Babbling 'brook

by Up Wexford

I seem to remember there was and extremely jacked center (not sure if it was Peter Robb) coming through when I was last in the sportsgrounds a few years ago, is he still a prospect?

It was Peter Robb. He's a good player but incredibly injury prone.

by Ruckedtobits

26-27 is just about the natural maturity age for a prop - Furlong, Porter & Healy were all freaks - so watch out for this young man following in the footprints of Mike Ross.

Glad for him. Can't wait to see him play in two seasons time after Munster sign him.

by ronk Munster still mostly recruit tactically, instead of strategically. If there’s IQ (& previously project) talent available they try and swoop in. They don’t really need or want a plan; if you’re value they want you. Gallagher was happy in Saracens, but they needed to offload people so he was ...

Glad all you guys are so optimistic. TBH I'm not but I hope it works out for Connacht.

John Ryan out injured for the next while. Looks like Salanoa might get some gametime sooner than he hoped for.

I suppose he has to use McNulty sometime and in a bunch of dead rubbers is the best scenario. We'll have to see.

Both shouldn't be on a huge amount of money. They are two gambles by Friend. Hopefully they work out but we will have to see. O'Donnell should be playing wing so will be interested to see who he sees at 15 to rotate with TOH.

by ronk Connacht have gutted their squad and signed young very much surplus talent. There are 2 24 year old journeymen already on their 3rd province. These guys have more rugby to give and are somewhat talented but it’s hard to go anywhere living on scraps. If these guys improve with quality game t...

Connacht are allegedly looking to sign two more players. No idea on the positions.

If they bring him back into the fold I've no problem with it. The same way I'd be happy if any of the provinces got Jager to come back.

by scentofgunpowder

Diarmuid McCormack (who will hopefully still be involved with the sub academy)

What position does this guy play?

by munster#1 Fairly sure that talks were advanced, so it may well be a runner. Would be great to turn this negative into a positive, and move games around the province. Would be great to see the Leinster game in Fitzgerald stadium in Killarney, and the home HC games spread between PUC, thurles and ...

by hugonaut

I've also heard [anecdotally] that the Cork County Board are very anti-rugby, but maybe that is a thing of the past.

Definitely not a thing of the past.

Year 1: Donnacha Byrne (back row) Ciaran Booth (back row) Hubert Costello (back row) Eoin de Buitléar (hooker) Cathal Forde (out-half) Darragh Murray (second row) Cian Prendergast (lock/back row) Charlie Ward (loosehead prop) Connacht's Year 1 crop. Gotta say I'm happy there's some good prospects i...

Haven't heard anything about O'Shea so don't think he is heading West which is fair enough. Another guy whose had potential for years without really delivering on it.

by mildlyinterested

Heard Charlie Ward is headed west.

Makes sense we're well stocked in that area for the foreseeable future.

Niall Murray(Lock/Buccaneers)

I find only one lock to be troubling. They really need another one just to fill out the squad. Hopefully they find an overseas signing otherwise we could be plundered again.

y mildlyinterested 4 ex-Leinster underage players joined Connacht senior squad from their academy: Jordan Duggan(LH Prop/Newbridge RFC) Sean Masterson(Backrow/Portlaoise RFC) Conor Dean(Outhalf/Blackrock) Peter Sullivan(Wing/St. Andrews) Duggan, Dean & Sullivan all spent at least 1 season in Leinst...

by Ruckedtobits McCartney was one of those players who possibly didn't have the physique to make the step-up to international level. That was the opinion in NZ when he emigrated to Ireland - same size as Kevin Mealamu but without the explosive acceleration and teak hardness which made Mealamu a spe...

by hugonaut They're well placed to weather McCartney retiring. They've got a good complimentary pairing in Heffernan and Delahunt, and Tierney Martin is the best age-grade player that they have produced in at least five years, since SOB II. The latter will be a big addition if he returns fully fit....