I for one would like to see an Eagles game very early in the year with the new young guys given a whole game so we can see how they do and if they can step up to the first team. Like I said before there's a big drop in quality between our 2nd and 3rd choices and that's something Lam should look at trying to work on. Something like this

1. JP Cooney
2. James Rael
3. Peter Reily
4. Dave Nolan
5. Danny Qualter
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Aaron Connelly
8. Rory Moloney/Mata Fifita
9. Marcus Walsh/Caolin Blade
10. Jack Carty/Rory Paratta
11. Steve McAuley
12. Tadgh Leader
13. Mark Roche
14. Conor Finn
15. Shane Layden

I think if Cooney was played at LH he could be a serious player for us putting pressure on Buckley and Wilkinson. Sticking him at TH because Ah You can't scrummage well doesn't seem fair to me.

connachtexile wrote: Interested that they let Deasy go when they knew ROG was leaving. So next year it's Keatley, Hanrahan & Holland? That's a pretty fallow out-half roster if Keatley gets injured surprised they didn't sign someone as back up like Leinster did with Goppereth.

Possibly worryingly, Penney mentioned Murray could play outhalf earlier in the season. Murray did play a bit at outhalf for Munster u20's but that's the extent of it, afaik. Course, Felix Jones was an outhalf in school...

Lol you're right looking at it now most of them have already been here, but how many times did we get to see that team together at once? I'd love to see Ronaldson or Carty come through and show themselves to be capable of being first choice 10, but for now that team offers the strongest attacking threat (I wanted to put muldowney in there but I feared backlash :blink: ) I didn't really make my point properly but what's exciting is knowing there are some genuine options when you rotate players, being able to choose between henshaw and duffy, carr and toh, poolman and sinotti, swift and muldowney etc etc will provide players with a chance to rest and Lam with a chance to try different things.

phatguerilla wrote: I know its foolish to be getting excited about next season already but I can't help it, I'm getting jittery just imagining the combos connacht could put out next year if we keep as many players fit as possible.

Buckley
Harris-Wright
White
Swift
Clarke
Browne
Faloon
McKeon
Marmion
Parks
Duffy
McSharry
Griffin
Poolman
Henshaw

That would be my 'dream team' at the minute, combo of as many IQ lads as possible with the best imports (so far). At the same time there is at least another 15 players who would offer a change of pace, experience or heft (not going to list that out cause this is already too long).

Eh thats just basically last years side with clarke added? so its not going to propel or excite to many. hopefully there will be another signing or two now that we are in heino again.


Craig Clarke
Aly Muldowney
Jake Heenan
Craig Ronaldson
Sinoti Sinoti
Fionn Carr
James Rael
Dave Heffernan
Sean Henry
Danny Qualter
Aaron Conneely



1.
2. Harris-Wright/Heffernen/Henry/rael
3. Nathan White
4. Aly Muldowney
5. Craig Clarke
6.
7. Jake Heenan/ Willie faloon
8. Fifita Mata ( might make impact here we need more impact in backrow )
9. Keiran Marmion/Marcus Walsh
10. Parks/Craig Ronaldson/Carty
11. Fionn Carr/O'halloran
12. Dave Mcsharry/Sinoti Sinoti
13. Kyle Tonneti/Poolman/Griffen
14. Sinoti Sinoti/ Poolman
15. Robbie Henshaw

Interested that they let Deasy go when they knew ROG was leaving. So next year it's Keatley, Hanrahan & Holland? That's a pretty fallow out-half roster if Keatley gets injured surprised they didn't sign someone as back up like Leinster did with Goppereth.

Dessy was released so holland A team 10 now.

connachtexile wrote: Saw that in the paper today I suppose we should also be looking at these guys and see if there any good. Are any of them in other provincial academies?

