I wonder did we show any interest in him? Fair play to Jackman, he's looking at young Irish talent.

Talented Ulster centre Chris Farrell signs for Grenoble next year.

Lmao. The predictive text! He was of course christened Ian!

Iran cross

Seriously? Was his Dad a big WW2 fan?

rossie wrote: Good for them. Now if they could only get out of that library that is the madstad and somewhere nearer to London they might be able to build something. Even if they stay in reading they should look to do something like Saracens did with athletics. They only need a capacity for 10k under the rules of AP.
Alternatively I've read that LW are leaving Oxford. Kassam has capacity of 12.5k . Perhaps sea point or one of our London based contributors could say if its practical in terms of distance from Sunbury, London and reading.

They also have Jamie Hagen , Ian humphries and Fergus mulchrone. Hagen is struggling. Commentater said on Sunday that he was most penalised prop in league. Irish scrum was destroyed in next put in and Hagen went off injured.

I forgot to mention Tomas o leary who is club captain. They also have a limerick lad in the academy called Iran cross. He's a huge lad and a good prospect. He's a winger.

LW proposed move is only a bartering tool for any future contract negotiations at the Kassam, they're not totally happy with their lot thereat the moment so they have to show that they have options to negotiate costs down. The issue with playing at the Kassam is also that the club do not have “primacy of tenure”, meaning Oxford United always have the first option on fixtures and use of the stadium.

Oxford Utd don't own the ground either btw, but they're the senior tenant..

I don't see a move to Witney (the size of Kilkenny) as being remotely practical, even though its only twelve miles away from Oxford [pop 150,000] there is no direct Train service to the Town (train to Oxford and then 40 mins Bus to Witney). If I was a London based Welsh fan that would be the final straw, remember their historical base up until two season ago is Old Deer Park in Richmond (SW London), at least Sarries were already a North London outfit before the move to Watford.

Unless they rebrand themselves as Oxford, I don't see them being embraced fully by the town and relocating to Witney would just be the death knell IMO...

Tomas OLeary is there too

Good for them. Now if they could only get out of that library that is the madstad and somewhere nearer to London they might be able to build something. Even if they stay in reading they should look to do something like Saracens did with athletics. They only need a capacity for 10k under the rules of AP.
Alternatively I've read that LW are leaving Oxford. Kassam has capacity of 12.5k . Perhaps sea point or one of our London based contributors could say if its practical in terms of distance from Sunbury, London and reading.

They also have Jamie Hagen , Ian humphries and Fergus mulchrone. Hagen is struggling. Commentater said on Sunday that he was most penalised prop in league. Irish scrum was destroyed in next put in and Hagen went off injured.

I forgot to mention Tomas o leary who is club captain. They also have a limerick lad in the academy called Iran cross. He's a huge lad and a good prospect. He's a winger.

Niall Annett of Ulster is joining Worchester next season and Michael Keating (Doncaster and ex-Leinster) is rumoured to be joining L.I. which means they could have a backline of 12. Sheridan 13. Griffin 14. Keating next season.

I think those boys are doing well also but I'd like at least one signing of a veteran outhalf who could steer the tighter games for us. Ronaldson is the mid-term plan with O'Hagan & Carty being the long-term plan but like Paddy Jackson at Ulster who while immensely skillful Ulster still needs someone like Pienaar to push/help these guys. Goppereth is doing the same at Leinster with Madigan and O'Gara did the same at Munster for Keatley just as Keatley is doing it now for Hanrahan. If Parks goes a mature outhalf will be needed by us.

I cant see Dan going on beyond this year, but maybe he will.

Ronaldson has been terrific, he looks great at 12 as well but he is a 10 really and that is where he wants to play, he has shown that he can step up to the pro ranks, he has been a great acquisition for us and I look forward to seeing at 10 more by the end of the season, to me he seems to be getting better every game. Jack Carty is looking good, playing well with Eagles and Buccaneers he is a great player, fantastic kicker, he needs a bit more game time at the top level to really test him. Sean O'Hagan is one of the best young players around, just 18, he was top scorer in the 20's interpros with 40 or so points after the three games and now is on 42 points after Corinthians first three games ever in the AIL 1B with a fantastic kicking average, he is probably top scorer in the AIL at the moment, if young players in other provinces had such averages they would be lauded, he has a very bright future.

I think that we are in a good place with those young lads, it may be a case of if they are ready but they are all really good players I would not change them myself.

That Dan leaves after this contract ends is not a given, he may look to stay on in a player/coaching role. It'd be perfect for us really, keeping him as backup and counselling our younger 10's...

Wouldn't have a problem with that but we need to have a plan in place. Next year we're possibly losing Parks to retirement, Nikora's going home while Ronaldson is only on a 1 year contract. I'd like to see some planning going on with a 2/3 season plan laid out with Carty/O'Hagan/Ronaldson etc factored in or at least us not reacting and being stuck trying to sign someone at the last minute. Outhalf is to important a position for us to be messing around next season.

connachtexile wrote:

<strong>Willie Staunton (Terenure College)</strong>

Fly-half Staunton was signed by Terenure as part of their plans to get back to the big leagues and he repaid their faith with the penalty that edged Saturday's closely fought derby with Blackrock.

One to watch

<strong>Sean O'Hagan (Corinthians)</strong>

Having seen the promise of Kieran Marmion come to fruition, Connacht are hoping another exile can hit the heights as their U-20 star contributed 15 points for Corinthians in their win over Shannon in Division 1B.

With Parks gone next year we're gonna need someone unless Lam can pull another Heenan out of the bag. Sign both and lets see what they can do.

That Dan leaves after this contract ends is not a given, he may look to stay on in a player/coaching role. It'd be perfect for us really, keeping him as backup and counselling our younger 10's...

Willie Staunton (Terenure College)

Fly-half Staunton was signed by Terenure as part of their plans to get back to the big leagues and he repaid their faith with the penalty that edged Saturday's closely fought derby with Blackrock.

One to watch

Sean O'Hagan (Corinthians)

Having seen the promise of Kieran Marmion come to fruition, Connacht are hoping another exile can hit the heights as their U-20 star contributed 15 points for Corinthians in their win over Shannon in Division 1B.

With Parks gone next year we're gonna need someone unless Lam can pull another Heenan out of the bag. Sign both and lets see what they can do.

We have our own young Irish Exile that is making great progress this year, I hope that he is signed up for the coming years.

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/scouting-report-29639450.html

Steenson is a great player and I would have him here anytime but he is engrained with Exeter and it would take a lot for him to leave. I like the way they play rugby in Exeter.

FACECUTTR wrote: Should we be eyeing up Steenson @ Exeter ??
Would free up an NIQ spot too??

Steenson contracted till 2015. At that stage he'll be 31.
By combining Parks and Nikora's salaries we can still get somebody decent and free up a NIQ spot. Don't think Ronaldson or Carty will be the finished product for next season.

Should we be eyeing up Steenson @ Exeter ??
Would free up an NIQ spot too??