Ok everyone, deep breaths !!

Lets look at who is fanning the Henshaw to Leinster flames and then just wonder why this is happening. Would leinster like to have a player of Henshaws ability ? yes they would as would any of the other provinces.

Whats happening is that the journalists are looking at babbling brook and the other forums and just throwing some fuel on the little embers that constantly glow in the underworld of these (including our own) forums.

Its highly unlikely that Henshaw will leave during the summer, it would open a huge can of worms for the IRFU as it would mean that the provinces could now poach players, it would also open the very ugly pandoras box of transfer money which the IRFU really dont want to happen. It would also expose the IRFU and Leinster to a tirade of abuse from not just Connacht fans but also Munster and Ulster fans who would see it a favouritism.

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.

Lets not lose the run of ourselves over rumours and lets not start giving out about Henshaw or what he might or might not do.

And breathe out !!!

Why would Henshaw want to move away? Hopefully Connacht will qualify for the Champions Cup next year and we are playing a very attractive brand of rugby. We seem to be the only province that is actually moving forward.

Maybe we should be talking about players from other provinces wanting to move here rather than the opposite.

I really dont think Robbie will leave us this year.
He has one year on his contract, and one year left in college.

The Leinster media are getting behind the idea, but Pat has come out and said it on a number of occasions that Robbie is going nowhere next season.

Last season, when the CEO left (got fired) an accountant(!!!) from the IRFU was sent down to run Connacht until the new CEO was hired.
From what I've heard, he turned around, and told the IRFU, that Connacht were the only provinence living within their means, and needed more money.
We didnt see it in player signings, rather the improvement on the clubhouse, and the hiring of more coaches, and video analysts.
He told the IRFU to pump more money into Connacht as it was all positive down here. The Bundee signing had nothing to do with this by the way.
If the IRFU were to allow Robbie to move on, it would be going against everything thats happening in Connacht. They wantus to be a competitive team, and if Robbie is to move, it will only be at the end of his contract

**Edit,

Also, the word in Dublin, is that it's the Leinster based media starting the stories, and Leinster themselves, dont want a repeat of the Mike McCarthy anger

connachtexile wrote: Rumours now floating around Babbling Brook site about Pat Lam going to Leinster next season. :silly:

God's honest truth he is, with Robbie as captain, Tom Sears as CEO, and Simon Zebo as Ents Officer.

Rumours now floating around Babbling Brook site about Pat Lam going to Leinster next season. :silly:

I don't see him saying that he is staying anywhere there. He compliments his coach for helping him in his career and his team for playing well as you would expect. No more, no less.

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-...es-lam-30874560.html

Independent link above:

The Outlaw wrote:

rossie wrote: Top players want to play for the top teams, maximise their earning potential and win trophies during what is a short career full of danger. It can end at any time. Whether he goes or not this summer there is clearly huge pressure on him to go to leinster. They are using their friends in the media to keep the pressure on and robbie isn't confirming or denying it atm.
Connacht have improved but not enough to satisfy a players desire to win trophies and maximise earnings. I don't think sexton could have earned what he will be reportedly on when he returns anywhere outside of France other than leinster. That's where the money is and it's everyone's reality unfortunately.

That's exactly it. He's in training with the likes of Sexton in the international camp and then he's coming back to train with very inexperienced 10's. He looks a much better player for ireland then he does for us because he plays with a pack who go forward at international level. With us he gets the ball 10 yards behind the gain-line.

My take is on it that Aki was sent to Connacht because this move was inevitable and that we have been compensated to some degree .already.

I don't begrudge it to him. Its a short career and he's got to look after himself because nobody else will. He'll always be from Connacht.

There is no chance of us establishing ourselves with any real prescence in the Champions Cup for about 5 years. He can't afford to wait that long.

Hard to believe that munster with 2 centres on 1 year contracts didn't really try.

With joe pushing leinster and jonnie coming home we were always up against it. We also couldn't compete financially as the private backing required to close a deal like this, given the irfu competition between provinces rules currently in place, just isn't there at munster atm.

