Mike McCarthy will join Leinster next season

[Kinger83]

Link here..

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/leinster- ... 39-Dec2012

[jordanracer]

Points very well made by Joe there, forceful but measured. Well done Joe

[tones]

I think Joe could offer his servies to Tom Sears in PR. Just blew him out of the water and highlighted the incredibly low levels of professionalism in Irish rougby journalism.

[deco]

Henshaw given a full contract to keep the bully boy bogger province away

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/20121213831 ... l-contract

Fixed

[porterbelly]

As for Connacht going forward. The IRFU now owe them, Leinster owe them, Munster owe them. It'll be intereting to see how everyone delivers on this perceived debt.

I don't see how either Leinster or Munster owe them anything. Its not the job of Leinster or Munster to develop/manage/whatever rugby in Connacht. Thats the job of the CBIRFU and the IRFU.

Absolutely, DC. The Leinster brass had a very smooth relationship with Gerry Kelly [the previous Connacht CEO and a total gentleman] and thus there was a very good relationship between Connacht Rugby and Leinster Rugby, with Connacht a significant beneficiary. Tom Sears is going around calling Leinster 'bad for Irish rugby' which is a quick way to spoil a relationship, even if Leinster don't come out all guns blazing in the press.

There are always agents and other teams [in Ireland, England and Wales] keeping tabs on players in the Leinster Academy, as it has a reputation for preparing players well for the pro game. In the past, academy members who weren't going to be offered a full or development contract with Leinster would often be counseled by staff to talk to Connacht ahead of other non-Irish clubs [including English Premiership clubs and Welsh Pro12 clubs, as well as RFU Championship clubs].

Given all the static that Leinster have gotten over the last 18 months for 'poaching' Connacht players, this "preferred bidder" status could very easily be quietly dropped. It hasn't done a massive amount for Leinster in the past anyway. It's very simple [and in many ways better for the player] to play the informed neutral as an advisor: let the players talk to whomever they want and fill them in on the pros and cons of going to a club like Leicester or Harlequins or the Ospreys for two years ahead of going to Connacht. When you're talking to a player in that capacity, you're advising him as to what's best for the player and his career, not what's best for the rather slippery concept of "Irish rugby". That's not to say counsel against going west, just present it as an option like the other offers.

In PR terms the difference in bringing a player back to Ireland from a club like Wasps [i.e. Eoin Reddan] or Harlequins [i.e. Mike Ross] is black and white compared to bringing a player to Leinster from Connacht, as we have seen in recent days. It's not as though Connacht do a better job with their players or necessarily expose them to more gametime than Leicester [where former Leinster players Niall Morris and Michael Noone are based] or Saracens [Eoin Sherriff] or Gloucester [Shane Monahan]. To offer a personal opinion, it just looks like it's not worth the hassle.

Yes Gerry Kelly had a great relationship with Leinster but what did we gain from that? We lost 3 of our best players in his tenure, so in that way the relationship was great for Leinster. The ins and outs of the Jamie Hagan deal seem to be forgotten pretty quickly.

Fionn Carr was signed by Connacht from Blackrock. Dave McSharry from UCD. Kyle Tonetti from Sale Sharks. Jason Harris Wright from Bristol. Dave Moore from Harlequins. None of them had any affiliation to Leinster when we signed them.

The players we would have signed directly from Leinster in the last couple of years were Ian Keatley, Jamie Hagan,Paul O Donoghue and Nathan White. POD had made 8 starts in his time at Leinster, spanning about 3 years in or around the first team. He was not offered a contract by Leinster, so in which case he was a free agent. Keatley and Hagan were very young and well down the pecking order at the time.

White was offered a 3 year deal by Connacht, Leinster didn't offer him 3 years. He was 2nd choice at Leinster, he was signed by Connacht as 1st choice and vice captain.

There's a big disparity between who's benefitting from who in the transfer merry go round. We've lost key players, Leinster haven't. Joe Schmidt may not be happy but spare a thought for Eric Elwood and the Connacht fans. This is one of the main reasons Elwood is leaving Connacht. He's in a no win position where any time there's a sign of progression or something building we get brought straight back down to earth

[tones]

Yes Gerry Kelly had a great relationship with Leinster but what did we gain from that? We lost 3 of our best players in his tenure, so in that way the relationship was great for Leinster. The ins and outs of the Jamie Hagan deal seem to be forgotten pretty quickly.

