True.has anybody heard anythin through the grapevine on recruitment ?? Strange there are no rumours even floating about!!!

With a couple of NIQ\NIE places up for grabs you'd like to think we're going to sign one high profile overseas player and maybe one more potential player like we did with Heenan. Most New Zeland clubs have completed their player contracts at this stage so if we don't hear anything in the next few weeks I'm afraid that we will not be able strengthen the team for next year. Of course we could get someone who is out of contract but then there's usually a good(bad) reason for that.

Bayern wrote:
What leave for another province when his contract is up?

Connacht and Leinster offered him the exact same deal and he chose the province that offered him more opportunities at silverware

I don't disagree, but there was generally a bit of disappointment/anger here and in the Branch directed towards Leinster/IRFU that a player that we had poured time and resources into was lured away when he started to come good. No problem at all with him, McCarthy did his job well. Coming off the back of Keatley, Carr, Cronin etc. all going to other provinces when they came good I think McCarthy was the proverbial straw.

RogueXV wrote:

rossie wrote: Stringer with one hand in his pocket would be better than POD or Murphy but he plays now only for the love of the game and has no interest in being no 2 anywhere.

He's proving to be ageless, but still he is 36 are there going to be a lot of teams guaranteeing him a starting job? Would his preference be to start at the 2nd division level in France or England or a backup at a higher level? Sure he's not coming to Connacht, but they could easily give him 8 starts or more depending on Marmion's involvement with the national team. Might not be what he's looking for but his body would probably appreciate it.

I would love to see him at Connacht and I'm not sure he would the definite no 2 if he did come. Marion would definitely be benched /rested a lot more that's for sure. Fact is that peter is the starting scrum half for the most improved and currently 3rd placed team in the premiership. Bath fans have given him a lot of credit for the turnaround in his fortunes. If they do bring in a younger model strings may still have a role there but IMO he will not be interested in being no2 ( on Irish management instructions) rather than day to day merit at the currently bottom team of the pro12. He endured that unfairly twice already at Munster.

Sol_ie wrote:

Craic Head wrote:

FACECUTTR wrote: Lots of clubs making announcements but it seems quiet from our own point of view. Is the 400k going to haunt our recruitment this year!!

I was thinking the exact same thing ! Hope that it doesn't but worried.

Don't forget that we had a good run of contract renewals earlier in the season: Robbie and Marmion signed on long term contracts as well as firming up the core of the team with new contracts for Rodney, Matt, Faloon, Mul, etc. I was fully expecting either Robbie or Marmion to be 'Mike McCarthied'.

What leave for another province when his contract is up?

Connacht and Leinster offered him the exact same deal and he chose the province that offered him more opportunities at silverware

:lol: But I still fear Griff will be " Ian Keatleyed"

Craic Head wrote:

FACECUTTR wrote: Lots of clubs making announcements but it seems quiet from our own point of view. Is the 400k going to haunt our recruitment this year!!

I was thinking the exact same thing ! Hope that it doesn't but worried.

Don't forget that we had a good run of contract renewals earlier in the season: Robbie and Marmion signed on long term contracts as well as firming up the core of the team with new contracts for Rodney, Matt, Faloon, Mul, etc. I was fully expecting either Robbie or Marmion to be 'Mike McCarthied'.

rossie wrote: Stringer with one hand in his pocket would be better than POD or Murphy but he plays now only for the love of the game and has no interest in being no 2 anywhere.

He's proving to be ageless, but still he is 36 are there going to be a lot of teams guaranteeing him a starting job? Would his preference be to start at the 2nd division level in France or England or a backup at a higher level? Sure he's not coming to Connacht, but they could easily give him 8 starts or more depending on Marmion's involvement with the national team. Might not be what he's looking for but his body would probably appreciate it.

FACECUTTR wrote: Lots of clubs making announcements but it seems quiet from our own point of view. Is the 400k going to haunt our recruitment this year!!

I was thinking the exact same thing ! Hope that it doesn't but worried.

Lots of clubs making announcements but it seems quiet from our own point of view. Is the 400k going to haunt our recruitment this year!!

Stringer with one hand in his pocket would be better than POD or Murphy but he plays now only for the love of the game andhas no interest in being no 2 anywhere.

Agreed if Stringer goes anywhere it will be as No. 1. Think we should give Blade and Walsh a chance before outright dismissing them too. The academy hasn't produced many lemons recently.

P.S. Has anyone heard any rumours of us signing anyone? It's roughly the time that people start negotiating new contracts but so far nothing has being heard. Anyone?

clanman wrote: Stringer will be 37 this year, I find it difficult to beleive he would offer more than POD.

But what about as a direct replacement for Frank Murphy?

Stringer with one hand in his pocket would be better than POD or Murphy but he plays now only for the love of the game andhas no interest in being no 2 anywhere.

Stringer will be 37 this year, I find it difficult to beleive he would offer more than POD.

Of course as back up to Marmion and what back up he would be. He is first choice sh with Bath and hey are 5/5 in Amlin and third Aviva. We have a very young back line and his input on and off the pitch is what we need.

FACECUTTR wrote: Bath to announce if or if not they are re-signing Stringer and Henson soon. Henson doesent interest us so that's an end to anything involving him.
Stringer on the other hand could do a job for us when Marmion goes on more International duties which he will. Frank can't do it anymore and POD is ok but as first choice I think not. A 1 year deal would get him his tax qualification which I'm sure he would want. Bath rumoured on their forum about signing Will Genia so it might be worth keeping an eye on.

Would welcome stringer as backup for marmion. he would have a major impact on our mauling as well but due to recent tax changes he wont need to finish his career in ireland to benefit from tax breaks.

www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/spor...tax-change-1.1572370