Heard the news on the radio on the way to work this morning - gutted. Not surprised in the slightest though, and I wish Macca all the best. He resisted the urge to move away before as far as I know, but as others have said, he'd be mad not to go this time if he has ambitions to win silverware, and cement his place in the Irish match day squad/starting 15.

We have him for the rest of the season, and I have no doubt he'll continue to give his all. So let's focus on Friday, and hopefully another historic day for Connacht rugby.

Horrible news after such a great weekend. Macca is a class player and I understand the move at this stage in his career. I do feel that the IRFU could do a bit more to help us retain flagship players like Macca/ Cronin etc. these lads lift a team and crowd no end when they lead from the front. These type of lads are household names and put bums on seats in the Sportsgrounds which is vital for us to keep improving.

Ok we need to look at a few facts.

macca is 31,playing the best rugby of his career. Lets assume he was offered a similar if not the same package from Connacht.

He would still be mad not to go, if he has any ambition at all Leinster is the obvious move.
Hes not going to win anything with Connacht ,he has the chance to win shit loads with Leinster.
In his position its the correct move.

My only caveat would be if Leinster subsequently signed another top class lock or two and were basically raiding the cookie jar and leaving none for anyone.As long as any province isnt buying up players then thats fine by me.

We need to get over this "OUR" player crap as well.In the professional era just because you are born in Mayo ,Cork or Wicklow no longer means that you BELONG to any province. While its nice if a local player comes through the ranks from playing mini rugby in Ballina,thats where it ends.

We have no right to have Duffy playing for us or Leinster have no right to have O Brien playing for them, as things stand we will win nothing in the next few years and players who want to win medals WILL leave to what they see as greener pastures as is their right.

We are getting there,but its going to be a slow process, this is a minor and not unexpected glitch in the works, we need to deal with it and move on in a professional manner and less of the whinging.

I wish Macca the best, a true gentleman and someone who left nothing behind him when he wore the green of Connacht.

Oh thats tough news to take. His been in great form and a leader on the pitch. His given some great years to Connacht but I loved the idea of a Connacht man starting in an Irish 15. It would have given a great lift to the province. As someone said above what role had the IRFU in the dealing?
Leinster have been ace at recruitment and they badly needed him. Leinster have no secondrow near his standard. Oh feck it anyway after last weeks win its a kick in the nads.
Happy for Mick but not easy for Connacht.

most of ye might be interested in football in england, my point is we are the arsenal of rugby.

every year arsenal lose 3/4 of there best players, simply cause there not owned by some rich oil god, they then cant offer big contract, losing players and failing to win anything for 8 years i think now.

90% of the players who are gone for 7years have gone to the same clubs, barcelona and man city.
barcelona got fabergas back, who was in the youth team and is from that area.

on the other hand you got man city (LEINSTER).
Alot of money and big squad, players they got from arsenal are average players? why did they sign them? simply to weaken arsenal's team and slightly adding to there squad.= take best players, weaken you = less chance of competetion.
ie.. Emmanuel Adebayor, (arsenal) 104 games 46 goals... man city 34 games 15 goals.
after 18 month man city didnt want him anymore.

did leinster really need carr, hagan? they didnt, but if connacht dont have them, theyll be weaker, on an off chance they could over take us in the league!

i hope ye can understand my point and dont think im talking bullshit.
my point is, not every team sign players to make them stronger BUT to make other teams weaker.

My biggest issue is how much of a role have the irfu in the decision making. Would he get a central contract if he remained west. You bet your life he has one now. As far as I was aware mike was extremely happy either us, being a lead figure and liking galway etc. But if the irfu are pulling the strings the man's hands may be tied to a degree.
Also we as a club have to question ourselves letting his contract run so close to the end.

I read that article too. Gutted. Connacht sent a matching 3 year deal but maybe that doesn't mean matching pay packet. I heard that Connacht were hinting at Leinster poaching players to the IRFU but it seems to me that the suits in the IRFU probably live in Dublin and support Leinster which I would assume it would have fallen on deaf ears.

He's not Connacht born, that would make me feel worse to be honest. I have no reason to be cross with him after he gave so much to Connacht and I do wish him the best, but after Cronin, Hagan, Carr legging it, it does leave a bad taste.

NOT HAPPY!
i thought we managed that step to keep our best players. we have 4props signed up till 2013.
young few like KM also signed. i believed macca was connacht trough and through.

