Straight over.
And Butler playing less as 6 is not an issue to move SOB as lock
McKeon, Masterson, Heenan, can be very decent n°6. And Muldoon if needed

salmson wrote:

connachta wrote: wouldn't have chosen a back-rower but good to see a signing!
SOB moved back to 2nd row maybe

Unlikely. Butler has played almost all his Brumbies and Vikings rugby at 7 or 8. Just 2 starts at 6 in 5 years AFAIK.

Nice one, we're far weaker at 7 and 8 than at blindside. Will he be playing in the NRC or coming straight over at the end of Super Rugby?

connachta wrote: wouldn't have chosen a back-rower but good to see a signing!
SOB moved back to 2nd row maybe

Unlikely. Butler has played almost all his Brumbies and Vikings rugby at 7 or 8. Just 2 starts at 6 in 5 years AFAIK.

Brumbies back-rower Jarrad Butler has announced he will team up with Irish Province Connacht from 2018.

Butler has put pen to paper on a deal with the Pro12 outfit and will leave the Brumbies at the end of the current season. Having played over fifty Brumbies caps and over seventy Super Rugby appearances in all.

“I am extremely excited to be given this opportunity to join Connacht,” Butler commented. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Brumbies, however this new set of challenges on the other side of the world is something that I can’t wait to embrace.

“I look forward to being a part of this proud club, to meeting the supportive fans and community, and most importantly doing everything I can to help Connacht be successful.

“I’d like to thank the whole team of Brumbies staff, coaches, and especially the players for their support, friendships, and lasting memories during my time in Canberra. You’ve made these last four years the best of my life.

“Also, I want to thank the Brumbies fans and Canberra rugby community. The rugby mad fans I’ve meet and spoken to in this city have made my time here so much more special and I sincerely thank you for that.”

Plus500 Brumbies CEO sent Butler a departing message thanking him for his contribution to the Brumbies during his spell with the club.

“We would like to thank Jarrad for the wonderful contribution he has made whilst here. He will remain part of the Brumbies family,” Thomson said.

“Jarrad became a well-respected member of the team, as well as a favourite with the crowd. He departs for Ireland with our best wishes and in the hope that he has a successful future.”

100% agree
We won't reach 11 as we're not in Champions Cup but 2 more is realistic

Oh thank god for some good news. He could be the ball carrier we need. I think 11 have moved on, 7 new additions so room for some more please!!!

wouldn't have chosen a back-rower but good to see a signing!
SOB moved back to 2nd row maybe

#connachtrugby Connacht sign back-row Jarrad Butler from the Brumbies

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-sign-butle...=Jarrad_Butler_Signs …

connachta wrote: Gallagher isn't 20 yet. There's very very few 20 y.o locks really involved in senior squads (Itodje and J.Ryan are exceptions).

Above that : we lost Romaine + Qualter + Stevenson and just sign Thornbury. (and we lost Kearney/Muldowney without big names coming)
There's going to be one signing ... .

Claffey and Gallagher will be 21 and 20 respectively when the season starts, they're both big guys, they'd be well able for a few games. Conan O'Donnell was playing tighthead at 19, Fineen Wycherley has debuted for Munster at 19, Treadwell and Ryan were both just capped for Ireland at 21..

I heard a rumour that Cam Dolan is leaving Cardiff, he would bring a ball carrying threat to the back row, and could cover lock if we're hit hard by injuries or international call ups.

connachta wrote: Gallagher isn't 20 yet. There's very very few 20 y.o locks really involved in senior squads (Itodje and J.Ryan are exceptions).

Above that : we lost Romaine + Qualter + Stevenson and just sign Thornbury. (and we lost Kearney/Muldowney without big names coming)
There's going to be one signing ... .

Stevenson was signed as injury cover and Qualter and Romaine never played for the team anyway.

I don't think there will be any more signings in the row. Thornbury was a serious athlete at underage level, my expectations for him are high, and I think so are management as he's been given a 2 year contract. He's got the extra bulk and height to really make it too.

Gallagher isn't 20 yet. There's very very few 20 y.o locks really involved in senior squads (Itodje and J.Ryan are exceptions).

Above that : we lost Romaine + Qualter + Stevenson and just sign Thornbury. (and we lost Kearney/Muldowney without big names coming)
There's going to be one signing ... .

connachta wrote: I though Brennan was a centre?

But no guys no : the main problem is for n°4
we defo can't cope a whole season with just injury-prone Dillane and Gavin on his 1st Pro contract.
There will be a new signing there, can't be other way...

He can play centre, wing, and fullback as far as I know.

I think our second row options are pretty good, there's definitely no available IQ options that would be an improvement on what we have. Hopefully we see a bit of Gallagher this season, he's a serious prospect but constantly injured.

Dillane is injury prone? I wouldn't say so, had a big injury last year and has had time to recover and a summer of should be grand for this season.
We'll be missing him for a bit. Because of Ireland
Browne, Dillane, Roux, Cannon, and Thornburry that's 5 locks 4 I rate very highly 1 I know nothing about TBH

A lock won't be coming in unless he's a certain project player after Munsters announcement.

I though Brennan was a centre?

But no guys no : the main problem is for n°4
we defo can't cope a whole season with just injury-prone Dillane and Gavin on his 1st Pro contract.
There will be a new signing there, can't be other way...

Senior squad as it stands, new academy class yet to be announced.

Players in orange have finished their academy contracts but weren't announced as staying or leaving.

Think loosehead is a glaring weakness, but things are muddied by the Coulson situation.

We could probably do with another winger, I'd love to see us bring in a beast of a project player, even if he was from a sevens or rugby league background. Wouldn't mind Jordan Conroy or Mick McGrath either.

Really hope Boshoff doesn't leave.

If Munster get a project TH as mooted, they'll have 6 NIQs. We only have three as of now.

Just came across this compilation on Youtube recently and instantly started to imagine him in a Connacht jersey starting alongside Bundee in centre. The guy is phenomenal, almost unstoppable and would be a hell of an antidote to the fast aggressive opposition line speed that killed us so much last season. I know Connacht can't afford to compete financially with Top 14 wages but we can dream. Or maybe we already have our own Fijian destroyer in Naulia Dawai ready to step into centre. Surely it'd be worth a try in pre season at least to play him at 12 with Bundee at 13.