I know it's a professional sport and Marty Moore is probably a better TH Prop...
...but I'd be heartbroken to see Rodney leave

The 'Rodney to Ulster' rumours seem to be getting louder and louder. I have to say I'd be absolutely raging if he goes after the time we invested in him. For all the IRFU's talk of backing Connacht what does it say if we lose 2 homegrown Internationals next year?

That's definitely the maddest - and least likely - rumour I've heard in a while. No way could Connacht's budget stretch to Ross as WWhite's backup, and it's not like he'd get bumped back to a central contract.

The other provinces had mentioned their injury worries, I think looking at injury table we are way ahead of the rest.

www.balls.ie/rugby/injuries-calendar/318482

No disrespect to Mike Ross but I don't think that he would fit in here. It's not fair that Connacht identify and train player's skills for them to be robbed by the other provinces and then we should be grateful for receiving a player who is at the end of his career.

All credit to Mike but he is everything in a prop that I would suggest Connacht and Pat don't want!!!

Some bizarre speculation here. Mike Ross to Connacht??

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...ext-season-1.2457834

I have always thought that Griffin was a potential Ireland player. He has had bad luck with injuries over there and when he has been playing it will have been in a team that is hanging on to premiership life. They are struggling again this year but with big spending teams in the premiership getting the salary cap increases, it may be the end of the road for LI. If Griffin is to ever play international rugby, he should come home, he has two emerging ireland trips behind him. If Robbie goes (which I think he will) then he would be a good candidate to replace him. He is never going to get capped in England in a struggling team and the other provinces (bar Munster) do not need a player like him.

Rodney is a different story, I would also be more disappointed in him leaving than Robbie. Ulster can pay more I am sure, but I would not be happy. They need to develop their own a lot more, our recent success is built on nurturing talent, they need to do the same with what they have.

phatguerilla wrote: There have been a few quiet rumours emerging that Ulster are after Rodney, any thoughts on this? In a way I would be almost more disappointed with this than Henshaw leaving, given the amount of time and effort Connacht put into his development.

I don't see why he would go to Ulster other than they tell him he will be guaranteed first choice or will get picked for Ireland more (neither of which can be guaranteed), which surely isn't even that much of a draw as he will be increasingly first choice from now on for Connacht as White gets older.

Totally agree with you on this Phat, have to say I'd be surprised if he goes. I think it's only a certain type of coach (like Pat) will get the best out of Rodney and couldn't see it happening for him up there.

Craic Head wrote:

connachta wrote: I know I'm anticipating, a little bit but for next year i'd like 95% of our great current squad
+ Steenson, Sheriff and a NIQ ambidextrous prop
It's reasonnable and enough

The person that I would sign or rather re-sign is Eoin Griffin. He went on a two year contract did he not, up this season.

I alway liked Griffin as a player and would love to see how he would develop here now the Lam regime up an running. Don't think that'll happen though, we have lots of talent if they can all stay healthy.
He's had bad luck with injuries while over there, but did well during the one injury free run of games that he had at the end of last season. They seem to be in a downward spiral towards relegation so hope he gets a contract with a decent team once he finishes there.

There have been a few quiet rumours emerging that Ulster are after Rodney, any thoughts on this? In a way I would be almost more disappointed with this than Henshaw leaving, given the amount of time and effort Connacht put into his development.

I don't see why he would go to Ulster other than they tell him he will be guaranteed first choice or will get picked for Ireland more (neither of which can be guaranteed), which surely isn't even that much of a draw as he will be increasingly first choice from now on for Connacht as White gets older.

No for me, even if Henshaw leaves, in Parata I trust

connachta wrote: I know I'm anticipating, a little bit but for next year i'd like 95% of our great current squad
+ Steenson, Sheriff and a NIQ ambidextrous prop
It's reasonnable and enough

The person that I would sign or rather re-sign is Eoin Griffin. He went on a two year contract did he not, up this season.

I know I'm anticipating, a little bit but for next year i'd like 95% of our great current squad
+ Steenson, Sheriff and a NIQ ambidextrous prop
It's reasonnable and enough

I woke up this morning having made two dreams about Connacht (one of them crazy, they were playing beach rugby against Leinster, true story! :lol: )

The reality is far better than anything we could have dreamt 2 years ago. For the first time as a Connacht supporter, I'm serene, peaceful.

Lose Heenan? Nepia Fox Matamua steps in
Lose Nepia? Connolly steps in brilliantly
And Moloney's next

White is 34? Bealham's ok, Menuargia promising
Naoupu's 33? Masterson already is a Masterpiece
Muldoon? SOB is indeed a 2.0 version of SOB, the future is all to take for him

Cooney out for 3 months? I rate Caolin Blade highly
And even Henshaw isn't irreplaceable, Parata looked great.

And we have McCartney, McSharry, Roux, McKeon, Marshall and Poolman on the verge of return, I can't imagine where there gonna play. The fight for any spots is absolutely incredible

I imagine as McGinty is on a one year contract that he will get signed up by one of the new American clubs, it would make sense for all concerned unless he is personally worried the quality of rugby won't be high enough. After that there's very few players we can afford to let go, although if Cooney goes back to Leinster which would make a lot of sense it would at least give Blade a chance for more gametime.