Connacht Squad 2017-2018

Speculation going on and now Keane is signed, I think a new topic is more than needed

So here's my own REASONABLE squad wish list

Denis Buckley LH Prop 2019 IQ
?????????? LH Prop NIQ HIGH-PROFILE TO SIGN
Ronan Loughney OR Ivan Soraka IQ ONE of them to re-sign


Tom McCartney Hooker 2020 IQ Oct 2017
Dave Heffernan Hooker 2019 IQ
Shane Delahunt Hooker IQ To Re-Sign


Finlay Bealham TH Prop 2019 Ireland
Conor Carey TH Prop IQ To Re-Sign
Dominic Robertson-McCoy TH Prop IQ To Re-Sign

JP Cooney Ambi-Prop IQ To Re-Sign


Quinn Roux Lock 2019 Ireland
Ultan Dillane Lock 2019 Ireland
James Cannon Lock 2019 IQ
Andrew Browne Lock/Flanker 2018 Ireland
Mick Kearney/Ian Nagle/Gavin Thornbury/Jerry Sexton Lock IQ To Sign
?????????? Lock/n°8 jumper/ball carrier à la Naoupu/Jeff Lepa NIQ TO SIGN


Jake Heenan Flanker 2018 IQ
Sean O'Brien Flanker/Lock 2018 IQ
Eoghan Masterson Number 8/Flanker IQ 2018
Eoin McKeon Number 8/Flanker Ireland To Re-Sign
James Connolly Flanker 2018 IQ
Naulia Dawai Flanker 2018 Fiji
John Muldoon Flanker/ No 8 2018 Ireland


Kieran Marmion Scrum-half 2018 Ireland
Caolin Blade Scrum-half 2018 IQ
Conor McKeon promoted from the Academy OR a new signing for 9

Marnitz Boshoff Out-half 2018 South Africa
Jack Carty Out-half 2019 IQ
Steve Crosbie Out-Half 2017 IQ


Craig Ronaldson Centre/Out-half 2018 IQ
Peter Robb Centre 2018 IQ
Bundee Aki Centre 2020 IQ Oct 2017
Rory Parata Centre/Wing IQ To Re-Sign
Eoin Griffin Centre 2018 Ireland
Tom Farrell Centre IQ To Re-Sign
Cormac Brennan promoted from the Academy OR a new signing for 12


Matt Healy Wing 2018 IQ
Stacey Ili Utility Back NIQ To Re-Sign
Tiernan O'Halloran FB/Wing 2018 IQ
Cian Kelleher Wing/Fullback 2018 IQ
Niyi Adeolokun Wing 2019 IQ
Josh Rowland OR Darragh Leader OR Danie Poolman Fullback/Wing IQ 2 of the 3 to Re-Sign
Ciaran Gaffney promoted from the Academy OR a new imposing size signing for back-3, à la Varndell/Trimble/Nadolo


Green = contract renewal
Blue = IQ signing
Red = NIQ/Project signing


44 man-squad,
5 or 6 newcomers, among who 3 NIQ including 1 Marquee-signing and 2 quality-signings,
Seems reasonnable

You can add a development contract/Year 3 repetition for 1 or 2 guys not promoted (see above + Dinneen), and let Menuargia developing in England one full sesason (+ Moloney/other released btw)

Does Bundee count as part of the NIQ quota next season? The IRFU have gotten very strict with Connacht for the quota...

For the marquee signing, I'd like a LH, with a wise old head for a new lock, someone with experience of running the line-out.

Ignoring what I just wrote about wanting an old head for the line-out, signing Gavin Thornbury when he comes back from NZ looks like an excellent use of the budget, running rugby experience, he'll know Carolan from the U20s, and he's tall enough to look to steal opposition line-outs.

Siob wrote: Does Bundee count as part of the NIQ quota next season? The IRFU have gotten very strict with Connacht for the quota...

