Muldowney sounds like a bit of a gamble, one that could well pay off, but still a gamble so would have thought a 2 year deal made more sense. I guess with the market for locks as it is a good one has some leverage (no pun intended). Hope he enjoys his time in Galway, his young family will appreciate the stability of a few years at one place.

Exeter fans on their board are very disappointed to see him leaving

Always a good sign

Never heard of the dude but good to hear that he seems to want to play and isn't happy to stick around in a club picking up a paycheck. That he's IQ is just the icing on the cake.

things are looking better.

2016 - Muldowney

2015 - White, Loughney, Wilkinson, Marmion, Poolman, Buckley, george, harris wright
2015 - mckeon, kearney, henshaw, carr, henry

2014 - Tonetti, O'Donohoe, Faloon, Parks, Duffy, McSharry, Griffin, O'Halloran, Muldoon Swift,

2013 - Gannon, Moore, Ah You, Anderson, McCrea, Brian Murphy, Reynecke, Flavin, Fifita, Browne, O'Connor, Vainikolo, Frank Murphy, Grace, Healy, Jarvis, Loxton, Nikora

Unknown - Nolan, Cooney,

salmson wrote:

theCulk wrote: It's been like an advent calendar all week with a signing announcement each day

F*cking big Advent calendar - the blokes behind the last 2 doors were 6 foot 5 !

Time for a sweep on tomorrow's signing....

I'll start with Teofilo Paulo....

tomorrow or monday im going to say we'll sign up one of the players in the wolfhound team.
when in galway and all that!

theCulk wrote: It's been like an advent calendar all week with a signing announcement each day

F*cking big Advent calendar - the blokes behind the last 2 doors were 6 foot 5 !

Time for a sweep on tomorrow's signing....

I'll start with Teofilo Paulo....

It's been like an advent calendar all week with a signing announcement each day

It's been a busy week

Every signing so far is IQ, and probably on the radar for a long time.

Seems to back the theory that Pat Lam might take a personal interest in a few NIQ's, while being happy to defer to the current management on IQ's.

He's Irish qualified, real bonus

He's a very good player, serious engine on him and a very good carrier

He's been unfortunate at Exeter because the Hayes/Hanks partnership is like the Swift/McCarthy combo and they play every week. They also brought in Dean Mumm so it hasn't been easy for him

Must say I'm delighted with this signing. I'd say we're still in the market for an NIQ 2nd row

ConnachtCows wrote: So that was Fionn on Monday
Henry on Tuesday
Swifty today

What's going to happen tomorrow and Friday?

Well now you know

Connacht sign Aly Muldowney from Chiefs

Connacht Rugby has captured the signing of Exeter Chiefs lock Aly Muldowney on a three year contract.

The Stafford-born second row has spent the last two seasons with the Chiefs, racking up 35 caps in the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup competitions. This season, he featured in five out of six of Exeter’s Heineken Cup games in a difficult group with quarter finalists ASM Clermont Auvergne, winning praise for an outstanding display in the Chiefs win over the Scarlets.

Muldowney, aged 29, is Irish qualified by virtue of his father being born in Newbridge, Co.Kildare.

Muldowney started playing rugby nine years ago after he converted from basketball and has made rapid progress in the last three years having moved from part-time rugby with Moseley to his first full-time contract with Glasgow in 2010. That year the 6’5” lock made his debut for the Warriors in the 32-15 win over Newcastle. During his one season with the Scottish club, he played 20 games, starting 13 and scoring two tries.

Chief Executive Tom Sears said: “Aly is a player we have looked at for some time; our coaching staff have watched him a lot and identified him as one of our key recruitment targets. Pat Lam has also been kept in the loop and is delighted he will have Aly in his squad for next season.

“He is a very physical, ball carrying Irish qualified lock who gets through an enormous amount of work and we have managed to get him to Connacht ahead of stiff competition from several sides in the Aviva Premiership and elsewhere.

“We are putting a great deal of work into a recruitment for next year and finding a leading Irish qualified player to bolster our options in the second row was one of the priorities. We are looking to recruit further at lock and other positions and are looking at a number of potential signings before next season.

Aly Muldowney said: “I’m delighted to have signed with Connacht and I’m very much looking forward to joining the club, improving my rugby and adding what I can to the squad. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Chiefs, they are a great club and have a really good squad. Rob (Baxter) and Ali (Hepher) have really helped me improve my game over the last two years.

“I have watched Connacht play in the Heineken Cup this year and they are a really tough side with some great players. We don't have too many places where we can watch the league, but having played Connacht before whilst at Glasgow I know that they are a tough opposition to come up against. So I’m really looking forward to being a part of that team and adding what I can. It’s an exciting time for the club also, with a new Head Coach coming in.

“My boys and wife are really excited about the move to Galway and for a new adventure. I also have family in Ireland, who are already really looking forward to seeing more of us. I just hope we can find somewhere to live with my 3 dogs too!”

Full name Alastair William Muldowney

Born August 3, 1983, Stafford

Current age 29 years

Previous Clubs: Glasgow Warriors, Moseley, Stourbridge, Stafford

Position Lock

Height 6 ft 5 in

Weight 257 lb

I think there's a better chance of some Samoans coming here to be honest. That said Lam is very knowledgeable about the NZ and SH scene so you never know.

His reputation does preceed him a bit doesn't it

To be honest realistically I can't see any of the Blues lads coming, as I say very wishful thinking. Just trying to but a link between Sear's ambitions of brininging in top end international players as he's recently mentioned and the possibility of Pat Lam using his contacts in NZ. We need to be ambitious though. Signing youn lads from Leinster etc is great but one or two established big names would go down a treat.

We'd also need to look at the likes of Keven Mealamu at hooker

Mealamu is scum pure and simple. Also not a chance of that spear tackler coming to Connacht so don't worry about it.

connachtexile wrote: Marshall can play second row but he's primarily a 6. Think it shows you how few 2nd rows Leinster have on their books at the moment. Talking to a friend of mine he siad Leinster see him as a backrower but he can do a job at second row if needs be. He's 6'5 so I think they consider him to ''small'' for the second row which sounds weird saying a 6'5 individual is to small. I for one would happily take him.

Especially considering they are signing Macca, not exactly a giant at barely 6'4 (and that's according to his agents, not some made up stats from Connacht or IRFU )...

www.cornerflag.net/mike_mccarthy.htm