www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...alance-35619145.html

I had heard about Gaffney, Parata and Romaine and have to say I'm not surprised about SOL being released but I thought Conor Lowndes might have been given more of a chance...

I see no real scheduling conflict there.
Beat Harlequins in the Stoop on Saturday to qualify for Champions Cup.
Cross the road Sunday afternoon and score a hat-trick against the England.
That's pretty much Bundee's idea of a relaxing weekend city-break.

Bundee named in the BaaBaas squad to face Ulster (June 1st) and England (28th May)
www.ulsterrugby.com/news/15921.php#.WO4dpqDTXqB
Hopefully Bundee will be busy elsewhere for the England game

Disgusted that SANZAR are probably getting rid of the Western Force. I became a member in their inaugural year and had some great nights supporting them. They had a real Connacht feel about them. Collapsed in the last year or two on the field but showing again this season. Massive gap left in WA without this franchise and more fodder for AFL as if it needs it. The Rebels should be pulled if any, plenty of rugby and other sports over East to keep everyone happy.

This is worth a watch, this is what it means, totes emosh

www.foxsports.com.au/video/rugby/super-r...ff-on-sanzaar!617755

only one I like in that list is Neil Marais 25 12 /10/15 6'0"/15 St.4 Cheetahs

I've put together a list of potential players at the Western Force, Cheetah's & Southern Kings. I have no knowledge of their abilities or ancestry (Possibility to be IQ). The only criteria I considered was the position Connacht need to strengthen, their age & International status (Viability for Project player status). So if anyone has access to more info on them or reasons for and against their suitability, I'd welcome the feedback. I still believe the best options at lock are Gavin Thornbury and Mark Flanagan (Both IQ) and I like the look of Coulson at LH and would love to know if the Highlanders Michael Collins is 1) IQ (With a name like that surely he must be) and 2) would be open to a move to Connacht but with continued silence from the Connacht banch re new signings and a severe case of boredom I went ahead with this pointless exercise anyway.
Yeah, I know there are obvious difficulties in signing NIQ players and with budgetary constrictions but;

A) Connacht desperately need quality reinforcements at LH, Lock and in the backline (10/12 at least) if they're to progress and avoid another season like this year,
We will have NIQ/Project player slots opening up this summer with Bundee & McCartney becoming IQ & others possibly leaving,
C) With factors like these players looking for future employment, financial struggles faced by rugby in SA & Aus, this has to be an ideal shopping opportunity right now.
D) Even with the residency rules going to 5 years their age still makes most of them viable as project player status,

Player Age Position Height/Weight Team Int. Rep[/b]
Ox Nché 21 LH 5'8"/16 st. 7 Cheetahs SA U20
Sintu Manjezi 21 Lock/No.6 6'6"/17 St.2 Kings No
Justin Basson 23 Lock 6'5"/18 St.4 Cheetahs No
Ross Haylett-Petty 23 No.8 6'6"/18 St.8 Force Aus U20
Justin Forwood 23 LH 6'3"/19 St.12 Kings No
Luke Burton 23 10/12 5'11"/14 St.2 Force Aus U20
Irné Herbst 23 Lock 6'6"/18 St.6 Kings No
Dennis Visser 24 Lock 6'7"/18 St.13 Cheetahs SA U20
Fred Zeilinga 24 No. 10 5'9"/12 St.13 Cheetahs No
Francois van Wyk 25 LH 6'2"/17 St.13 Force No
Matt Philip 25 Lock 6'6"/17 St.11 Force No
Neil Marais 25 12 /10/15 6'0"/15 St.4 Cheetahs No
Cameron Lindsay 25 Lock 6'7"/18 St.2 Kings No
Danie Mienie 26 LH 5'10"/17 St.13 Cheetahs No
Reniel Hugo 26 Lock/No.8 6'6"/17 St.2 Cheetahs No
Richard Arnold 27 Lock 6'10"/18 St.13 Force No
Armandt Koster 27 Lock 6'5"/17 St.13 Cheetahs No
Charles Marais 28 LH 6'3"/18 St.13 Cheetahs No

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: www.the42.ie/south-africa-australia-to-l...gby-3331328-Apr2017/

Speculation over. 1 Aus & 2 SA teams to be cut from Super Rugby. Left to the national unions to decide but it's almost definitely going to be the Western Force, The Cheetahs & the Southern Kings. Now would be a good time to get in there before the 3 squads in question are picked clean. Since Leinster, Munster & Ulster have already done the bulk of their shopping for next year, Connacht might actually have an advantage here to pick up some real undiscovered gems.

Thanks, OK for 1 NIQ maybe
but now the residency rule is likely to be 5 years, Project Players are more complicated for the IRFU I guess, so the question is
Is there any "hidden IQ" like McCoy in those squads? Irish grand-parent in Australia shouldn't be that hard to find out....

www.the42.ie/south-africa-australia-to-l...gby-3331328-Apr2017/

Speculation over. 1 Aus & 2 SA teams to be cut from Super Rugby. Left to the national unions to decide but it's almost definitely going to be the Western Force, The Cheetahs & the Southern Kings. Now would be a good time to get in there before the 3 squads in question are picked clean. Since Leinster, Munster & Ulster have already done the bulk of their shopping for next year, Connacht might actually have an advantage here to pick up some real undiscovered gems.

Yeah was about to post it, but we mentionned most of the names on this topic.
Saunders (SH), Tovey (didn't know he's IQ), and Ingall (same) were the only "new" boys to remember as far as I'm concerned

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/rugby-s-w...and-france-1.3036591

Pretty definitive list of Irish players abroad

Based on last night's performance I would hope that Crosbie is offered a deal for next season. Shows the value of a solid kicker at 10. With Carty playing I feel Edinburgh would've won (although I will concede that Hodge had a shocker and maybe they should've won). Yellow card for Tiernan was a bit harsh too.

Bazzo wrote: Same as everyone else I'm sure, hope Danny gets on well over there.

Happy enough Robertson-McCoy is staying although to be honest haven't really seen enough of him to have a fully formed opinion yet, hopefully Carey is already signed up too.

I specifically watched him after he came on against Glasgow, he was walking around a lot but he does look to have potential

Same as everyone else I'm sure, hope Danny gets on well over there.

Happy enough Robertson-McCoy is staying although to be honest haven't really seen enough of him to have a fully formed opinion yet, hopefully Carey is already signed up too.

I think we can take it that Robertson-McCoy is staying.

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...joy-it-35601161.html

You wish they'd just announce who's signed on, maybe use it as a way to drum up ticket sales, rather than having it leak bit by bit. Some of these lads probably signed weeks ago.

Delighted for Danny and hopefully we'll see him back in a Connacht Jersey in the future.

I do think more of our young players need to take this route to professional rugby if they have eyes on a Connacht jersey in the future as we are competing at a level now that makes it difficult to give these guys the experience they need unless they are outstanding prospects.

Amsterdamage wrote: Danny Qualter joining Nottingham on a one year deal

Good luck to him. Hopefully a change of scenery and game time will do him good.