Tall Paul wrote: Yeah I have noticed that as well, about the Maul
I just put it down to the fact we cannot be guaranteed our own ball, and the confidence in our line out is at a low level.

I do not have the facts on this.
Have we lost a lot of weight in the tight 5 in white and muldowney?

Bit late replying to this but no I don't think so. I don't trust players' listed weights online but here's a pic with Browne on the left and Muldowney on the right. If anything I'd say Andrew is a bit beefier from the looks of things.

We were using the maul with reasonable effect at the start of the season, it got us the all important try against Wasps at home. It's possibly fallen away a bit more recently in favour of strike moves for whatever reason.

Very sad to see Loughs go. One of the good ones.

Do the IRFU specify a quota of Good Looking Players?
Danie and Loughs leaving at the same time could hurt season ticket sales among more superficial supporters ...

I think most of those releases were telegraphed, but I'll be most disappointed to see Danie leave. Always a huge fan.
Nepia will surely get a new team easily
Poolman will probably have to aim a bit lower

Wish Locks all the best. Hope he has something lined up. Perhaps some coaching job. He's only 32/33 as far as I know, so could potentially go over to England and play with a lower league team, such as Bristol.

pinky wrote:
Yeah best of luck to Loughs... If I he doesn't get a gig as Maire Treasa's sidekick on Rugbai Beo in the near future, I'll be very disappointed.

I heard he's aiming higher than TG4, Craig Doyle vill be eliminated!

connemara man wrote: Wish all the lads well, hopefully the lads who have gone to new Zealand come back stronger than before.

Hopefully Loughney will be up for the Hall of fame next season he's been a great servant to Connacht over the years!

Yeah best of luck to Loughs, the Connacht Academy's original graduate. Apart from his on-field exploits he also crafted all those fine bog oak pieces the Clan presented to other supporters' clubs.
If I he doesn't get a gig as Maire Treasa's sidekick on Rugbai Beo in the near future, I'll be very disappointed.

We need two front rows to have 10 (minimum for Euro squad). Also a 9 and probably a backrow (two leaving). That's 40, equal to the smallest squad we've carried in recent years, so there may be more than 4 signings/promotions.

Interestingly with Bundle (that's not going to stick) and Tom IQ and Nepia leaving we have at least 3 NIE/NIQ spots available. I'll be expecting some announcements next week to encourage full price season ticket sales and dull the pain of our loss to Scarlets.

Is Bundle a new nickname? Because he's such a bundle of joy on the pitch maybe?

Taking it you haven't missed anyone(I can't see it if you have) that's a squad of 36. I'd imagine there would be 3-4 signings added to that. Loosehead will be one for sure.

How Many signings can we expect 6 or 7 , i assume Nepia is relaeased to free up a NIQ??

Assuming nobody else is leaving squad looks like:

1
Bucks, JP Cooney

2
Tom, Heff, Delahunt

3
Finlay, Carey, Robertson-McCoy

lock
Quinn
Ultan
Cannon
Browney
Thornbury

back-row
Jake
Mul
Connolly
McKeon
SOB
Dawai
Masterson

9
Kieran
Blade

10
Boshoff
Jack
Crosbie

Centre
Craig
Robb
Bundle
Farrell
Griff

Back 3
Matt
TOH
Niyi
Kelleher
Leader
Ili

Leaving -

Andress
Loughney (retired)
Soroka
Qualter (Nottingham)
Stevenson
Fox-Matamua
Moloney
John Cooney (Ulster)
O’Leary
Parata (NZ club rugby)
Poolman
Rowland

Wish all the lads well, hopefully the lads who have gone to new Zealand come back stronger than before.

Hopefully Loughney will be up for the Hall of fame next season he's been a great servant to Connacht over the years!

Connacht Rugby confirm outgoing players
27th April 2017

Connacht Rugby can confirm that Ronan Loughney will finish with the province at the end of the current season.

Danie Poolman, John Cooney, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Danny Qualter, Rory Parata, Shane O’Leary, Lewis Stevenson, Rory Moloney, Josh Rowland and Ivan Soroka are among those also departing the Sportsground in the summer.

32-year-old loosehead prop Loughney has been with Connacht Rugby for 12 seasons as a professional player. The Galway man was a member of the first academy squad assembled in the province and went on to play 191 games across the PRO12 and Europe competitions.

Having represented Ireland at Youths, U19’s and U21 level, Loughney earned his senior international cap away to the All Blacks in the summer of 2012.

Reflecting on his Connacht career, Ronan said:

“I have had an amazing time with Connacht and am grateful to have had the opportunity to represent my home province on so many occasions. The last 12 years have been a dream come true and I am incredibly proud of what the club has achieved.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to all the great teammates, coaches, management and staff that I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years. I’ve had the honour of playing alongside a remarkable group of players who have also become close friends.

“I would also like to thank our wonderful supporters who have stood by us through thick and thin and have made the Sportsground the fortress it is today. Thanks for your incredible support down through the years.

“I am excited for the future and the next challenge. And will forever cherish my time with this great club.”

Connacht CEO Willie Ruane added:

“On behalf of everyone in the Connacht Rugby organisation and around the province I would like to thank and pay tribute to each individual that will depart the club at the end of the season. Some guys have been here longer than others and have played in more games but we are grateful for the commitment and hard work put in by every individual in the squad throughout the year.

“It would be hard not to give a special mention to Locks (Ronan Loughney) who has given so much to Connacht Rugby over the years. He epitomises the core values of not only Connacht but also rugby. He is a credit to his family and to the West of Ireland and he will be sorely missed around the Sportsground. I know that he is hugely proud of the province and he should be so proud of his own contribution to all that is good about Connacht Rugby.

“We recognise and value the role all these men have played and we will celebrate it together with our supporters at the game on Saturday.”

Mark Mostyn wrote: Apparently we're after Ciaran Frawley and Tadgh McElroy

I've heard that neither are being offered a place in the Leinter academy alright so would make sense.

Yep. Masterson has a contract to 2018 AFAIK but as you say there's still a good few signings/renewals to be announced.

As U-20s they'd be academy signings rather than senior squad though, right?

Even assuming Roberson-McCoy, Ili, Masterson are all staying we've still only got 30 players signed for next year, minimum 10/12 players short of compliment for the senior squad.

Apparently we're after Ciaran Frawley and Tadgh McElroy