its_phil wrote:

CountFurlo wrote: having heard pat today, i think we may have pulled off a bit of a coup here. there was a lot of interest in him, both in New Zealand & overseas so to get him here is a big deal. Pat said he made a personal visit in January to speak to Bundee(there's an obvious sponsor here) and convinced him of the project. Sees him at 12 or 13

Also wouldn't be too surprised if one or two more came up from down under

When you say sponsor, do you mean sugar daddy?

bundaberg rum aka bundee

its_phil wrote:

CountFurlo wrote: having heard pat today, i think we may have pulled off a bit of a coup here. there was a lot of interest in him, both in New Zealand & overseas so to get him here is a big deal. Pat said he made a personal visit in January to speak to Bundee(there's an obvious sponsor here) and convinced him of the project. Sees him at 12 or 13

Also wouldn't be too surprised if one or two more came up from down under

When you say sponsor, do you mean sugar daddy?

Only if the sugar has been fermented and distilled.

salmson wrote:

rossie wrote: Well there is a 24yr old goal kicking flyhalf with 12 super rugby caps under his belt by the name of Baden Kerr playing for Counties also?

Latest from Blues is that Kerr is out for the Super XV season. The Blues also have a young flyhalf called Simon Hickey. What are the odds he has an Irish granny?

Now he would be a coup!

rossie wrote: Well there is a 24yr old goal kicking flyhalf with 12 super rugby caps under his belt by the name of Baden Kerr playing for Counties also?

Latest from Blues is that Kerr is out for the Super XV season. The Blues also have a young flyhalf called Simon Hickey. What are the odds he has an Irish granny?

Well there is a 24yr old goal kicking flyhalf with 12 super rugby caps under his belt by the name of Baden Kerr playing for Counties also?

1) Dissapointed a rugby crowd didn't get the Bundee reference. Guess ye're not the revellers ye claim ye are

2) I meant that Pat implied he had talked to more than one person on the trip he took in January. Might be agents, might be players. Just got impression he didn't go for just Bundee & that he didn't come home empty handed. Now that could well be me putting 2+2 together and getting a tangerine, but i think it was a major business trip. Beyind that, have no idea who, what position, nationality or anything

CountFurlo wrote: having heard pat today, i think we may have pulled off a bit of a coup here. there was a lot of interest in him, both in New Zealand & overseas so to get him here is a big deal. Pat said he made a personal visit in January to speak to Bundee(there's an obvious sponsor here) and convinced him of the project. Sees him at 12 or 13

Also wouldn't be too surprised if one or two more came up from down under

When you say sponsor, do you mean sugar daddy?

All the eligibilities and IQ dates are in the squad list on stats menu.

As far as I know Fifita is IQ. No idea if he's being kept on.

Was just thinking through our NIE players. How many NIE players are we allowed and how many project players as our project player list looks a bit top heavy.

NIE
Craig Clarke (1 year through a 3 year deal) (Some question marks as to his future)
George Naoupu (1 year left on his deal?)
Dan Parks (staying or going?)
Mils Muliana (vague rumour?)

Project Players
Nathan White (since he spent a season at Leinster, should he be Irish eligible by the start of next season?)
Jake Heenan (currently year 1 of 3)
Dannie Poolman (Next season is his final year of a 3 year deal but he was a bit late arriving in Ireland)
Bundee Aki (Year 1 of 3 next season)
Mata Fafita (Is he still a project player, is he being kept on?)

Any word on what positions these are Countfurlo ? 10 obviously is a must but would also like to see a back row preferably an 8.

Apparently Pat has being forging strong links with the Chiefs down in NZ (weird it's not with the Blue's but anyway) this can only be good for Connacht and to be fair to Clarke he's being talking us up as well. Exciting times!

having heard pat today, i think we may have pulled off a bit of a coup here. there was a lot of interest in him, both in New Zealand & overseas so to get him here is a big deal. Pat said he made a personal visit in January to speak to Bundee(there's an obvious sponsor here) and convinced him of the project. Sees him at 12 or 13

Also wouldn't be too surprised if one or two more came up from down under

From an Ireland standpoint I hope he isn't lured away by Samoa for some one off cap a la Ray Ofisa which does nothing but scuttle his chances to play for Ireland. Assuming he reaches the quality for the international level.

I don't think that will happen anytime soon. I like that he has ambition. He wants to play for a consistent Tier 1 team (sorry Samoa) and backs himself to do it. He's not coming here for a paycheck but with serious ambitions and for I one love to see that in a player. He might not make it but a guy who backs himself is always in with a better chance than someone who doesn't.

Fingers crossed on this one. Sounds like he has thought this out well and at least from the highlights looks the real deal. But as we have learned there's any number of things that can go wrong. Visa problems, homesick, not suited to the weather, takes a while to bed in after joining Connacht 2-3 months into the season among others. It is a gamble but I do trust Pat's judgement.

From an Ireland standpoint I hope he isn't lured away by Samoa for some one off cap a la Ray Ofisa which does nothing but scuttle his chances to play for Ireland. Assuming he reaches the quality for the international level.

Good find, connachtexile. Seems to know what he wants.
not sure how happy samoa will be with this

If I play three years over there and it doesn't go well, I can always go back to Samoa.