good NIQ he falls down that list. With Heenan and possibly Dawai gone we need a 7 and a general cover. He's been injured more often than not in the past 4 years.
There aren't articles being written about how huge a loss to Munster he'll be. He plays well against the so called poorer teams. But they up their standards against us. And where is the anger and outcry from Munster fans that he's going.

Is it wrong that I'm not happy with Solid. Shouldn't our aspirations be more than solid? Good cover? Etc...

I want to be excited, I want to see good to great signings.

I think that's an excellent signing tbh.
He never suited Munster's game and if he can stay fit I think he could be a top player for us.
Probably the best wheels of any backrow in the country, you give him space and he's gone.

The best Irish backrow available this summer (with Murphy gone to Ulster) so I'm not sure why people aren't more excited by this.

I'm hoping this is the start of the annual week of daily announcements.
Contract renewals tomorrow
New signing on Wednesday and Thursday
Contract renewal on Friday

Connacht Rugby and the IRFU are delighted to announce that back row Robin Copeland will join the province at the end of the current season. Copeland has made over 60 appearances for Munster during four seasons with the club and previously played over 50 times with the Cardiff Blues. He will join Connacht on a two year contract.

Underwhelmed TBH

Shane Delahunt Hooker
Tom McCartney Hooker 2020
Pat O'Toole OR new Hooker
Dave Heffernan Hooker 2019


Denis Buckley Prop 2019
Denis Coulson Prop
Conan O'Donnell Prop 2019
Conor Carey Prop 2019
Finlay Bealham Prop 2019
Dominic Robertson-McCoy Prop
New Prop (Dooley?)


Quinn Roux Lock 2019
Ultan Dillane Lock 2019
James Cannon Lock 2019
Gavin Thornbury Lock 2019
Cillian Gallagher Lock/Flanker 2019
Peter Claffey Lock 2019

Eoghan Masterson Back Row
James Connolly Back Row
Sean O'Brien Back Row 2020
New Flanker (Gilsenan?) Back Row
Robin Copelan n°8/Lock
Eoin McKeon Back Row
Jarrad Butler Back Row 2020

Kieran Marmion Scrum-half 2020
Caolin Blade Scrum-half
James Mitchell Scrum-half 2019
Conor McKeon Scrum-half (or Kerrins)

Jack Carty Out-half 2019
New Out-half
Craig Ronaldson Out-half/Centre

Kyle Godwin Centre/Outhalf
Bundee Aki Centre 2020
Eoin Griffin Centre
Tom Farrell Centre 2020
New utility back 1 Centre/Wing

Matt Healy Wing
Niyi Adeolokun Wing 2019
Cian Kelleher Wing
Rory Scholes Wing 2019
Tiernan O'Halloran Wing/Fullback 2020
New utility back 2 Wing/Fullback
Darragh Leader Fullback

Green : to re-sign
Red : to sign

43-man senior squad

1st 4 and last 4 that's clear on the Salmson list. Go and Stay, without much doubts...

Great to some more homegrown lads from the academy making it through, the fact that two are good auld Shligo boys is even better.

Here's the senior squad members who aren't confirmed as staying (or as leaving) ordered by minutes played this season.

connachta wrote: I was expecting way more of SOB

Yeah he hasn’t been at his best, he’s had a bad time with injuries though. If he gets a good run through the rest of the season and a full pre season I think he can be a star next season. No way is he an 8 though.

I was expecting way more of SOB

salmson wrote: Was wondering that myself. More than half the Pro 12 winning 23 now gone/going (Henshaw, AJ, Loughs, Muldowney, Heenan, Muldoon, Rodney, John Cooney, SOL) or might be going (McKeon, JP, Browne, Robb).

Really hope McKeon doesn't leave, we'll need his ball carrying next season. Metres per carry from our back rowers this season:

Butler - 2.52
Connolly - 5.93 (only 14 carries)
Dawai - 2.88
Heenan - 2.12 (only 17 carries)
Masterson - 1.38
McKeon - 4.95
Muldoon - 1.81
O'Brien - 1.78

Was wondering that myself. More than half the Pro 12 winning 23 now gone/going (Henshaw, AJ, Loughs, Muldowney, Heenan, Muldoon, Rodney, John Cooney, SOL) or might be going (McKeon, JP, Browne, Robb).

I think he could..
But 6 locks (2 of them busy with Ireland, 3 under 24 y.o) that's not that much, attritional position

That's why an 8/5 profile like Copeland would be very handy.

FACECUTTR wrote: www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-academy-pl...gn-senior-contracts/

Great news.

I wonder is Browne leaving, 7 would be a lot of senior locks.

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-academy-pl...gn-senior-contracts/

Great news.