2years time, will mick kearney want to go home and play rugby with his home team like carr and hagan did. will andrew browne want to follow his older brother to leinster. TOH played schools or underage with leinster. will he move?

disappointed with this, i wont lie. we have alot more lads out of contract in the summer, big names most of them.
i wont hold my breath, the sooner we sign people the better.
this news has put a real downer on the game friday on a personal point of view.

It seems our fears are coming to fruition. I hear from a colleague in Munster that Tom Hayes is being touted as a replacement.
The graft of week in week out rugby in the premiership would stand good stead if it was to be the case.
If the times are right in their reporting I wish Macca all the best. A inspirational leader figure and player for connacht on the field. And a gentleman off it.

Sigh...

IT reports that Macca has signed a 3 year deal with Leinster...

www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1212/1224327776078.html

Chris Cochrane - looks decent but so did McCrea. Hope he's a better option.

Jordi Murphy - with Ruddock and Dominic Ryan back from injury his appearances are going to be more limited. Would be a great catch for us.

Dave Foley - huge potential but hasn't lived up to it so far. Like Nagle has been overtaken by Holland and Dave O'Callaghan.

Ian Nagle - Has been injured the last while so really needs to show what all the fuss was about. As he's done nothing since and has been overtaken by a lot of younger players in Munster

Leo Auva'a - a good squad player for us who will do the job Anderson was brought into do.

Some of these guys could be big names for us others are gambles which is the way it's always been. At least there targeting the right areas.

The thing about Parks, is that he appears to have bought into everything Connacht. The way he barks orders to every player on the team and the gratitude he shows the clan when being taken off. I believe he has been a success, he came with a chip in the shoulder and is playing well.

Hopefully any other big name signing will be similar. We need someone who will buy into it and flourish it. We do not need another Ezra Taylor.

Porterbelly wrote: Heard a few rumours of players that we're supposed to be pursuing

Chris Cochrane
Jordi Murphy
Dave Foley
Ian Nagle
A hooker from Munster
Leo Auva'a

Talk that George Naoupu could be off to France.

There's 1 big name signing potentially on the cards

What to make of that.

Won't claim to know a lot about Cochrane. McCrea is on the way out so a possibility.

Jordi Murphy isn't far off at Leinster, he'd be a good signing but can't really see him coming here since he's made a breakthrough of sorts at Leinster and the fact we have Faloon and JOC at the moment and Aaron Conneely in the A side (even if he is playing at . I doubt Grace will be around next season alright though.

Ian Nagle is 25 and has had a few injuries and Dave Foley will be 25 in the summer and both don't look like a breakthrough at Munster anytime soon. Billy Holland is next in line to the big 3 so it may be time for one or both to move. If either are designed as a replacement for McCarthy and/or Swift I won't be amused though.

Auva'a would be IQ which would be a boost but I'd still prefer to have George. With George picking up a few injuries perhaps it mightn't be the best move to offer him a new two year deal and he could head to France to earn a good contract with our best wishes.

_nobody_ wrote:

Porterbelly wrote: Heard a few rumours of players that we're supposed to be pursuing

Chris Cochrane
Jordi Murphy
Dave Foley
Ian Nagle
A hooker from Munster
Leo Auva'a

Talk that George Naoupu could be off to France.

There's 1 big name signing potentially on the cards

I thought we signed very well last season. Losing George would be huge this year, but every game I see McKeon play he fit the jersey more and more. None of the others on that list excite me, other than being squad players. Possibly Nagle, but I havent seen him play properly other than against Australia that time.

Any idea how big a name?

Well someone in the ilk of Parks, experienced NIQ I'd say. That's what has been said.

There's also talk that this new changing of the guard in the IRFU could be beneficial to us in terms recruitment. Top of the agenda is to stop the other provinces stockpiling players so we could see ourselves consequently pick up some good players.

Porterbelly wrote: Heard a few rumours of players that we're supposed to be pursuing

Chris Cochrane
Jordi Murphy
Dave Foley
Ian Nagle
A hooker from Munster
Leo Auva'a

Talk that George Naoupu could be off to France.

There's 1 big name signing potentially on the cards

I thought we signed very well last season. Losing George would be huge this year, but every game I see McKeon play he fit the jersey more and more. None of the others on that list excite me, other than being squad players. Possibly Nagle, but I havent seen him play properly other than against Australia that time.

Any idea how big a name?

Heard a few rumours of players that we're supposed to be pursuing

Chris Cochrane
Jordi Murphy
Dave Foley
Ian Nagle
A hooker from Munster
Leo Auva'a

Talk that George Naoupu could be off to France.

There's 1 big name signing potentially on the cards