Hes not coming here to make up the numbers. Dont be surprised if he makes the 7 shirt his own by mid season. Our next breakthrough player?!.
Afterall ronan was our player of the season last season!

That he captained the NZ team and is a backrower not a prop so doesn't take as long to mature makes me feel optimistic about him but I take your point. That Lam knows him and sourced him has to work in his favour. To be honest I'm just happy we signed someone as our backrow was looking fallow.

ummm, wrote: A word of caution folks, the last time we signed a baby black it was Rodney and we expected too much of him.

I'm excited by the signing, but a little worried. Willie was injured a few times last year and we really don't have a ready made, trusted 7 like JOC to start in his place next year.

I'd be less concerned with Pat Lam having already run the eye over him, if anyone knows good backrow, Pat Lam does...

Rodders, who made that call..?

Jake Heenan Flanker 17 March 1992

Born on Paddy's Day can only be a good omen!

A word of caution folks, the last time we signed a baby black it was Rodney and we expected too much of him.

I'm excited by the signing, but a little worried. Willie was injured a few times last year and we really don't have a ready made, trusted 7 like JOC to start in his place next year.

We should have a serious side next year!! Wilkinson/Buckley Harris Wright White Muldowney Clarke Faloon George Naoupu Mick Kearney/Muldoon 9 Marmion 10 Parks 12 McSharry 13 Griffin 14Carr 11 Poolman 15 Henshaw....

3 years usually indicates project if not in name then in motive.

I am really excitedby this signing! I know little or nothing about the guy but just have a good feeling!

3 year deal so a project player??

---

Exile you got in before me!

A 3 year contract so another project player. He seems to be quality so excited about this. Good that Faloon will have competition to keep him sharp to. A good signing for Connacht and Ireland.

Connacht sign New Zealand U20’s captain

Connacht Rugby is pleased to announce the latest in our new player signings for the upcoming season.

20-year-old Jake Heenan from New Zealand has signed for the province on a three year deal.

An abrasive openside flanker, Heenan captained the New Zealand Under-20’s when they finished runners-up to South Africa in the 2012 Junior World Championship last summer.

The former Whangarei Boys' High School First XV captain went on to sign for Auckland and was a member of the Blues development programme.

Incoming Head Coach Pat Lam spoke about the young forward he spotted at an early age:

“I came across Jake when he was 17 years old. 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 U20 World Championship last summer with the Baby Blacks.

“Jake is highly regarded back in New Zealand and it is a real coup for Connacht to catch him. I’m very much looking forward to working with him when he arrives here in early July.”

bullseye

Connacht sign New Zealand U20’s captain JakeHeenan resized

Connacht Rugby is pleased to announce the latest in our new player signings for the upcoming season.

20-year-old Jake Heenan from New Zealand has signed for the province on a three year deal.

An abrasive openside flanker, Heenan captained the New Zealand Under-20’s when they finished runners-up to South Africa in the 2012 Junior World Championship last summer.

The former Whangarei Boys' High School First XV captain went on to sign for Auckland and was a member of the Blues development programme.

Incoming Head Coach Pat Lam spoke about the young forward he spotted at an early age:

“I came across Jake when he was 17 years old. 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 U20 World Championship last summer with the Baby Blacks.

“Jake is highly regarded back in New Zealand and it is a real coup for Connacht to catch him. I’m very much looking forward to working with him when he arrives here in early July.”

Fafita and Brian Murphy both handy low cost squad players. Frank Murphy was unlucky with injury last year and it'll be tough to come back from such a setback at this stage of his career. However, the season before he spent the majority of the games going through the motions. Hope Connacht have been smart with his contract. I'm worried about us at scrum half.

Best of luck to all the lads leaving hope they do well at their next club wherever they end up, pretty much seeing a good percentage of the 2011/12 signings exiting again which is disappointing as you'd hope we'd be moving away from big squad turnovers but that was a bad year for recruitment.

8 in (including 2 new signings to come) and 12 out (exluding David Nolan) and some more promotions from within.

Positions:
Prop - 0 in 0 out
Hooker - 2 in 2 out
2nd row - 2 in 2 out
Back row - 1 in 3 out
Scrum half - 0 in 1 out
Out Half - 1 in 1 out
Wing - 2 in 3 out
Centre - 0 in 0 out
Full Back - 0 in 0 out

Met Willie Faloon and Dave Nolan in Munroes after the game against Glasgow. Asked him about the leg which he said was grand and when I asked when he will be back playin he just smiled. Didn't know what way to take that but I'd love to see him get a chance to prove his fitness.

TJ Anderson (Ealing Trailfinders RFC), Dave Gannon, Eoghan Grace (Plymouth RFC), Matthew Jarvis (Nottingham RFC), James Loxton, Mike McCarthy (Leinster Rugby), Dave Moore, Ethienne Reynecke, Fetu’u Vainikolo (Exeter Chiefs), Mark McCrea (Jersey).

Glad this is confirmed as it stops all the conjecture. Wonder where Fifita will play next season does Lam see him as a 6,7 or 8?

? What's happening with Dave Nolan

Would like to know whats up with Nolan as well. If he's not on the list I'd say he's staying probably on reduced terms such as a 3 month contract to see if he can stay fit. Hope he makes it.

2016 - Clarke, Muldowney

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

2014 - Tonetti, O'Donohoe, Faloon, Parks, Duffy, Griffin, O'Halloran, Muldoon, Swift,
2014 - Ah You, nikora, Healy, Ronaldson, F Murphy, B Murphy, Fifita

Development contracts - Dave Heffernan, Danny Qualtar, Aaron Conneely, James Rael (1),

2013 - Nolan

going/gone! - McCarthy (leinster), McCrea (jersey), Grace (New Plymouth Albion), Vainikolo (Exeter), Jarvis (Nottingham), TJ Anderson (Ealing Trailfinders RFC), Reynecke, Loxton, Moore, Gannon (unknown)

Retiring! - O'Connor, Flavin


props-- White, Loughney, Wilkinson, Buckley, Cooney, Ah You
hookers-- harris wright, henry, Heffernan, Rael
locks-- Swift, kearney, Clarke, Muldowney, Qualtar
6-- Muldoon, Browne
flanker-- Faloon, Conneely, Fifita
8-- george, McKeon
scrum half-- Marmion, O'Donohoe, Murphy
out half-- parks, nikora, Ronaldson
wingers-- O'Halloran, carr, Poolman, Healy
centres-- Tonetti, McSharry, Griffin,Murphy
full backs-- Henshaw, Duffy

? What's happening with Dave Nolan