Squad 2014-2015

Craic Head wrote: I would not be surprised to see Ross Byrne come here on loan from Leinster. They will be trying to get him game time in the Pro 12. Nigel was coaching him in the 20's this year. Marsh will stay in Dublin.

I don't really see what the point of that would be. Why would we give a 2nd year academy player from Leinster game time ahead of our own (McKeon)? You'd also think that with both Sexton and Madigan likely missing for 8-12 games he'd have more chance of playing in Leinster?

I would not be surprised to see Ross Byrne come here on loan from Leinster. They will be trying to get him game time in the Pro 12. Nigel was coaching him in the 20's this year. Marsh will stay in Dublin.

McNamara wrote: So the Connacht website has the squad & academy listed for the coming season and it seems we only have 3 listed outhalves (Carty, Ronaldson & McKeown). I know Api played outhalf in league but I dont know if that will translate to union and its been said (can remember where) that he is being viewed as a centre. It's a worrying lack of depth in the key position.

Not sure we're really lacking depth compared to most teams, quality could be a different issue. If we're tied to developing Carty and Ronaldson then they may as well play as much as possible.

McKeown and O'Leary as reserves leaves us with more depth than a good few teams, Munster for instance got to the pro12 final with just two outhalves. Whether any of those players are good enough to get Connacht above 7th is another question that we'll perhaps be able to answer this time next year.

There's also a rumour on the Leinster forums that one of their outhalf hopefuls will be loaned to Connacht, but that's not exactly a boost as we have more than enough developing talent as it stands.

I was chatting to Api briefly on Quay Street last weekend after the Kodaline gig - he confirmed that he was going to be playing in the centre. I'm pretty sure he said 13 specifically. We'll obviously be without Robbie for most of the season, so I'm guessing that's who he's here to cover. Really sound guy, and seemed happy to be in Galway.

McNamara wrote: So the Connacht website has the squad & academy listed for the coming season and it seems we only have 3 listed outhalves (Carty, Ronaldson & McKeown). I know Api played outhalf in league but I dont know if that will translate to union and its been said (can remember where) that he is being viewed as a centre. It's a worrying lack of depth in the key position.

Outside of distribution, a completely different skill-set really Only bit of tactical kicking are 40/20 kicks . and the bombs after the fifth tackle where they try and put opponent deep in their own territory and give themselves a chance to recover it by forcing an error.

Also flyhalf in League is not seen as a obviously defensively weak channel to attack as in Union.

O'Leary can play OH aswell so he another option

There was an interview with him on the Connacht website and in that he made it pretty clear he was being looked at in the centre.

3 outhalfs is very short alright, you'd wonder if someone might be coming in post world cup; maybe one of the Leinster boys on loan who might see some game time early in the season but not once Johnny and Madigan are back.

I'd be against a convert playing 10, though I think Api is a union guy who went league and came back. One of our big problems last year was trying to play our way out of trouble in our own 22/half and I doubt a league OH would make that any better as possession is guaranteed there.

So the Connacht website has the squad & academy listed for the coming season and it seems we only have 3 listed outhalves (Carty, Ronaldson & McKeown). I know Api played outhalf in league but I dont know if that will translate to union and its been said (can remember where) that he is being viewed as a centre. It's a worrying lack of depth in the key position.

Not sure we need someone to play 8- we've already George and McKeon and that's Mastersons preferred position, and he's coming on in leaps and bounds and will be really pushing the two lads for the starting spot. He shouldn't be need at 7 as much (hopefully!!) with Jake back fit and this new Fox lad in.

Read on some forum that Marshall prefers 6, which is music to my ears as we've lacked size in our back row for quite a while so a lad who's big enough to play second row and mobile enough to play flanker will do nicely Means we might be a bit short in the second row with just Quinn, Aly, Qualter, Browne and Dillane, though if one of O'Brien or Romaine are ready to step up for a few games this year we might be ok.

top of my wish list would be a 10 and a 6 who can play 8 as well

since we don't have the talent coming through at out-half at least not in any good numbers there has to be some half-decent guys abroad that would want to make a move to Connacht for decent enough money, a decent 6/8 is a more difficult asset to buy

McKeon is only going into second year academy so he will still have plenty of time, can't see Api going straight to 10 from league so can see him playing 13 or 12 (seems small for a 12 though unless we're going with the NZ style 2nd OH at 12, but where would that leave Bundee?) and Ronaldson sees as much time at 12 as 10 so Carty is the only first teamer who can only play at outhalf.

