What's the story on Ciaran Ruddock guys? Is he still at Leinster? Could he do a job for us?

connachtexile wrote: According to the Munster Fans Board it looks like Varley and Stringer won't get contracts next year. Would love to have both of them with us. Nagle apparently is close to re-signing with Munster. Will have to wait and see.

Varley will be resigned

According to the Munster Fans Board it looks like Varley and Stringer won't get contracts next year. Would love to have both of them with us. Nagle apparently is close to re-signing with Munster. Will have to wait and see.

There's a lad called Joe Carolan who played for the Exiles against us this september. Any relation to Nigel Carolan?

RogueXV wrote:

salmson wrote: I think we can add Dave Moore and Frank Murphy to that. Flav is very likely to retire this summer, likewise JOC doesn't look up to the full 80 any more, ditto Swifty (pardon the heresy).

Perhaps Connacht cannot afford to carry a couple of players that cannot put in but the odd 60-80 minute shift, but I have viewed JOC and, increasingly, Swift as impact subs. Clearly retirement is not far off for either, but both can still make positive contributions to the Connacht cause.

The problem there is you're only one injury away from having them start. Even if Grace stayed on next year, would you trust him to play 50-60 minutes against, anyone? We're at the bare bones in second row and at 7, impact subs is a great idea in theory but can only be backed up with some serious impact signings imo.

connachtexile wrote: I think this is one of the reasons why we need to aggressively chase after younger guys who aren't in are catchment area. We've gotten more aggressive chasing after exiles and it's worked for us and we've got guys like Peter Reily and Ultan Dillane as well but other young lads who could do a job or be something special. The second row lad I was on about before Sean McCarthy of Shannon looks to have scored a Munster academy deal and I'd put a good bet on that Thom Daly of Carlow will get one at Leinster. These guys will sit behind other young lads in front of them for years while they could be doing a job for us. Yes we might only get one or two of them but it's one or two more than before. If we were really sneaky we could offer Adam Byrne of Naas a development contract and steal him from Leinster :whistle:

Speaking of young Exiles I hear that Adam Byrnes centre partner from last years irish U18's team Sean O'Hagan is doing really well this year and that Nigel had him over in Galway for the Summer. He could be in line for a development contract, supposed to have done really well last Summer in the games that he played in. Exiles are a good source for us.

nagle has been injured for so long now that imo hes in the beggars cant be choosers category. frankie is like all agents imo and aims high in hope to finish somewhere north of the middle. reality is nagle represents a gamble at this stage but could be a gem for whoever risks it.
hayes- i havent seen a lot of him since he played u20s in athlone a couple ogf yrs back. think he was on same team as stewart maguire, niall annett and dom ryan. good player then but 6th choice at best atm at munster. worth a punt on either but only with an experienced quality lock coming aswell.
i dont know the contract situations with munster players not mentioned today in the positions thst imo need strngthening and bars closing so il come back to it later. god i hate panto season!

This clears up the unknown contract he signed.
Pity as he would be a good catch for us.

www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2013/0103/1224328377592.html

I think this is one of the reasons why we need to aggressively chase after younger guys who aren't in are catchment area. We've gotten more aggressive chasing after exiles and it's worked for us and we've got guys like Peter Reily and Ultan Dillane as well but other young lads who could do a job or be something special. The second row lad I was on about before Sean McCarthy of Shannon looks to have scored a Munster academy deal and I'd put a good bet on that Thom Daly of Carlow will get one at Leinster. These guys will sit behind other young lads in front of them for years while they could be doing a job for us. Yes we might only get one or two of them but it's one or two more than before. If we were really sneaky we could offer Adam Byrne of Naas a development contract and steal him from Leinster :whistle:

Qualter and Gardiner won't make it with us, neither have the attitude or commitment to make it at pro level imo. And they're not that supremely talented where they can be taken on in the hope they bridge that gap.

Brian Hayes is the pick of the young Munster 2nd rows imo, very surprised he hasn't made a breakthrough this year.

Dillane needs more time, he's on a specific programme to bulk up which is a good thing. He's a very talented chap, I know some Munster fans were disgusted they lost him as they saw him as a big prospect. I would say he'll definitely come though but he'll need time. He's contracted to the academy for another 2 seasons so he'll get plenty of time to pack on the pounds

Don't know enough about the guy to say whether he'd be a good signing, but we have plenty of promising toddler locks - Kearney, Qualter, Gardiner, Dillane.

Some of the more experienced suggestions on this thread like Nick Kennedy or Tom Hayes might be more appealling.

According to the Munster Fan Forum Brian Hayes is talking to a team abroad. Am I the only one who'd like to see him head west as well?

salmson wrote: I think we can add Dave Moore and Frank Murphy to that. Flav is very likely to retire this summer, likewise JOC doesn't look up to the full 80 any more, ditto Swifty (pardon the heresy).

Perhaps Connacht cannot afford to carry a couple of players that cannot put in but the odd 60-80 minute shift, but I have viewed JOC and, increasingly, Swift as impact subs. Clearly retirement is not far off for either, but both can still make positive contributions to the Connacht cause.

connachtexile wrote: What about Tommy O'Donnell? He's having a hell of a season and really become a destructive ball carrier imo. Would love to have him on board.

He'd be a great signing, but contracted to Munster untilthe end of next season.

Some decent business by Munster there. Dave Foley was one Connacht were meant to be looking at so he's off the radar.

Yeah he's annoying alright.

What about Tommy O'Donnell? He's having a hell of a season and really become a destructive ball carrier imo. Would love to have him on board. Nagle should have moved 2 years ago when Northampton came knocking. Would have no strong emotion either way if he came.