sligsup wrote: Looking at the preseason pics on line - no sign of Boschoff, now there are a number of others also that are not in the pics so may be no indication.

If he's not there we may presume he's gone. Did anyone see any not-yet-announced signings in the pics (can't say I did)?

Looking at the preseason pics on line - no sign of Boschoff, now there are a number of others also that are not in the pics so may be no indication.

Ihaia West singed for the Hurricanes for next year on a one year contract with Otere Black moving in the opposite direction. Shame as he has little or no chance of ever getting to wear an AB Jumper and now he's chosen to play third choice at best behind Beauden & Jordy Barrett for a year. I think he's a quality player who'd have made a really good starting outhalf for Connacht and probably be well in the reckoning for Ireland in 3 years time. The lack of player signings yet for next season especially at OH & LH is frightening. Hopefully there might some movement after Friday when the final announcement is made regarding the one AUS (Rebels) and two SA (Cheetahs & Kings) teams getting cut from Super Rugby. But with the Cheetahs & Kings now joining the Pro12 apparently, that leaves only the rebels players on the open market.

www.planetrugby.com/news/west-makes-hurricanes-switch/

First squad meeting today Bundee put up an insta story earlier

The Frawley deal obviously fell through, I wonder are we looking at David McCarthy? I thought he was better than Frawley to be honest, and is a year younger.

Marnitz at his cryptic tweeting again this morning - changing his photo from lions to Ba Ba's jersey also. wish if there has being a agreement reached that thy would just let us know.

I was thinking recently that even if we don't have the best attack, defence or set piece in the league, we should always strive to have the best fitness.

I wonder if we're going to see any significant signings now. To be fair I think loosehead and outhalf (if Boshoff leaves, big if imo) are the only areas in our squad which are genuinely weak. As much as I'd like a hardy grizzled lock, a ball carrying 8, and a tall powerful winger with serious aerial presence, I can accept that we probably don't have the funds, or overwhelming need for any of those.

FACECUTTR wrote: I think this is a great appointment. Concrete was always in fantastic shape and a beast at training. Standards will be very high and guys will improve immensely.
I would not like to be in that pre season camp !!

You're not the only person to think that.

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I think this is a great appointment. Concrete was always in fantastic shape and a beast at training. Standards will be very high and guys will improve immensely.
I would not like to be in that pre season camp !!

Connacht Rugby and the IRFU are delighted to announce that Johnny O’Connor is returning to the Sportsground as the province’s Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach.

Working with new Head of Athletic Performance David Howarth, O’Connor will be responsible for the senior squad’s strength and conditioning training and begins work at the Sportsground in the coming days

Concrete returns

ThisYearWillBeDifferent wrote: Re: the ECJ, I've always wondered if the NIQ restrictions would stand up in court for that matter. It's not as if it's the National team after all.

Given an ideal plaintiff (say an EU citizen, high profile player, denied a contract explicitly for this reason), you're still going to run straight into the Doctrine of Proportionality .

The CJEU has always given sporting bodies a large margin to govern things and run their affairs as they see fit.

Re: the ECJ, I've always wondered if the NIQ restrictions would stand up in court for that matter. It's not as if it's the National team after all.

Anyone who arrives before December 31st this year will qualify in 3 years. Anyone after that will qualify if 5. You'd wonder if the IRFU might relax the rules on project players for this season to get a few new ones in before the deadline (and consequently restrict the number of capped internationals).

I can't imagine that French Passport rule would stand much of a chance if the ECJ got a look at it. It's probably not exactly covered by Bosman, etc., but it smacks of restriction of free movement of something something ...
Of course that won't stop it having an effect on recruitment policy before somebody sues somebody.

sligsup wrote:

salmson wrote: The new rule doesn't come into effect for three and a half years so will have no immediate effect on player recruitment from the Southern Hemisphere for the Pro12 or Premiership. What will lead to more 18-20 year olds coming up is the French decision to only select French passport holders (which is effectively bringing in the rule a whole WC cycle early). Some of the French clubs already have sub-academies in SA and Fiji.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought it was the 3.5 years to give everyone that is here already the opp to qualify but everyone from this year on will need to be here 5 years .

You may be right but I was under the impression it was just timed to match the new global season.

sligsup wrote:

FACECUTTR wrote: Is it 4 now and 1 project or 5 and 1 ? I can't remember. I'm sure we will hear more before the week is out.
Normally somebody on here has the inside track on guys the branch are talking to but it's very quiet. Wether that's a good or a bad thing remains to be seen.

Definitely think it's a good thing with them places available also we might see the project player diminishing a little given the new ruling or else we will see recruits of much younger 18 - 20 given the 5 years now.

I believe the new rules are coming in to effect in December 2020 so nobody recruited this year should be affected.

Thornbury is very tall but he's not a couple of inches taller than Toner, that would make him 7'...

salmson wrote: The new rule doesn't come into effect for three and a half years so will have no immediate effect on player recruitment from the Southern Hemisphere for the Pro12 or Premiership. What will lead to more 18-20 year olds coming up is the French decision to only select French passport holders (which is effectively bringing in the rule a whole WC cycle early). Some of the French clubs already have sub-academies in SA and Fiji.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought it was the 3.5 years to give everyone that is here already the opp to qualify but everyone from this year on will need to be here 5 years .