Bazzo wrote: Dom Ryan is a decent player but would be an absolute waste of a wage at Connacht. I don't rate him above O'Brien, McKeon, Masterson, Dawai or any of our senior back rows really to be honest.

Fully agree, 6 is probably one of the strongest positions in our squad. If we were to bring in a back row I would like a ball carrying no. 8

Dom Ryan is a decent player but would be an absolute waste of a wage at Connacht. I don't rate him above O'Brien, McKeon, Masterson, Dawai or any of our senior back rows really to be honest.

Central contract until 2019?
At least Dom Ryan, his injury record is atrocious too though...

connachta wrote: Dom Ryan still has a future IMO. I know I've said we have a lot of back-rows, but if both Fox and Moloney are released, he might worth a call...
Same for McFaddken...

Without a doubt connachta, he is international class when fit but his injury record is atrocious and I'd say he could be looking for big money given his age profile. I'm not sure we have the bank to be signing senior internationals?

Dom Ryan still has a future IMO. I know I've said we have a lot of back-rows, but if both Fox and Moloney are released, he might worth a call...
Same for McFadden...

wp_rathead wrote:

salmson wrote:

Bazzo wrote: How they've managed to hold on to all their back rows(Dominic Ryan aside) I'll never know.

Leavy has played 21 senior games this year for Leinster, Conan & VDF, despite injury layups, have played 16 each. Easy to keep lads if you're playing them.

Jordi Murphy staying with Leinster is a bit of a headscratcher
He is a good player and Ulster screaming for backrows, he'd also have teamed up with Gibbes.
From the outside looking in you'd say:
VdF, Leavy and SOB ahead of him at openside
Leavy, Ruddock, Conan ahead of him at blindside
Heaslip and Conan ahead of him at number 8
He'll be fighting with lads like Timmins and Deegan for gametime

He obviously has enough self belief to think he can get back ahead of those guys. I can see why lads would be hesitant to leave Leinster, they're really building something special at the moment, the coaching is good, and the players seem really happy

wp_rathead wrote:

salmson wrote:

Bazzo wrote: How they've managed to hold on to all their back rows(Dominic Ryan aside) I'll never know.

Jordi Murphy staying with Leinster is a bit of a headscratcher
He is a good player and Ulster screaming for backrows, he'd also have teamed up with Gibbes.
From the outside looking in you'd say:
VdF, Leavy and SOB ahead of him at openside
Leavy, Ruddock, Conan ahead of him at blindside
Heaslip and Conan ahead of him at number 8
He'll be fighting with lads like Timmins and Deegan for gametime

I don't see how you have Conan, Ruddock and leavy ahead of him when he is starting v the all blacks ahead of these guys? You obviously don't rate him but maybe those within Leinster do.

salmson wrote:

Bazzo wrote: How they've managed to hold on to all their back rows(Dominic Ryan aside) I'll never know.

Leavy has played 21 senior games this year for Leinster, Conan & VDF, despite injury layups, have played 16 each. Easy to keep lads if you're playing them.

Jordi Murphy staying with Leinster is a bit of a headscratcher
He is a good player and Ulster screaming for backrows, he'd also have teamed up with Gibbes.
From the outside looking in you'd say:
VdF, Leavy and SOB ahead of him at openside
Leavy, Ruddock, Conan ahead of him at blindside
Heaslip and Conan ahead of him at number 8
He'll be fighting with lads like Timmins and Deegan for gametime

Bazzo wrote: How they've managed to hold on to all their back rows(Dominic Ryan aside) I'll never know.

Leavy has played 21 senior games this year for Leinster, Conan & VDF, despite injury layups, have played 16 each. Easy to keep lads if you're playing them.

How they've managed to hold on to all their back rows(Dominic Ryan aside) I'll never know.

Leinster announced renewed contracts this morning for everyone except for Cronin, Ross, Dom Ryan, McFadden, and Dardis

I think 41 will be about the number alright but I think kk will be allowed to make at least two of his own signings and more likely three so I think we'll see a pretty big cull this summer which might be no harm.

I think we are light at 10 unless boschoff proves to be the answer and can play the majority of games and hopefully Carty will improve again. After these two I think we are too light and with Cooney gone we are down another kicker too.
It's a bit of a mess of a position really with Carty seeming to be the problem as a non penalty kicking 10 blocking a spot for a real prospect who can kick as well as play.

Yeah a squad of 41 would be sufficient you'd imagine (confirmed academy numbers in brackets):

7 props (+3)
3 hookers (+1)
5 locks (+2)
8 backrows (+1)
3 scrumhalves (+2)
3 outhalves
5 centres
7 back threes (+4)

salmson wrote:

Bazzo wrote: Other year 3s are Jack Dineen, Jamie Dever, Saba and Marc Kelly, am I missing anyone?

We've promoted a lot of year 2s to full/development contracts in the recent past (Masterson, Delahunt, Blade, Connolly spring to mind) so it's very hard to know.

Conan O'Donnell might be in with a shot of a senior contract I suppose, none of the other year 2s have any senior caps so I'll never say never but it's hard to see them getting a senior contract.

Bazzo wrote: Other year 3s are Jack Dineen, Jamie Dever, Saba and Marc Kelly, am I missing anyone?

We've promoted a lot of year 2s to full/development contracts in the recent past (Masterson, Delahunt, Blade, Connolly spring to mind) so it's very hard to know.

I don't think it'll be "a lot" more leaving, I'd be expecting maybe 9 or 10 in comparison to the 7 we had confirmed this time last year . But even that means there would have to be 5/6 signings/promotions to bring the senior squad up to 40/41, which is where I'd expect it to be.

Who's year 3 academy that might be getting a senior contract? Conor McKeon might pick up a contract because Cooney is leaving. Other year 3s are Jack Dineen, Jamie Dever, Saba and Marc Kelly, am I missing anyone?

By the way, is Adam Leavy the brother of Dan Leavy? Just saw a picture of him there when I was checking to see who's year 3 and he's fierce like him!