Craic Head wrote: Jamie Hagan is obviously not wanted at LI and unless Leinster keep him, he would be a great option for us, can play either side of the scrum too

Not wanted by LI and not wanted by Leinster who dont use him even though they signed him as emergency cover.

Id avoid like the plague tbh, has gone seriously downhill since he left us and just isnt cutting the mustard atm.

Craic Head wrote: Jamie Hagan is obviously not wanted at LI and unless Leinster keep him, he would be a great option for us, can play either side of the scrum too

Agree even if he hasn't played a full match for 2 years. Pre season + S&C will be vital.

Jamie Hagan is obviously not wanted at LI and unless Leinster keep him, he would be a great option for us, can play either side of the scrum too

The Outlaw wrote: Second Rower , and two back-rows are absolutely required in my view. We need a 6 and an 8

Last year I was screaming for a 6/8, I think I was right, Muldoon and Naoupu are overused. But for next season it's the contrary, I'm optimistic about one or two of Maloney/Romaine/Masterson/SOB 2.0/Connolly/Qualter able to step up. No need to hide them with Eagles too much time. I won't say no to a good VDF/Buttler on low money. But I'd highly prefer a LH prop (Buckley might be selected, Loughney is injury prone), and 2 second rows at least (Browne stuck to 6). Then I'd go for Sheriff with a good contract, and Flanagan less expensive. + Mckinney 10, and NIQ back if Mils doesn't play anymore

At least one Leinster main squad backrow(McLaughlin, Ryan or Murphy) will probably be available along with a backrow from Munster, maybe Butler?
Could go after an irish qualified lock in Brian Hayes, Eoin Sherrif, James Sandford or Mark Flanagan.

Second Rower , and two back-rows are absolutely required in my view. We need a 6 and an 8

If we're talking about who we get next year then lets look at the squad and see who we have and might need. Forwards first:

Loose- Head Prop: Buckley, Loughney and J.P. Cooney - Buckley is being talked about as a potential International and with the dearth of Looseheads Ireland have at the moment shows how impressive he is. Loughney while he might never win another senior cap is only 30 and has a good few years left in him. J.P. Cooney hasn't set the world alight which a lot of has to go down to injury. As the academy none of the them are ready to step up yet.

Replacement needed: No. Buckley and Loughney are to good pros who haven't let us down and while there might be an argument for letting Cooney go trying to find a prop who would be coming in a third string and would probably be on bigger money than Cooney doesn't make sense to me.

Hooker: We have an embarrassment of riches here with McCarthney, Harris-Wright, Henry and Heffernan. Adding to that we have Dineen and Delahunt in our youth ranks who can do a job so signing another Hooker is just not needed.

Tighthead prop: Ah You is a senior international and White would be if injury hadn't robbed him of that opportunity. Finlay Belham has come in and shown that he is up the standard as well giving us three good options at Tight-head.

Replacements: Might bring in one in the academy next year but otherwise fine.

Second Row: Muldowney has being a revelation this season after a spotty one last year. Kearney is still on his up-ward trajectory of being an international some day and Ultan Dillane has come in and shown he can mix it with the big boys. Swift and Browne haven't had a great season and i think there is a definite argument for making Browne a permanent six. We also have Leinster's Quin Roux who has shown that he is a class player and seems to be enjoying his rugby with us. With rumours going round that Swift might retire it is imperative that we hold on to Roux. In the youth ranks Cian Romaine has being kicking ass and taking names so wouldn't be surprised to see him getting elevated sooner rather than later.

Replacements: Holding on to Roux would be the first imperative. Also wouldn't mind a older second row coming in guiding some of the younger lads who are still quite young.

Six: We have Muldoon and no one really. Fifita hasn't started a game all season for us and in the youth ranks Masterson is really more of an eight with Connolly still very raw even if he did have a good game against Bayoone. In the youth ranks McVeigh is coming through but he is a few seasons off and SOB has basically lost a whole season due to injury.

Replacements: Yep someone who can rotate with Muldoon.

Seven: We have two extremely talented but injury prone Sevens in Heenan and Faloon. We have a talented backrower in Moloney coming through but again he is probably a season off. Eoin McKeown has become adept at playing seven but he is not a natural openside.

Replacement: Rumours have started around Dominic Ryan who can play six and seven and whose contract is up this year. Tbf I can't see him coming to us but Josh Van der Flier's contract is also up so he might be an option to chase.

Eight: We have Naopou, Masterson, McKeown who can all do a great job. Qualter has also being converted to an eight (if he is kept). We have some young guys who can play here so wouldn't be to worried.

Replacements: Not needed. We have three quality guys who can play here which for a club like Connacht is all we can ask for.

Would love Fonua.

Your NIQ choice would be Fonua of Bayonne/London Welsh. You want Big Beast, don't you

Macklin pushed today for Rotherham, why not, but he's mainly a TH..

If Macklin comes back to Ireland it will be to Ulster. The only reason he left is that he suffered some terrible injuries which stunted his development. He went to England for a change of scenery and to get some gametime. Ulster would be his first destination.

Masterson could do a good job for the whole backrow

I rate Masterson highly but he's not a gainline breaker. I also wonder is he as highly rated by Lam? It seems weird that he didn't add him to the European squad adding the likes of a raw James Connolly instead.

Not a priority for me, with Masterson and Browne. For Buckley indeed, when Loughney is out, it's kind of a desert...
Macklin pushed today for Rotherham, why not, but he's mainly a TH..

Two players who never seem to get a rest are Muldoon and Buckley, we could use cover in those positions, and as Exile said, a huge ball carrying 6/8 would be a huge asset. That and an out half!

Masterson could do a good job for the whole backrow...

The one addition I want for the squad next year is a backrower someone who can smash the gainline and make yards for us. A Ferris or SOB type ( I know I'm not asking for much). Essentially a big piece of beef who can add some more grunt to the pack so we can compete with the top five. A six would be preferable as Muldoon has played a huge amount of rugby this season and while he has being immense I'd like to see him getting rotated some more if only for his own good.

Just want for next season some of the Irish colony playing currently for Rotherham
Scanlon, Keating and McKinney would be great addition if Mils, Carr/Layden and Nikora aren't kept

There is also the chance that Henshaw is in talks with Connacht about a new contract and as his star is clearly on the rise he will be trying to get the best possible contract that he can and these types of articles will do him no harm.

Am I the only one who would love to see Henshaw getting a Central contract here at Connacht? It would be a big statement of intent from them.