Stuart Morrow, Ballynahinch RFC, Down (centre)

Willie Staunton, Terenure RFC, Dublin (out-half)

Henry Bryce, Naas RFC, Kildare (centre/wing)

Jonny Holland, Cork Constitution FC, Cork (Munster sub-academy)

Holland is in the Munster Academy, Connacht could do worse though I think he's still been behind Deasy as well as Hanrahan so he's a long way off.

Willie Staunton was Munster sub-Academy for a while, iirc, assuming it's the same guy.

Saw that in the paper today I suppose we should also be looking at these guys and see if there any good. Are any of them in other provincial academies?

Stuart Morrow, Ballynahinch RFC, Down (centre)

Willie Staunton, Terenure RFC, Dublin (out-half)

Henry Bryce, Naas RFC, Kildare (centre/wing)

Jonny Holland, Cork Constitution FC, Cork (Munster sub-academy)

Seen this last night, our new 10 has won 2 awards - player of the year & top points scorer.


Some of Ireland's finest and most talented club rugby stars, from across the country, gathered in Dublin last night (Thursday, 16th May 2013) for the inaugural 'Ulster Bank League Awards'.
A total of seven awards were handed out to players from each division of the Ulster Bank League (Division 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B). The 'Ulster Bank Player of the Year', in each division, was named along with the 'Ulster Bank Top Try Scorer', the 'Ulster Bank Top Points Scorer' and the 'Ulster Bank Young Player of the Year', from Division 1A.
The Ulster Bank Player of the Year award winners were selected from a *shortlist of three players, compiled by a panel of judges including, Irish Daily Mail club rugby journalist, Adam Redmond, and veteran club rugby journalist, Kieran Rooney.

The awards were presented, to each winner, by former Ireland and Leinster rugby legend, Reggie Corrigan. The winners are as follows:

<strong>1. Ulster Bank Player of the Year - Division 1A: Craig Ronaldson, Lansdowne FC, Dublin</strong>

2. Ulster Bank Player of the Year - Division 1B: Stuart Morrow, Ballynahinch RFC, Down

3. Ulster Bank Player of the Year - Division 2A: Willie Staunton, Terenure RFC, Dublin

4. Ulster Bank Player of the Year - Division 2B: Henry Bryce, Naas RFC, Kildare

5. Ulster Bank Top Try Scorer - Division 1A: Mike McGrath, Clontarf RFC, Dublin

<strong>6. Ulster Bank Top Points Scorer - Division 1A: Craig Ronaldson, Lansdowne FC, Dublin</strong>

7. Ulster Bank Young Player of the Year - Division 1A: Jonny Holland, Cork Constitution FC, Cork

Speaking at the awards, Carol McMahon, Head of Sponsorship at Ulster Bank, said: "As Official Community Rugby Partner to the IRFU, Ulster Bank is a proud supporter of grassroots rugby. Having seen the outstanding commitment and dedication that players and club members make, week-in week-out, introducing the Ulster Bank League Awards was a natural fit for us.

"The awards are about recognising the outstanding talent that lines out on rugby pitches, across the country, every weekend. I would like to congratulate our 2013 and first ever Ulster Bank League Award winners and we look forward to seeing what next year's league brings."

Also speaking at the awards, Scott Walker, Director of Rugby Development and the Club Game said: "The Ulster Bank League produces some of the most exciting rugby in Ireland. Clubs, all over the country, are filled with talented young stars who dedicate their evenings and weekends to the great game.

"With the development of our provincial sides, club rugby doesn't get the recognition it deserves. I would like to congratulate Ulster Bank on this excellent initiative."

Now in their third year as Official Community Rugby Partner to the IRFU, Ulster Bank also runs the annual Ulster Bank RugbyForce initiative - an initiative which provides rugby clubs with support to renovate their club and upgrade their facilities.

Four lucky rugby clubs (one from each province) were announced this week as winners of a support package worth €5,000 each. The four winners selected were, Birr RFC in Offaly, Midleton RFC in Cork, Westport RFC in Mayo and Newry RFC in Down.