Diom wrote:

green13 wrote: I'm a McSharry fan anyhow and think he and Aki have the makings of a great centre partnership given the opportunity. I don't think Henshaw would be a huge loss that we couldn't recover from with the potential a McSharry/Aki pairing would present.

To me though, it's not about the actual merit of Robbie on the field, it's about the message that this would clearly send to the rest of Irish rugby. That message would be that Connacht still is a "special case" and that the IRFU does not see it as a "real" province where international players can play.

We aren't quite there yet. Qualifying for the CC will give us some credibility. Until we do off our own steam we will remain a development province

green13 wrote: 'Robbie Henshaw shrugs off Leinster transfer talk as he praises Lam' article in todays Independent.
(sorry can't do link).

No doubt he will move it's just a case of when. Not seeing out his contract would be a sickener but I'd be more worried about loosing Pat Lam and Dan McFarland.

Isn't it funny how all this speculation started as we headed into the Interpro season... #EyesOnThePrize

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-...es-lam-30874560.html

Diom wrote:

green13 wrote: I'm a McSharry fan anyhow and think he and Aki have the makings of a great centre partnership given the opportunity. I don't think Henshaw would be a huge loss that we couldn't recover from with the potential a McSharry/Aki pairing would present.

To me though, it's not about the actual merit of Robbie on the field, it's about the message that this would clearly send to the rest of Irish rugby. That message would be that Connacht still is a "special case" and that the IRFU does not see it as a "real" province where international players can play.

Yep it's tacit onfirmation of Development Provvince status....

green13 wrote: I'm a McSharry fan anyhow and think he and Aki have the makings of a great centre partnership given the opportunity. I don't think Henshaw would be a huge loss that we couldn't recover from with the potential a McSharry/Aki pairing would present.

To me though, it's not about the actual merit of Robbie on the field, it's about the message that this would clearly send to the rest of Irish rugby. That message would be that Connacht still is a "special case" and that the IRFU does not see it as a "real" province where international players can play.

Just hope he signed a pre-contract with a clause allowing him to stay if we come through HCup play-off. and I guess Connacht has to negociate at least both Macken and Marsh.. Anyway it' still a shame, let's face it, rugby in Connacht is like football, poeple going before the end of a contract, meaning we remain a developement club. Whatever we think about Aki/Mcsharry, Henshaw is our only regular international player and we're unable to retain him. Marmion and AhYou to come??

The Outlaw wrote:

swift4prez wrote:

green13 wrote: I'd be more worried about loosing Pat Lam and Dan McFarland.

I don't think pat lam can risk leaving connacht yet. He hasn't achieved anything yet. (Top6 would be something).
With his coaching reputation in a mess before coming here, if he leaves and goes to leinster and fails after two years, he'll have a hard time finding another job

We have to keep Lam anyway. Mc Sharry and Aki is a good centre partnership

Agree with you.
I'm a McSharry fan anyhow and think he and Aki have the makings of a great centre partnership given the opportunity. I don't think Henshaw would be a huge loss that we couldn't recover from with the potential a McSharry/Aki pairing would present.

swift4prez wrote:

green13 wrote: I'd be more worried about loosing Pat Lam and Dan McFarland.

I don't think pat lam can risk leaving connacht yet. He hasn't achieved anything yet. (Top6 would be something).
With his coaching reputation in a mess before coming here, if he leaves and goes to leinster and fails after two years, he'll have a hard time finding another job

That's true now that you point it out to me! Dan is more of a concern. Judging by the number of recent articles in the media his star is on the up and they're starting to realise what us supporters have known for years!!

swift4prez wrote:

green13 wrote: I'd be more worried about loosing Pat Lam and Dan McFarland.

I don't think pat lam can risk leaving connacht yet. He hasn't achieved anything yet. (Top6 would be something).
With his coaching reputation in a mess before coming here, if he leaves and goes to leinster and fails after two years, he'll have a hard time finding another job

We have to keep Lam anyway. Mc Sharry and Aki is a good centre partnership