Marsh is going to be behind Byrne in Leinster, so second choice at best during the WC and fourth after that, so I could maybe see him moving.

Edit: just realised how many "sos" I had in there - key points:
10/12/13 is still an area we could do with one/two more
Marsh probably won't see much game time and could look to move on from Leinster

That's kind of hard to credit with Leinster losing so many to the World Cup.

rumours on the Leinster forum that young outhalf Cathal Marsh is being sent to us - if true what does that say in relation to Api and Ronaldson not to mention young Conor Mckeown - has he more potential than mentioned???

Anyone know the length of the contract (1 or 2 years)? Given that he is young and Irish qualified it could prove to be a good outside the box signing. Its a difficult environment to try and get players this year. Let's hope this punt will come off.

phatguerilla wrote: Assuming he's not on a big wedge he's well worth a punt but there are reservations. He's probably smaller than any of our other centre options. Also the 10 role in both codes is pretty different - I'm not a follower of league but I don't think there's much kicking involved, so we'd have another 10 on the books learning the trade.
It's an interesting move and there's hopefully something there but it's a risk

I suspect he'll be developed as a ten the role he seems to play at RL and when he was a kid playing RU, and height/weight stats for Connacht.... psshhhh (lies, damn lies and statistics)....

tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/warriors-fa...in-toowoomba-6229982

There's kicking in League from hand alright in League, to touch from a penalty and on fifth tackle (if you're deep in your own half, sort of like third and long in US Football) to get the ball as far away from your posts as possible when possession turns over on sixth tackle...

Assuming he's not on a big wedge he's well worth a punt but there are reservations. He's probably smaller than any of our other centre options. Also the 10 role in both codes is pretty different - I'm not a follower of league but I don't think there's much kicking involved, so we'd have another 10 on the books learning the trade.
It's an interesting move and there's hopefully something there but it's a risk

An Irish qualified rugby league player who has played for the Irish Rugby League national team. He's a 10 from what I can gather but can also fill in at centre.

Doesn't seem to have played all that much going on the wiki page but maybe that's not the case

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Api_Pewhairangi

Anyone know anything about him? Apart from wiki info!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Api_Pewhairangi

Connacht Rugby has announced the signing of Ireland qualified Api Pewhairangi (23). 

The French transfer window for clubs established in Top 14 or Pro D2 closed at midnight on Monday 15 June. Newly promoted clubs have until 7 July to finalise contracts. Midol has published the full list of changes. Budgets are getting tighter and there are a number of relatively useful players out of contract, e.g. Richard Kingi and, ahem, Digby Ioane at Paris. (Ioane is rumoured to be on his way to England.)

It does sound a little crazy, but in reality most moves are done by mid June anyway. Certainly POC had a deal in place with Toulon before now, just waiting for the season to end and him to pass the physical to finalise it.

pinky wrote: Just saw mention in the report about POC contract that the French transfer deadline is today.
Never heard of this deadline before. Surely they can sign players during the off-season?
If not does that mean anyone who hasn't moved yet can't go to France and thus less competition for any Pro12 team out bargain hunting?

The French clubs are allowed a number for short term medical joker contracts mid season these are almost always lads who are released from/not upgraded to Super Rugby contracts. But the transfer window in France is always short - it opens in April and shuts down some time in June (last year it was about a week later than this year).

Ya spotted that too never heard of a transfer window that shuts so early in the summer.

Just saw mention in the report about POC contract that the French transfer deadline is today.
Never heard of this deadline before. Surely they can sign players during the off-season?
If not does that mean anyone who hasn't moved yet can't go to France and thus less competition for any Pro12 team out bargain hunting?

Be that as it may, I'm not expecting any earth shattering news on the signing front in the coming weeks. I was expecting POC to leap across the Shannon and head up to Galway, but Patchy has convinced me there is no room in the budget.