connachtexile wrote: Agreed he had massive potential and never a chance to prove it. I hope it doesn't come back and bite us on the ass like Shane Monahan but there was no point him staying here going nowhere. Hope he does well at Jersey and it's another person off the wage list.

Two way street really, is he better than Fets or Poolman (probably not) and if he was keeping the likes of Tiernan out we'd probably be a bit miffed also. Obviously has failed to convince the coaches in his showings for Buccs and the Eagles, and given he was released by Ulster and should have been fully incentivised (like Willie) he should probably have put a bit more effort into doing so...

Hope it works out for him in Jersey, not a bad place to live at all (spent a year there in my twenties..)...

McCrea had some decent appearances last season so when he didn't feature more I made the assumption, right or wrong, it was an attitude thing. I wonder if both McCrea and NOC were "suggested" by the IRFU and Eric wasn't thrilled to have them and they weren't thrilled to be at Connacht? I'd be surprised if he'd suddenly blossom upon leaving though it has happened, but not very often.

If JOC went I think we should go for a NIQ. The backrow needs bulking up anyway and Grace if I recall isn't the heftiest. Quite frankly he's guy who needs to step up fast otherwise he's another who had potential and went nowhere with it.

If he does go I'd like Tomás de la Vega to replace him he's an out and out 7 and is considered the next big thing in Argentine Rugby and is semi-professional playing for Club Universitario de Buenos Aires. He's going to be picked up by a big club soon so why not us.

Either that or ring Dominic Ryan tell him JOC is going and it's a straight shoot between him and Faloon for the 7 jersey. He'd be a great catch.

Definitely a sign, but if that was made before JOC (allegedly) made a decision then it would give them food for thought about re-signing him.

I don't think he's the greatest signing, but would be decent cover.

ummm, wrote: If it's true about JOC, what does that mean for Grace? He has captained the Eagles a number of times, so they must see something there. I wonder if his lack of first team action is more to do with him being behind a Connacht legend and a soon-to-be-legend. I'd like to see him make the step up.

Not a big fan of Grace, seems to lose the ball every time he takes it into contact. Doesn't he have a highlights video on Youtube anyway? Usually a dead giveaway someone's moving on.

connachtexile wrote:

Seems Johnny O'Connor will be retiring at the end of the season though, or at least leaving Connacht. Thats a shame, but my understanding, is that the lad is in pain more often than not. No point doing further damage if it can be avoided.

You got a good source on this?

Nothing I can divulge, and its word of mouth at the moment, but I take the word of the person very highly

If it's true about JOC, what does that mean for Grace? He has captained the Eagles a number of times, so they must see something there. I wonder if his lack of first team action is more to do with him being behind a Connacht legend and a soon-to-be-legend. I'd like to see him make the step up.

Seems Johnny O'Connor will be retiring at the end of the season though, or at least leaving Connacht. Thats a shame, but my understanding, is that the lad is in pain more often than not. No point doing further damage if it can be avoided.

You got a good source on this?

As for Monahan I take your point but don't think he ever got a fair shot here at Connacht. Injuries didn't help of course but I would have liked to have held onto him for at least another season.

Last season I thought he showed potential the few times I saw him. Only saw him play once this season for The Eagles and he looked disinterested to be honest. Best of luck to him anyway, hope it works out for him.

connachtexile wrote: Agreed he had massive potential and never a chance to prove it. I hope it doesn't come back and bite us on the ass like Shane Monahan but there was no point him staying here going nowhere. Hope he does well at Jersey and it's another person off the wage list.

Why is the grass always greener? How exactly did releasing Shane Monahan "bite us on the ass"?

Was the decision to let him go unfair? Hardly, he played only a handful of games for us, was regularly injured, and there were no top flight clubs interested him when he left.

Has he set the world on fire since? No, slow and steady wins the race. He did very well in the Championship, then got a contract with Gloucester where he's getting gametime if not a guarateed starting spot. He's started half their premiership games, a third of their Amlin games and all the LV Cup games. He has 6 tries: 1 in the premiership against London Welsh, 4 in one game against London Irish in the Amlin, and one in the LV Cup, again versus London Welsh.

Would he still make our team if he came back here? Poolman is first choice. He'd be competing with Duffy, Fetu, and O'Halloran for one wing position, so probably not. With Carr most likely replacing Fetu next season, then injuries notwithstanding he wouldn't get within an asses roar of the first XV.

Not too worried about McCrea to be honest. He's been with us over 18 months, and only played a handful of games.
We've seen this season, that the coaches are willing to try players if they are good enough. McCrea has been playing in the B&I Cup, and obviously the coaches dont think he's good enough.

Seems Johnny O'Connor will be retiring at the end of the season though, or at least leaving Connacht. Thats a shame, but my understanding, is that the lad is in pain more often than not. No point doing further damage if it can be avoided.

Agreed he had massive potential and never a chance to prove it. I hope it doesn't come back and bite us on the ass like Shane Monahan but there was no point him staying here going nowhere. Hope he does well at Jersey and it's another person off the wage list.

we knew this was coming, im gutted though and we will regret this one day that he wasnt given a real chance to prove himself. good luck mark

Mark McCrea has been released early from his two year contract with Connacht Rugby. The 25-year-old winger will move to Jersey RFC for the remainder of the season and next year.

Born in Belfast, McCrea joined Connacht in 2011 on a two-year contract. While he played predominantly with the Connacht Eagles this season in the B&I Cup, he started on the wing against Glasgow Warriors back in September and scored an early try for his side. He has nine senior caps with the province, including two European appearances against Gloucester during last season’s Heineken Cup campaign.
Prior to joining Connacht, the Belfast High School graduate was with the Ulster Academy for two years before turned professional in 2008. He earned 25 caps for Ulster and has represented Ireland at Schools and A level. McCrea was also a member of the 2008 Churchill Cup winning team, scoring a try against the USA and has three Ireland A caps.

The 6’1, 102kg winger will now link up with Jersey RFC who currently play in the RFU Championship.

Connacht Rugby Team Manager Tim Allnutt said

“We’d like to thank Mark for his dedication and hard work at Connacht over the last two seasons. We wish him all the best with Jersey RFC and with his future rugby career.”

I think for are next signing we should go with a latin theme therefore this lad would fit the bill:

Martín Landajo: Called the “the quiet spark at the back of the scrum” by South African TV channel Supersport in the Vodacom Cup he scored three tries as well as providing for others. He also plays out-half so could cover two positions for us and he's currently a semi-professional with Club Atlético San Isidro meaning he wouldn't cost the world. He's also been capped 17 times by Argentina.

That's only if we can't get Stringer of course

Does anyone else watch the Vodacom Cup? The Pampas XV are the Argentine team in it and the amount of players signed is impressive. The 1st choice Hooker this year is a lad called Bruno Postiglioni a big beast of a lad but new to Hooker (was formerly a prop) someone else to keep an eye on as he also plays semi-professional for La Plata Rugby Club and has being capped 7 times for the Pumas.

I'm surprised people feel we need a project scrum half. Marmion has had a fantastic season and for me any project player we bring in should be viewed as a long term solution to a position of weakness, which is why I would rather a project outhalf. I'd love to see Stringer come in on a 1/2 year contract as this would help both Marmion and the backup 10.

EDIT: I mean a 1 OR 2 year contract, not a 6 month one, although he seems to specialise in those these days!

With Reynecke, Ah You and Vainkolo presumably leaving, and Clarke incoming, that leaves us with one NIQ and one project slot open. For me the priority should be hooker, 10, backrow, 13, 9. We've got to start thinking about replacing Dan long-term.


100% young Declan!!