Clarke gets 2 lines at the end of an article in Irish Times today ('Schmidt crucial in Bell recruitment' sorry don't know how to do link!

Unresolved
The future of club captain Craig Clarke, however, remains unresolved. Clarke was stood down last season following a number of concussions.

This could prove a very important signing. Obviously the success rate of the kickers this past season was unacceptable and hopefully Bell will be able to turn this around, but also felt the backline ran out of ideas too quickly at times and were easy enough to defend. The team may have done well enough scoring tries in a historical context but I'm hoping a dedicated backs coach will have them opening up defenses more next season allowing the backs to score a greater majority of tries with the team getting close to 50 for the league season. Finally, if Lam is the de facto defense coach, then having fewer responsibilities will allow him to concentrate more on the defense. If Bell proves effective this move alone could be good for 3-4 wins.

Any word on Clarke's future yet? Would have thought a decision would have been made by now.

Hope it's not over, we've a very small squad, especially in Sept/oct, waiting ITM cup finishes

It's definitely a step in the right direction

Pat as the main man
Dan McFarland as the forwards coach
Andre Bell as the kicking and backs coach
Dave Ellis as the skills coach

At the start of last season, we only had Pat and Dan
I wonder is all our shopping done? I can only imagine seeing one or two AIL players, maybe coming in.
The official website is going to be getting little or no hits all summer

Bit disappointed we haven't secured a specialist defence coach but have to say how impressive of Joe Schmidt to sit in on the interview panel to assist Lam in his selection.

Didn't know that but glad he did. It's attention to detail like that which will hopefully serve Connacht and Ireland well in the coming years. Impressed by the signing he's got a good pedigree behind him but like the rest would have loved a defence coach.

Bit disappointed we haven't secured a specialist defence coach but have to say how impressive of Joe Schmidt to sit in on the interview panel to assist Lam in his selection.

Little bit of additional info on the new coach:

www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/loca...cond-are-Bells-rules

phatguerilla wrote: You have to imagine Lam will take responsibility for defense? Not that is necessarily a fix or not but I don't see how else it would work.

Penney was scrum coach - with noticably good results in Munster; MOC is defence coach in Leinster with similar results.

No reason the head coach can't take on a specialist role also, as long as he doesn't take on too many e.g. Schmidt being backs and defence coach at Leinster.

Not to toot my own horn or anything *cough* but I kind of called this appointment in my last blog about Parks, or at least the need for such an appointment. Hopefully we'll see kicking percentages improve next year but its a little sad that Parks won't have a chance to prove himself in that context.
You have to imagine Lam will take responsibility for defense? Not that is necessarily a fix or not but I don't see how else it would work.

www.connachtrugby.ie/new-backs-kicking-c...ointed/#ConnachtNews

Seems like a decent appointment but I'm worried by the statement that this completes the coaching ticket, in other words, no defence coach.

From Connacht website

Connacht Rugby completed their back room team today with the appointment of Andre Bell as the new Backs & Kicking Coach. The former Wellington Lions Head Coach has signed a two-year deal and will join up with the province in the summer pre-season period.

The New Zealander, who previously headed up provincial side Bay of Plenty, went on to coach the Wellington Lions for four years, first as Assistant Coach to Jamie Joseph and then two years as Head Coach where he led the team to the 2010 ITM Cup play-offs.

Bell’s playing career included 43 appearances for Otago while he completed an education degree in Dunedin. In 1997, the fullback chose to further his teaching and coaching career at Rotorua Boys’ High School where, at the powerhouse of New Zealand secondary school rugby, he influenced the early careers of players like Liam Messam, Mike Delany and Stephen Setephano.

The coach is currently assisting the Fiji squad prepare for their June internationals against Italy, Tonga and Samoa as well as the RWC qualifier against the Cook Islands before he flies into Ireland for the Connacht pre-season.

The new appointment completes the Connacht coaching ticket for next season. Head Coach Pat Lam, in his second year at the helm, is once again joined by Dan McFarland who will continue in his role as Assistant Coach, with specialist responsibility for the Forwards, while Dave Ellis will continue as Skills Coach for the club.

Incoming Backs & Kicking Coach to Connacht Rugby Andre Bell said:“It’s a very exciting time for myself and my family and we’re all really looking forward to the move to Galway.

“While I haven’t yet worked with Pat– but played and coached against him – I have a lot of admiration for his coaching. I’m excited by the vision for Connacht that has been shared with me and by the personal challenge as a coach.”Head Coach Pat Lam was equally as pleased with the recent appointment:

“We are delighted to appoint Andre as our Backs & Kicking Coach for the coming season. He has proven himself as a quality and innovative technical coach in his roles within New Zealand rugby and we look forward to welcoming him here to Connacht.

“We had several candidates put their names forward for this position. The standard and calibre of applicants was really impressive which is a very positive sign for Connacht and it’s attraction as a club.

“On the back of the support from the IRFU, we are now in a position to strengthen our coaching team from two personnel at the start of last season to four going into the next. This was a major priority for me and I’m thrilled to now have a full complement of quality, experienced coaches for next season. “I’d like to thank the IRFU for all their work and also Joe (Schmidt) who sat on the interview panel with us. As the national coach and particularly as a quality backs coach, Joe’s input was crucial in ensuring we got the right person for the job.

“Our back line for next season is remarkably young with 12 of the 16 backs coming in under the age of 25. But the addition of Andre as well as Mils Muliaina as Player-Mentor will really drive the development of the young Irish qualified players. It’s an exciting time for Connacht Rugby and we’re already looking forward to next season.”

No one is a big lump of a lad so I'd welcome him.

No. Was talking about Noone for the 6/8 spot, as Conan re-sign for Leinster. He's IQ

Is Dan Bowden irish qualified ??He would do the job !! Anyone know of some Irish qualified out half's.

Yeah agree, I think on the contrary that the fact he's still bound to Leinster make the loan in Connacht more possible. Win-win situation, medical joker for us, salary paid for an unused player in Dublin

My prediction can be concrete now, Dan Bowden, Michael Noone!!!!! and Jerome Schuster are all leaving the club. Official Leicester annoucement. Pat just have a phone call to make!

Could he come on loan ?? Would be in his best interests to get game time and if Clarke goes we will be tight in the second row.

Extract from today's Irish Times article about Leinster signing Kane Douglas:

"But this may come at the expense of Quinn Roux. Leinster have yet to release the South African-born project player as no club has come in for the 23 year old. As of now, Roux remains contracted to Leinster for next season."

Looks like he won't be coming so. Can't say I'm upset by this.