EvoGeo wrote: Even though we knew about him I had totally forgot he was part of the squad. He will provide invaluable back up during international breaks should TOH, healy and Niyi be called up for Ireland. Hopefully he can have a similar impact to Payne in Ulster.

That's a bit of a stretch, you're looking at an ITM Cup player, not a key player for the all-conquering Crusaders, as Payne was before he came to Ulster.

That said, our last ITM draftee Nepia Fox-Matamua fairly hit the ground running prior to his injury. If he has anything like the impact Fox-Matamua did in the opening games of last season I'll be delighted.

Even though we knew about him I had totally forgot he was part of the squad. He will provide invaluable back up during international breaks should TOH, healy and Niyi be called up for Ireland. Hopefully he can have a similar impact to Payne in Ulster.

Worst kept secret of the summer confirmed - Josh Rowland signs for Connacht

www.connachtrugby.ie/new-back-josh-rowla...nnacht/#ConnachtNews

Had been playing with Ireland 7s and variously listed as "Connacht" and "unattached".

sligsup wrote: The Lions have changed their entire 15 for trip to Jaguares at the weekend and hes not in the squad - one wonders is that due to injury or a selection call - if a selection call does that bode well for us getting him released even earlier?

He's injured, taken off with a concussion playing for Golden Lions XV the weekend before last. No way will anyone on the Lions Super Rugby roster be released before Lions are out of that competition.

The Lions have changed their entire 15 for trip to Jaguares at the weekend and hes not in the squad - one wonders is that due to injury or a selection call - if a selection call does that bode well for us getting him released even earlier?

pinky wrote: but there was talk he would be released early.

"Early" would still be a month away after Super Rugby ends.

Del87 wrote: When is boshoff meant to join up with the team?

It was never confirmed. He is contracted with Lions until October, but there was talk he would be released early.

When is boshoff meant to join up with the team?

Injury update from the Lionsworld twitter account (which will have to do because the Lions website is possibly the worst website I've ever seen):

Scans reveal Marnitz Boshoff didn't break anything in the injury that forced him off the field last Saturday vs Griffons

That sounds promising.

They have to be in negotiations with somebody as if they weren't, like has been mentioned before we would have heard it.
Also no mention of Ivan Soroka in pre season ?

salmson wrote:
Edit: squad not so tiny, the Leinster site 16/17 squad page appears to be missing several players including Henshaw and Nagle.

Robbie is staying here?

The glimmer of hope I'm grasping to is they usually announce recruitment is complete with the final signing which the didn't with Robertson-McCoy.

Yeah I can't see the Ross thing happening, but figured I'd share the rumour regardless! As I said, time will tell. Hopefully some other signings will be announced.

Very hard to see Ross coming here, he's on the Leinster squad page for the coming season, and as he's on a Leinster (not central) contract so they'd have to release him. That would also leave them with Bent as backup to Furlong, and with an even tinier squad than they're running with (they have just 36 senior pros listed for next season, huge cull in numbers from last year).

Edit: squad not so tiny, the Leinster site 16/17 squad page appears to be missing several players including Henshaw and Nagle.

I saw that young Betts opted for a year at Leicester over the Munster academy.

Sign of the times ahead really.

Can't see the logic in Ross coming here unless White is retiring and they feel Ross has another year in him and are moving him on to mentor Bealham, etc and allow Furlong to start.

Would seem very strange to me though and a long shot. But perhaps that is why he would be coming as there are no TH's in Munster to mentor!!!

I doubt that Ronan as it was mentioned earlier in the year and Ross came out and said moving around at the time in his career doesn't take precedent as his family are settled etc and has young kids. You would think also that he wouldnt suit the type of game that Pat plays and it seems to that Nathan White will also be around next year so if anyone was in need of a TH it would be munster.