Connacht Squad 2017-2018

connachta wrote: that's a good point

You'd assume we'll bring an outhalf into the academy as well, so with 3 dedicated 10s, Ronaldson as 4th choice and Conor McKeown and possibly an academy player as 5th and 6th choice we should be pretty well covered

If C;McKeon is promoted as 3rd SH and Kerins covers as 4th, with Lowndes/Healy as 5th choice, I guess you'd say we don't need a scrummie either

If Fox goes too (we have enough back-rowers)
That would free up important money to target on a LH, 2 locks, and a 2nd choice12 mainly

New head of fitness also needed. Paul Bunce is joining Pat at Bristol.

www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/paul-bunce-a...e-for-201718-season/

Step up Johnny O'Concrete.
Although I think he joined some team recently so that's probably a non runner.

FACECUTTR wrote: Step up Johnny O'Concrete.
Although I think he joined some team recently so that's probably a non runner.

I think he's actually working as S&C coach at Galway United.

With all the uncertainty surrounding Super Rugby at the moment, you'd have to imagine anyone at Western Force, the Rebels, Brumbees, Kings, and Cheetahs would be very open to a move north

Here's a LH at western force might be worth a look. Mees Erasmus

Mark Mostyn wrote: With all the uncertainty surrounding Super Rugby at the moment, you'd have to imagine anyone at Western Force, the Rebels, Brumbees, Kings, and Cheetahs would be very open to a move north

That's true. I think they made an awful mess of that tournament. There are way too many one sided games now. I hear three teams are being dropped.

Jordan conroy has to be given a contract ! The guy has serious speed ! Went to the buc's game over the weekend where he scored 3 against Fionn Carr wing ! All three tries were screamers ! Needs to add a few kgs but Niyi was well able to add that bulk .

Anyone else know much about him ?

He's played Eagles hasn't he?

wp_rathead wrote: He's played Eagles hasn't he?

He has. If there's a spot opening up in the squad for a wing you'd have to imagine Gaffney would have preference given he has been in the academy for the last few years and has played for the senior team

This season we have 8 senior contracted back 3 players. We only have 4 contracted for next season thus far (O'Halloran, Kelleher, Healy, Adeolokun).

How would you like to see us fill the remaining spots? Retain the guys we have now? Promote from the academy? Sign an NIQ? Bring in an IQ playing in the AIL, abroad, or from another province?

Niyi is better, stronger but still can't finish what he should (disallowed try in Glasgow). Same for Carr in Grenoble last season.
So I'm not overly confident on similar profiles like Conroy.
I'd like Poolman to be given another year and chance if he's not on high-money.
And I'm 99% sure Keane will bring a guy with him, even if Rowland stays (he's IQ). Except if IRFU blocks the move because of Ili...

connachta wrote: Niyi is better, stronger but still can't finish what he should (disallowed try in Glasgow). Same for Carr in Grenoble last season.
So I'm not overly confident on similar profiles like Conroy.
I'd like Poolman to be given another year and chance if he's not on high-money.
And I'm 99% sure Keane will bring a guy with him, even if Rowland stays (he's IQ). Except if IRFU blocks the move because of Ili...

Yeah I agree, we have plenty of pace already.. I personally think 7 back 3 players would be enough, with 2 being natural fullbacks, at least one winger who's highly capable at 15 and another who can do a job there. With 4 lads in the academy and Parata capable of covering wing that's 12 lads for 4 spots. So:

Fullback: O'Halloran, Leader/Rowland/Other
Wing/Fullback: Kelleher,
Wing who can cover fullback: Healy
Wing: Adeolokun, McFadden/Poolman, Osbourne

We've been lucky that O'Halloran has been available pretty much all season and our depth hasn't been threatened there. As far as I remember Leader used to start ahead of O'Halloran and was a big prospect but there's no way of knowing if he will be able to get fit consistently and if he will be the same player if he does. Don't really know anything about Rowland yet.

Can't think of many IQ 15s available off the top of my head apart from maybe Billy Dardis. No point in bringing in a top NIQ to play second fiddle but I'm sure Keane could find a decent Mitre 10 player if needed.

Agree on Poolman think he's a decent squad player, maybe Keane will be more keen on him than Pat.. Might get ridiculed but I think we could do a lot worse than Fergus McFadden. He gets a lot of stick for not being fast but we have plenty of pace and an experienced international with a different set of skills could be good for us.

Ili is decent but I think someone like Patrick Osbourne could bring something different to the table. That would leave one or two spots for Gaffney, Poolman, or maybe someone else like Barry Daly

Mark Mostyn wrote:

wp_rathead wrote: He's played Eagles hasn't he?

He has. If there's a spot opening up in the squad for a wing you'd have to imagine Gaffney would have preference given he has been in the academy for the last few years and has played for the senior team

I think that Gaffney is leaving.