Connacht squad 2018-2019.

Ronaldson was huge for us most of the championship season, and started more games at 12 for Lam than anyone else, even Bundee.

If I had to make a guess at his favourite game for us, I'd go with this...

Mark Mostyn wrote:
That’s not much of a comfort to me as we were too light this year imo. Also we had an extremely good season injury wise, as well as the opportunity to rest players on European weekends. In the absence of one or both of those factors we could be in trouble.

Think we’ll see a few more renewals, de Buitlear and maybe Kerins get promoted, and a couple of signings if we confirm Champions Cup qualification.

I cant believe that any player worth their salt would wait for a team to confirm that they're playing in the Champions Cup next season.
What happens if we dont qualify, the players then need to have a look around to see who is still interested.

As far as I remember, and correct me if I am wrong, but there weren't too many signings before the 2015 World Cup either. It's a bad season to be signing players.
Hopefully we spot another AJ playing in Japan

ConnachtCows wrote: I cant believe that any player worth their salt would wait for a team to confirm that they're playing in the Champions Cup next season.

If I were coming up from the southern hemisphere and had multiple offers, or was thinking about coming west from Leinster, and given any differential in the contracts I'm being offered is taxed at 50% anyway, I think I'd wait to see if we beat Cardiff before I signed.

Nothing wrong with a player having ambition and wanting to test themselves at the highest level.

Worth noting the Blues are waiting to see what Anscombe is doing and have set a deadline for next week for a decision, and said that they have a plan b if he decides to move. That to me suggests business is being done very late this year.

In many respects the squad has over-performed this year. Friend has done a great job in building squad depth and developing a good number of players that can be competitive in the Pro14, but if we're stepping up to HC next near then we'll need at least 4-5 quality additions that will be pushing for 1st team selection, or be first team guarantees. Looking at our squad we need first team quality, or top notch backup, at pretty much every position bar hooker, scrum half and center....maybe TH is ok at a push too as DRM has stepped up well this year.

pinky wrote: I had put the lack of interhemisphere traffic down to a combination of the RWC, Br€*1t and the general uncertainty over which teams will be in the Champions Cup (even at this late stage it's only 3 confirmed and 7 maybes).

Don't forget Project R***t in Wales...

If the Hairsprays get relocated to North Wales after their flextension ends, can we call it Wrexit?

...I'll get my coat.

was it a bit strange to announce who would be leaving a few days before such an important match, you would imagine you would be bounding the squad ahead of the Cardiff game not telling cannon and McCabe who are on the bench that they are off next season

The players would have known the score for weeks or months. The last several seasons the list of departures has been released before the last home game so the lads concerned can be given a proper sendoff.

salmson wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote:
Why would we use a marquee NIQ spot on a replacement? Seems a bit of a waste to me

I suppose the answer to that is also a question: do you know of an available IQ TH who's as good or better than Carey?

Well I know a man we could invite to come back from Chanpionship at the same age as Carey did 3 years ago. And he's a Connemara man. Oisin Heffernan!

I've called for a Nadolo style winger. Here he is. His brother Rumoured released by Montpellier (unused medical joker)

Rumours about TODonnell
I'd be glad of course but we don't really need any backrow all in all...

connachta wrote: Rumours about TODonnell
I'd be glad of course but we don't really need any backrow all in all...

Agreed Connachta ... no doubting his rugby ability but he is a complete sick note in a position where we are stocked but have lads that are already injury prone Masterson and O'Brien . we let Connolly go who has always done a job for us and bring in a guy that spends more time on the recovery table than the pitch. Doesn't seem good business form my side.

connachta wrote: Rumours about TODonnell
I'd be glad of course but we don't really need any backrow all in all...

But he's signed an 2 year extension with Munster in October '18

AFAIK the only senior squad forward not signed til summer 2020 is Dave O'Callaghan, another player who's had horrible luck with injuries.