A shortlist of 16 rugby clubs, who have been selected by a panel of judges, are also in with a chance of being named as an Ulster Bank RugbyForce winner.

These 16 rugby clubs will now be put to a public vote and the club with the highest number of votes will be named as the fifth winner of the support package worth €5,000.

Voting opened on Monday 13th May and will remain open until Friday 24th May. Votes can be cast online at www.ulsterbank.com/rugby .

All winning clubs will also receive a special training session from an IRFU coach and two Irish rugby stars.

That's a decent team but I think George at 8 and Carr on the wing for Duffy would strengthen it.

I know its foolish to be getting excited about next season already but I can't help it, I'm getting jittery just imagining the combos connacht could put out next year if we keep as many players fit as possible.

Buckley
Harris-Wright
White
Swift
Clarke
Browne
Faloon
McKeon
Marmion
Parks
Duffy
McSharry
Griffin
Poolman
Henshaw

That would be my 'dream team' at the minute, combo of as many IQ lads as possible with the best imports (so far). At the same time there is at least another 15 players who would offer a change of pace, experience or heft (not going to list that out cause this is already too long).

galway_gas wrote: on the face of it this may seem like bad news for Aaron Conneely but I reckon it will make him more competitive and we should see best of him as he tries to outplay Heenan.

Indeed, it's a problem with the local lads very few have actually fulfilled their potential by stating in Galway (Eric, JO'C ^& Gav Duffy have all had time away), life in Galway is probably just a little too nice/comfortable..

Anyway saw this story on web news media outlet Stuff.NZ and made me chuckle..

Junior rugby star Heenan quits NZ for Ireland
MARC HINTON
Last updated 12:21 16/05/2013

CONNACHT CATCH: Jake Heenan will ply his trade in the European club scene. GALWAY BOUND: Former Auckland Blues coach Pat Lam is off to coach Connacht in Ireland.

It's not just All Blacks who are turning their backs on New Zealand rugby, with ex-Blues coach Pat Lam luring former under-20s flanker Jake Heenan to play in Ireland.

Lam's Connacht have signed Heenan, an openside from Auckland, on a three-year contract.

The 20-year-old helps fill the void in a position previously held by veteran Irish international Johnny O'Connor, who retired at the end of the season.

Heenan was a member of the New Zealand under-20 squad which finished runners-up behind South Africa at the junior world championship last year.

He is currently a member of the Blues development squad but has been snapped up by Lam as a player of immense promise.

"I came across Jake when he was 17 years old," Lam told the BBC website. "He played for the Blues under-18 team when they won the national competition and, even then, I could see what a natural leader and genuine team player he was.

"He brought those leadership skills, as well as his physicality, to the world championship last summer with the Baby Blacks.

"Jake is highly regarded in New Zealand and it is a real coup for Connacht to catch him."

Heenan's signing with the Irish province should provide further angst for the New Zealand Rugby Union as it battles to retain fringe All Blacks in the Kiwi game.

Established players are one thing, but when the cashed-up clubs of the north and Japan start turning their attention to the bright young things in the New Zealand game, then matters are indeed getting serious.

The other aspect involved in northern clubs signing youngsters from these parts is that they can be "re-nationalised", a la Sean Maitland, and become much more valuable commodoties.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Yes folks, we are CASH RICH.... Dan Carter next I tell ya.....:woohoo:

on the face of it this may seem like bad news for Aaron Conneely but I reckon it will make him more competitive and we should see best of him as he tries to outplay Heenan.

Im excited but then cj stander, quinn roux and a few others are hardly working out elsewhere

I get your point but there's an element of risk in every signing.

Im excited but then cj stander, quinn roux and a few others are hardly working out elsewhere.

Good signing on paper. At 21 his career is only starting out and he'll be here to make a name for himself. I like the fact we are getting more players who look to be good quality on longer term deals. Ok there is always a risk it won't work out or there'll be a bad injury but it gives us some scope to prevent ourselves being raided by the other provinces when players prove their quality.