cough cough, ill clear the throat. ok seamus is gone.

we could replace him, like for like.
* were looking for NIQ, international player
* early 20's
* can play centre/outhalf/wing/fullback
* who's free at the moment
* who likes to put himself in the news for wrong reasons
* who's call james cause we already have the nickname SEAMUS handy.

anyone have James O Connor's number handy?

on a serious note, it more then likely free's up at least €120k

So'oialo released on compassionate grounds
26th October 2013

James So’oialo has been released from his contract on compassionate grounds by Connacht Rugby and the IRFU.

The 24-year-old will return to his family and three children in New Zealand.

So’oialo arrived in Connacht in late September following permit delays and played some time in both Heineken Cup pool games against Saracens and Zebre.

Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam said:

“James came to us with an urgent request to return home to New Zealand where his young family is based.

“His situation was one we could sympathise with and we were able to organise a release, effective immediately.

“We wish James all the best in the future.”

James added:

“I’ve enjoyed my short time at Connacht and was made feel so welcome by the boys. But I need to be with my family now. I wish Connacht all the best and I’ll be keeping a keen eye on their progress from New Zealand.”

Being totally mercenary about it I'd prefer to see Tonetti move on and keep Griffin (if its a case of money). Every team needs at least 2 options in every position so I doubt Griffin is leaving because of Henshaw, or if he is moving to become undoubted first pick 13 then its a rash decision imo.

We don't know if Lam would prefer a McSharry/Griffin 12-13 with Henshaw at 15 when everyone is fit, or if he would just rotate between Griffin and Henshaw/McSharry. His turn at 12 at the start of the season was impressive imo and gives a coach options to rest and rotate without damaging the team.

At 23 he's still ridiculously young especially for a centre so there's no reason to panic, Irish fans tend to look to the next young thing a bit too much but even if Henshaw has definitively leapfrogged Griffin by the end of the season there's still a place for him at the heart of the Connacht team.

Porterbelly wrote: Eoin Griffin looking to move on...

Contract renegotiation time, it's the name of the game to get the deal they want to have the agent thrown in the "looking at offers from other clubs" gambit. To me a risky gambit in his position.

With injuries he hasn't really pushed on enough in the last two seasons, so it's going to be hard sell if his agent is hoping to score a better deal.

It may mean that Connacht don't offer the deal his team want, and if he/they can't accept that then he'll have to move on....

Really happy to have Masterson and Blade coming on board they look like good catch's. With Blade coming in I think Frank Murphy could be on the way out as we now have blade and Walsh who could vie for 3rd place and would be a lot cheaper than Murphy.

Really hope Griffin doesn't leave would be very sorry to see him go. If we want to grow as a club we need to hold on to our better players.

We don't want to see that happening but if there is substance to this he obviously mustn't feel he can nail down the 13 jersey at Connacht. I don't really see him improving his situation by going to Leinster or Ulster, Munster may be a possibility but think he may have to look abroad. I really hope he stays and trys to develop his game with his home province. There were some good signs for him in the early games. Whatever about seeing a Keatley, Downey, Cronin etc. in the jersey of another province, seeing a local player we have brought up through the system line out in red, blue or white would be a bitter pill to swallow.

The IMF wrote: This really took the edge off my Friday feeling!

Is he p'ed at being made to play 12 Porterbelly?

I really hope Lam can convince him to stay on.

He is way too promising an asset for us to let leave without a serious fight.

Don't know the reasons

At a guess I would say he felt alot of loyalty to Eric Elwood and now that Eric's gone he doesn't feel obliged to stay.

Came as a big surprise when I heard it. He'd be the last of the younger lads I thought might leave

Joe Schmidt has done us few favours either by not picking Marmion in his squad. Around now is when contracts are thrashed out and some lads by thing they have to move on to get international recognition. Would also effect us trying to get someone like Robin Copeland

This really took the edge off my Friday feeling!

Is he p'ed at being made to play 12 Porterbelly?

I really hope Lam can convince him to stay on.

He is way too promising an asset for us to let leave without a serious fight.

Eoin Griffin looking to move on...

Nabbed from the Connacht site:

Connacht Rugby is delighted to announce the recruitment of two new players to the Connacht Academy.

Manager Nigel Carolan has bolstered his Academy to 20 players with the signing of Caolin Blade and Eoghan Masterson.

Scrumhalf Caolin Blade was involved with Ireland Under-19s this summer and has also represented his country at U18's level. The 19-year-old from Monivea, who attended Presentation College Athenry, comes from a family of scrum halves. His father Pat wore the number nine jersey for Monivea RFC and his brother Darren currently plays scrum half with the junior club in Galway.

Eoghan Masterson joins the Academy as a backrow forward. Hailing from Portlaoise, where he attended CBS, the 20-year-old represented Ireland U20s in the 2013 6 Nations game v Scotland. While his mother is from Westport, it is his Scottish father that enabled Masterson to also represent Scotland U20s in last summer's Junior World Championship.

Commenting on the latest recruits, Academy Manager Nigel Carolan said:

"I'm delighted to officially integrate the two lads into our Academy programme. Both players have earned this promotion through their hard work and effort.

"Eoghan and Caolin have played for the Eagles already and they really impressed me with their performances and attitude.

"They have a really good knowledge of the game and are both fantastic leaders on the field in their own right. I believe they have huge potential in the professional game."

Seems like good news. Eoghan has done well in the Eagles, I understand. Can't see Caolin impacting on Marmion for the foreseeable future, but good to know that we have new blood coming through.

Good news about Healy and couldn't agree more about Heenan - he's a super super player!!!

It's early doors yet and he's under contract for 3 years so there's no need to rush into any improvement on his wages. I'd say wait until he's put in a full season first. By that time if he continues to build on his impressive early start there will be little room for resentment from other project players.

connachtexile wrote: True but I can't imagine him being on huge money as it's a developmental contract. No one expected him to come through this quickly and be a first teamer this soon. We should give him a new contract to reflect that. One of the biggest criticism's aimed at the Irish System is that we don't up-grade contracts when players come through i.e Sexton. Up-grading him now (like we did Henshaw last year) will tie him to us and show him how highly we rate him. Definitely worth the extra cash.

I'm hearing ya but it might turn out to be a little divisive if you didn't do the same for Poolman or day I say it Rodney.

He is on a project contract not a development contract. There is a big difference. While he probably isn't on as much as stander at Munster or roux at Leinster he didn't come to the other side of the world for peanuts .

True but I can't imagine him being on huge money as it's a developmental contract. No one expected him to come through this quickly and be a first teamer this soon. We should give him a new contract to reflect that. One of the biggest criticism's aimed at the Irish System is that we don't up-grade contracts when players come through i.e Sexton. Up-grading him now (like we did Henshaw last year) will tie him to us and show him how highly we rate him. Definitely worth the extra cash.

Yeah he's our project player is he not? (or one of them at least).