I'm convinced at least 2 of the 3 new guys will come from Tasman or another Mitre 10 team.
So, there's no issue for them to take Bundee/McCartney spots on the 1st of November

Did a bit of "research" and discovered Steve Crosbie was in the same class as Jack Conan. Now im just saying who wouldn't like to see two great friends reunited in Connacht next season Personally think Crosbie played well ok his drop off didn't get air but it's not easy to get a ball to bounce in a puddle..also not surprised he wasn't made kick at goal, the last thing we need is ruin his confidence in his first cap because the Galway wind came back for one night, and with Cooneys stats it wouldn't make sense for Crosbie to kick. Anyway I see potential in him and Think he deserves more game time. If Jack carty can be carried on pro contracts and not do the place kicking why couldn't Crosbie who seems to be more physical than Jack

I felt Crosbie and Robertson-McCoy both did enough to suggest they could be worth another years contract, Crosbie would be signed as third choice and what you want from your third choice OH is that he would come in and put a pasting on bottom of the table team and that's exactly what happened. Big lad too.

Think DRM would be pushing for reserve TH if fit, and he impressed me yesterday. Know it doesn't count for much but he LOOKS like a tighthead, massive man with huge arse and thighs. Six pack and biceps might get Haskell on the cover and Mens Health but when the ref says 'engage' how much you can curl doesn't matter a dam. I'd like to see more of him before the end of the season but looks a much better athlete than JP, who really wants to drop about two stone of gut if he wants to be pushing for a starting spot.

Robertson-McCoy looks to have potential, with Carey and Bealham out in front I don't think we need him, Meunargia and Cooney, especially if O'Donnell can get fit.

Would Ed Byrne be worth a look at loosehead? If he can stay fit and start delivering on his huge potential he'd be a big improvement on Cooney, Loughney etc

Some candidates for LH for next year. First 2 are young guys with Hugh potential and seem ideally suited to the style of rugby Connacht play plus could qualify as potential project players. Young enough even if the residency rules change from 3 to 5 years. Third guy is older but would bring more experience and would probably cost less.

Ox Nche, Age 21, Plays for Cheetahs

Dylan Smith, Age 23, Plays for Lions

www.facebook.com/lionsrugbyunion/posts/937339812997946

Corne Fourie, Age 28, Plays for Lions

When u see Leinster timing their new signings with season ticket sales you realise how we are stuck in limbo. Even Lam is making more signings for Bristol than we are and he's not even moved there yet.

Part of me wishes we had just asked him to leave for Bristol few months ago and let the backroom guys take over until the end of the season

Yeah Lowe has gone to the goys

We could really do with some transfer news as if you're not going forwards your going backwards......and we're certainly not going forwards at the minute

clanman wrote: Part of me wishes we had just asked him to leave for Bristol few months ago and let the backroom guys take over until the end of the season

?
..Would have been great for Bristol
Not sure how exactly it would benefit us?

Denis Coulson, loosehead, is joining from Grenoble

Porterbelly wrote: Denis Coulson, loosehead, is joining from Grenoble

His stats
Article about him from last season

Porterbelly wrote: Denis Coulson, loosehead, is joining from Grenoble

I really hope this rumour is true. Look who's at LH in Midi Olympique's team of the weekend...

https://twitter.com/gavinmortimer7/status/838651901977718785

If (and I have no doubt Connachta has the rosary beads out praying for this one) our back-up props next year are Coulson and Carey, you have to ask what in the name of God Ulster are at...

Lowe is a fine signing for any province but hard to see how the hell Leinster need him. I can see that it probably means swop Triggs for Fardy and swop Kirchener for Lowe but my god it's not really like they need these imports.

Takes the piss really but then I guess if you don't allow them their quota of foreigners, it's a bit unfair too, although you could argue with the competitive advantage they enjoy in this country geographically, economically, etc, it should be looked at and funds diverted to something else.

So, no marquee signing for LH but a decent IQ one, freeing money for others..
Coulson is promising but very young and Grenoble scrum was utterly dominated this season

Is he definitely signing or is this just a rumor. Haven't seen it announced on any news site,