I'm not sure we will get a big signing at lock. We have Dillane and Roux capped now. I would have thought Nucifora will want them exposed to game time. Blocking the pathway, etc.

Then we have Browne, Marshall, Qualter, Claffey and Gallagher. SOB can do a job there too.

A lot will depend on how Nucifora reads things.

I suspect we would have a better argument for a number 8.

15 darragh
14 parata
13 aki
12 robb
11 Kelleher
10 boshoff
9 cooney
1 buckley
2 mccartney
3 jp
4 unknown
5unknown
6 Muldoon
7 heenan
8 sob
and that's before we get to subs

We're not getting another centre, Griffin can be top class and we were flying last year without Robbie until the last few games of the season when he was available to contribute again. Even if we could there is no way we could sign someone as good as never mind better than Robbie imo

I think before the semi final he had only played 5 games for connacht last season?

Lock is key for me. I'll be very disappointed if we don't get a top class lock.

I think we need to get a centre of similar if not better quality than Henshaw, I would be worried by the understudy standard at present if we want to defend our title and compete in Europe. Muldowney was not only a top lock but he was a calming and intelligent leader on the pitch with good skills we need that again in one of our locks.

Yeah I hear you re wing but we need to cover international call ups and potentially Niyi, TOH and Healy could all be called up for large parts of the season which would leave us very vulnerable to injuries. I'm not saying we need one but I wouldn't be surprised if we signed a young project player either.

EvoGeo wrote: Marshal second row alright.

Kelleher most likely wing but will cover fb too

I think that your post sums it up pretty well but we were pretty stretched last season and with international player welfare kicking in this season as well as the step up for Champions Cup I think we'll get at least one more signing.

If I was a gambling man I'd put money on a NIE second row and possibly an 8 or wing too.

AFAIC there's at least one more to come, yes, if not it would have been announced. Can't be anyone else then a lock. You can't go to Europe with only 4/5 really ready, whoever available underage
n°8 who be a +
winger would be wasted money (Leader Kelleher TOH Niyi Healy Poolman Parata are enough IMO)

I think we will see bundee 12 and either rob or griffin 13. I think once Griffin gets up to speed with the "processees" he'll be a real big positive next season. I'm delighted we were able to get him back.

Ronaldson is an option too if Boschoff has to leave the defensive line as ronaldson can take up that position defensively and still offer something if we get turnover ball.

I fully expect buckley to called up in autumn as apart from mcgrath he is the best lh in the country currently imo. He might not make the 6 nations squad if healy is about but I think JS will have a look in the autumn.

Centre will be interesting this year, I'd expect Ronaldson 12, Aki 13, but Peter Robb did very well with his chances last year.

Does anyone think Schmidt might lose his Buckley shaped blind spot next season? Probably around 6nations rather than November.

Marshal second row alright.

Kelleher most likely wing but will cover fb too

I think that your post sums it up pretty well but we were pretty stretched last season and with international player welfare kicking in this season as well as the step up for Champions Cup I think we'll get at least one more signing.

If I was a gambling man I'd put money on a NIE second row and possibly an 8 or wing too.

A comparison of squad size by position with last season's against the forthcoming one to try and get a handle on if further recruitment is likely:

2015/2016 2016/2017

Prop = 6 / 6 (*7 if inc. Whitey)
Hooker = 3 / 3
2nd Row = 6 / 5
Back Row = 3 / 6
Nr 8 = 3 / 2
9 = 4 / 3
10 = 3 / 3
Centre = 6 / 6
Wing = 4 / 3
15 = 2 / 3

TOTAL = 40 / 40*

For note you could argue about the position allocation of certain players, I've inc. Ronaldson as a 10 for last season but as a centre for this. Is Marshall a back or 2nd row? I've counted him as a 2nd row for both seasons. Is Kelleher a wing or 15? Counted as a 15 but himself, Leader and to a point Griffin and Parata too could offer wing cover where we do appear to be a bit on the light side.

Purely based on the above I don't think we'll be recruiting further but back at the start of June Pat is quoted as saying recruitment was ongoing and you'd hope that would extend beyond the signing of McCoy.

Anyway whatever happens I just want the new season to hurry up, I'm starting to get serious withdrawal symptoms of watching Bundee [strike]smash[/strike] i mean side-step someone!

Most certainly. International recognition is a double edge sword, we lose our players for large chunks of the season but they gain international experience and when we are recruiting/retaining players we can offer the chance of international recognition (which wasn't always the case heretofore).

so end of October (camp) all of November (games) and start of December (player welfare) means we likely lose bealham, dillane, marmion, toh, healy and potentially sob, niyi and possibly heenan. Now we begin to understand how other provinces feel

Hopefully there are. Pre season is approaching fast. I think if we were signing any NH players we would know by now so either it's SH player or players if anything.
Are Claffey and Gallagher to green to bring in to stock the row if needed ?

Do we expect to hear on anymore signings?

Am also interested to hear on the Academy comings and goings.

Relieves us a bit now if we are trying to sign a NIQ

The man is only 22. Sounds like he has had a stop start time up to now.

I think we should give him time to come over and work on his game.

It is clear he has been signed on his potential. He looks a big unit and our coaching staff have already shown what they can do with some time.

He could turn out to be a wonderful signing.

i really like that he is Irish qualified. Can only be good for us really.