rossie wrote: Tiern an o halloran signs for 2 yrs. Jack carty and miah nikora for 1 yr.

There's Pull if ever you saw it....
He's done not a lot of anything to deserve a Two Year extension....

If I was desperate to keep either Griff or Tiernan, I'd be getting Tiernan his Good luck & Bon Voyage card. He's a winger who doesn't score enough tries (10 in over 60 games), he should be heading off somewhere to find some form.

I'd like to say I was surprised though, but I'm not...

phatguerilla wrote: Even though the big news is Griffin leaving I think its worth reflecting on TOH re-signing with Connacht despite next to no gametime this year. I think most agree that he's a very talented player who hasn't fully proven himself yet but his decision to stay with Connacht as well as Buckley's motm performance at the weekend suggests to me at least that Lam's rehabilitation of both players (while ongoing) is starting to show dividends.

i always felt TOH was a good player. He can line break. Another year with the right mentoring is worth doing.

Buckley is a pretty big talent and personally I would like to see more of our front rowers challenge the seconds strings from the pther provinces for national recognition.

Why is it Rob Herring, Stephen Archer, Dave Kilcoyne (ok a bit better), Declen Fitzpatrick, even Martin Moore ahead of our guys?

The only back ups i genuinely rate are Cronin, McGrath.

I know the answer, but looking ahead I'd like this reversed....starting with Buckley. The one which I struggle with is Loughney.....does he genuinely have it or has his chance passed him by?

ummm, wrote:

Darragh507 wrote: so why not take the punt on o hagan and out nikora? also frees up NIQ spots....

Small point, but Nikora is Irish Qualified on residency now. Has been for a year.

ah thank you for the correction...but lets be honest. better chance of him playing test rugby for the aran islands....

i dont know, just feel the signing up of both carty and o hagan really says a lot about our appetite for these young guys....i feel if somewhat close to a 50/50 call, home grown youth should get the advantage...

Even though the big news is Griffin leaving I think its worth reflecting on TOH re-signing with Connacht despite next to no gametime this year. I think most agree that he's a very talented player who hasn't fully proven himself yet but his decision to stay with Connacht as well as Buckley's motm performance at the weekend suggests to me at least that Lam's rehabilitation of both players (while ongoing) is starting to show dividends.

what does parks genuinely have to offer as a coach that we do not already have?

i don't particularly see it. fook elwood is an obvious consultant for young kickers!!!

not sure what it says to nigel either for example.

anyway, if no big 10 signing, then a big hooker and 8 please!!!

Darragh507 wrote: so why not take the punt on o hagan and out nikora? also frees up NIQ spots....

Small point, but Nikora is Irish Qualified on residency now. Has been for a year.

ConnachtCows wrote: I'm pretty certain that Parks will be retained in a coaching capacity next season. That was half the reason he joined us

That might have been the original plan, but you have to wonder if it would be possible considering our financials.

few observations

i think its a good move for griffin. sometimes the amount of talent in the provinces is at a point in time substantial, so he probably looked at the other three and didnt see a viable option. robin copeland is a good example of where going away can work for a short period. my feeling is eoin could do very nicely out of this and being honest its a win win situation for wider irish rugby in ways.

not sure what the loan of gilsenan says to our trust in conneely for example? personally its very positive for all provinces to look at the beneifts of loaning into and out of the provinces, but this is an academy lad. if it was dominic ryan or similar id feel it fair enough, but academy loan when we have our own???? bit stinky....?

carty is a good piece of work and i do wonder what the situation with o hagan will turn out to be.....for example is keeping someone like nikora better than placing additional trust in another irish young player? i appreciate we probably cant have too much inexperience in some ways but a roster of nikora, ronaldson and carty aint exactly experienced anyway, so why not take the punt on o hagan and out nikora? also frees up NIQ spots....

It's bitterly disappointing to see another one of our best players leave (seeing Macca in a Leinster jersey still makes me nauseous) but all the best to Griffin. Quite possible we'll meet him in the Amlin/tier 2 European competition next year?

2016 - Clarke, Muldowney, Heenan, Marmion, Healy, Faloon, Ronaldson,Ah You, O'Halloran,
2016 - Muldoon,

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

2014 - Tonetti, O'Donohoe, Parks, Duffy, Swift, F Murphy, B Murphy, Fifita


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

2013 - Nolan

going/gone! - So’oialo, Griffin (London Irish),


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, Fifita, Heenan
8-- george, McKeon
scrum half-- Marmion, O'Donohoe, Murphy
out half-- parks, nikora, Ronaldson
wingers-- O'Halloran, carr, Poolman, Healy
centres-- Tonetti, McSharry, Griffin, Murphy,
full backs-- Henshaw, Duffy

Also, I'd like to see Poolman in the centre with McSharry next season, and see how that works.
Wasn't Danie a centre before joining us?

I'm pretty certain that Parks will be retained in a coaching capacity next season. That was half the reason he joined us

I'd have signed Jack Carty for longer than a year ! He is just coming out of third year academy so assume that is a development contract. If he does well, then with the likes of LI and other premiership clubs around, they would be sniffing after him. Nikora I can understand and think that he is lucky to be getting another contract. So Ronaldson, Nikora and Carty as the three out halfs for next year. Can we afford a kicking coach as well?

Would just like to wish Eoin all the best for his new club. London Irish are getting a great player and it will be interesting watching him in the Premiership next year. Sad as I am to see him go, I put myself in his shoes and can see where he is coming from !!!!!

As expected connacht confirm Griffin is going to London irish

We badly need centres, any chance we can try Duffy in centre where is hands and rugby head is now better then his legs

Personally would be happy if we don't sign another 10, Carty and Ronaldson need experience. Ronaldson might be a bit off from the tee atm but he's had less than six starts at 10 for Connacht so far I think? There will be ups and downs with both him and Carty but they're young and need experience and a chance to prove themselves.

Connacht sign Leinster academy no 7 Connor gilsenen on loan as cover for Jake Heenan

So happy that our management are using their heads and signed cover for Hennan.

As for the contracts I'd be pretty p*ssed if I was Carty. A one year contract hardly shouts confidence in a player.