salmson wrote:

rossie wrote: We have a niq spot but is there money left? Possibly not

You'd hope be some left - Flavin, Reynecke, JOC, McCarthy, Fetu have all left and the only comparable signings are Clarke, Muldowney, and Carr.

Times said earlier in the week we'd be making one more NIQ signing.

Not yet the haven't

Yeah definitely can't believe I left him out, he's been flying on the wing though you'd almost not want to chance moving him. On the other hand if he brings his form to centre then happy days. I haven't seen him play much what's his pass/off load like?

phatguerilla wrote: What would People think of seeing any of Jarvis, carty, ronaldson and/or henshaw lining out at centre next year? Given the now high number of flys on the books, along with the injury prone centres and tight budget, it seems like something that could happen. I'm not sure what it would be like, and I think they would all need a lot of guidance from lam and his new staff (have they been named yet btw?) I would not be surprised to see one off two of those lads at 12 come preseason. If Buckley was a bit taller he could have been a great centre...

Poolman could get a run in centre, definitely got the ability.?..

rossie wrote: We have a niq spot but is there money left? Possibly not

You'd hope be some left - Flavin, Reynecke, JOC, McCarthy, Fetu have all left and the only comparable signings are Clarke, Muldowney, and Carr.

Times said earlier in the week we'd be making one more NIQ signing.

What would People think of seeing any of Jarvis, carty, ronaldson and/or henshaw lining out at centre next year? Given the now high number of flys on the books, along with the injury prone centres and tight budget, it seems like something that could happen. I'm not sure what it would be like, and I think they would all need a lot of guidance from lam and his new staff (have they been named yet btw?) I would not be surprised to see one off two of those lads at 12 come preseason. If Buckley was a bit taller he could have been a great centre...

I'd keep Frank Murphy if he signs a pay and play contract. I can see Marcus Walsh getting some run-outs though because POD will be going next year unless he improves rapidly. Loxton will go. Fifita and Murphy I can see staying neither are on big money and give options in areas we are weak.

Any other AIL guys we can see coming? Murphy has worked out and we're keeping Matt Healy and have signed Ronaldson. We'll probably keep Fifita to. That's a pretty good return our best in years in fact. I can see some of the guys who played for the Eagles earlier bring signed such as Kenny from UCD. Anyone know of a kickass backrower or centre who has being missed by the other provinces?

You have to live within your means tho' and give me a few more Henshaw's and Marmion's any day.

I am sure that Lam will have a few signings of his own to make before the season ends. I would predict from the English Premiership! I like the way things are shaping up.

rossie wrote: We have a niq spot but is there money left? Possibly not so gilsenan might be tempted here like rael was given the players ahead of him at leinster.

I'd go for mickeal Noone, already has pro level, we have to build a Rabo and Hcup squad, not another Academy... It would free up the last NIQ recruitement for a centre slot, much needed 'cause our guys are injury prone, and Pat Lam should have unexepensive and brillant idea of his own to fulfill the spot!

Thats 34 signed up by swiftys list.
That leaves a min of 4 and probably 6 to sign/come in. A 7, scrum half and a couple of centres/ utility backs are the minimum required to be signed up.
I agree that brian murphy deserves a contract. Im not sure if fafita , jarvis or loxton will get one. Scrum half? Not a mention of frank staying or moving on. Weird considering bis seniority. With a lot of the available iq scrum halves off the market i think he will get a contract. Moore will go. There arent many 7s out there esp iq. We have a niq spot but is there money left? Possibly not so gilsenan might be tempted here like rael was given the players ahead of him at leinster.

2016 - Clarke, Muldowney

2015 - White, Loughney, Wilkinson, Marmion, Poolman, Buckley, george, harris wright
2015 - mckeon, kearney, henshaw, carr, henry, Cooney, Browne, McSharry,

2014 - Tonetti, O'Donohoe, Faloon, Parks, Duffy, Griffin, O'Halloran, Muldoon, Swift,
2014 - Ah You, nikora, Healy, Ronaldson

Development contracts - Dave Heffernan, Danny Qualtar, Aaron Conneely, James Rael (1),

2013 - Gannon, Moore, Anderson, Brian Murphy, Reynecke, Fifita, Frank Murphy, Jarvis, Loxton,

Unknown - Nolan,

going/gone! - McCarthy (leinster), mcCrea (jersey), Grace (New Plymouth Albion), Vainikolo (unknown),

Retiring! - O'Connor, Flavin


props-- White, Loughney, Wilkinson, Buckley, Cooney, Ah You,
hookers-- harris wright, henry, Heffernan, Rael
locks-- Swift, kearney, Clarke, Muldowney, Qualtar
6-- Muldoon, Browne
flanker-- Faloon, Conneely
8-- george, McKeon
scrum half-- Marmion, O'Donohoe,
out half-- parks, nikora, Ronaldson
wingers-- O'Halloran, carr, Poolman, Healy
centres-- Tonetti, McSharry, Griffin,
full backs-- Henshaw, Duffy

Rael is highly regarded. At 21 we can't expect too much from him, hopefully may be an option as the season progresses and if he does well we can hold onto him for a few years. We look a bit inexperienced at hooker but our options have promise so hopefully Harris-Wright can build on the positive aspects of his play this season and at least 1 of the other 3 will prove successful.

Back row and scrum half are two areas where we need to bolster our options. We could do with another option in the centre too. Brian Murphy will be kept on I'm sure.

Dont know much about this kid but seems that what people say its all good things.
i seen him play in the jwc but didnt take notice of him at the time.

we know have 4 hookers on our books, apart from JHW, the other 3 didnt have much senior games

harris wright, pro12=15+11 heineken=4+5
henry, pro12=6 SUBS over 3seasons. heineken/amlin=0
Heffernan pro12=0 heineken cup=0
Rael pro12=0 heineken cup=0

shocking low number, 15 pro12 starts, 17 subs between 4 senior hookers of a pro12 team and 4 heineken starts and 5 subs.

Glad to see it finalised. Means Reynecke is definitely gone then. Hopefully we will see another signing or two soon.

I know he'd been linked for a while, but I know next to nothing about the lad. Hopefully a good signing...

Kevin O'Byrne is leaving the academy at season's end. That leave us with just one senior hooker (Harris-Wright), two development players (Rael and Heffernan) and one who sits somewhere between those levels (Henry).

Dave McSharry is having surgery for hip and groin problems and could be out for up to 6 months, which leaves us extremely short at centre. Presumably Murphy will be resigned and hopefully we'll use our last NIQ spot in that area also.

James Rael signed.

www.connachtrugby.ie/off-the-field/

Were severely lacking in experience for hooker next season but i suppose if there good enough they'll come on quickly.

rossie wrote: Rumours flying around sale sharks forum that fetu is on his way to them for next season.

Wouldn't be surprised if he was signed as a dual code player if the rumours are in any way true,(for Salford/Sale). Can see him making a decent fist of League, defensively it's more direct and he has good feet and gas offensively...