Fionn Carr was signed by Connacht from Blackrock. Dave McSharry from UCD. Kyle Tonetti from Sale Sharks. Jason Harris Wright from Bristol. Dave Moore from Harlequins. None of them had any affiliation to Leinster when we signed them.

The players we would have signed directly from Leinster in the last couple of years were Ian Keatley, Jamie Hagan,Paul O Donoghue and Nathan White. POD had made 8 starts in his time at Leinster, spanning about 3 years in or around the first team. He was not offered a contract by Leinster, so in which case he was a free agent. Keatley and Hagan were very young and well down the pecking order at the time.

White was offered a 3 year deal by Connacht, Leinster didn't offer him 3 years. He was 2nd choice at Leinster, he was signed by Connacht as 1st choice and vice captain.

There's a big disparity between who's benefitting from who in the transfer merry go round. We've lost key players, Leinster haven't. Joe Schmidt may not be happy but spare a thought for Eric Elwood and the Connacht fans. This is one of the main reasons Elwood is leaving Connacht. He's in a no win position where any time there's a sign of progression or something building we get brought straight back down to earth

Jesus, not happy with making an idot of yourself on PR?

[porterbelly]

Yes Gerry Kelly had a great relationship with Leinster but what did we gain from that? We lost 3 of our best players in his tenure, so in that way the relationship was great for Leinster. The ins and outs of the Jamie Hagan deal seem to be forgotten pretty quickly.

Fionn Carr was signed by Connacht from Blackrock. Dave McSharry from UCD. Kyle Tonetti from Sale Sharks. Jason Harris Wright from Bristol. Dave Moore from Harlequins. None of them had any affiliation to Leinster when we signed them.

The players we would have signed directly from Leinster in the last couple of years were Ian Keatley, Jamie Hagan,Paul O Donoghue and Nathan White. POD had made 8 starts in his time at Leinster, spanning about 3 years in or around the first team. He was not offered a contract by Leinster, so in which case he was a free agent. Keatley and Hagan were very young and well down the pecking order at the time.

White was offered a 3 year deal by Connacht, Leinster didn't offer him 3 years. He was 2nd choice at Leinster, he was signed by Connacht as 1st choice and vice captain.

There's a big disparity between who's benefitting from who in the transfer merry go round. We've lost key players, Leinster haven't. Joe Schmidt may not be happy but spare a thought for Eric Elwood and the Connacht fans. This is one of the main reasons Elwood is leaving Connacht. He's in a no win position where any time there's a sign of progression or something building we get brought straight back down to earth

Jesus, not happy with making an idot of yourself on PR?

Just stating some facts

Unfortunately some of you are so consumed with your own agenda that you can't see the wood from the trees.

A 4th competitive Irish province for the betterment of the national team, because that's supposed to be our main agenda right? God forbid

[Dexter]

Still dominating the rugby news in a huge HEC week. We don't really need this distraction now.

[Donny B.]

Yes Gerry Kelly had a great relationship with Leinster but what did we gain from that? We lost 3 of our best players in his tenure, so in that way the relationship was great for Leinster. The ins and outs of the Jamie Hagan deal seem to be forgotten pretty quickly.

Fionn Carr was signed by Connacht from Blackrock. Dave McSharry from UCD. Kyle Tonetti from Sale Sharks. Jason Harris Wright from Bristol. Dave Moore from Harlequins. None of them had any affiliation to Leinster when we signed them.

The players we would have signed directly from Leinster in the last couple of years were Ian Keatley, Jamie Hagan,Paul O Donoghue and Nathan White. POD had made 8 starts in his time at Leinster, spanning about 3 years in or around the first team. He was not offered a contract by Leinster, so in which case he was a free agent. Keatley and Hagan were very young and well down the pecking order at the time.

White was offered a 3 year deal by Connacht, Leinster didn't offer him 3 years. He was 2nd choice at Leinster, he was signed by Connacht as 1st choice and vice captain.

There's a big disparity between who's benefitting from who in the transfer merry go round. We've lost key players, Leinster haven't. Joe Schmidt may not be happy but spare a thought for Eric Elwood and the Connacht fans. This is one of the main reasons Elwood is leaving Connacht. He's in a no win position where any time there's a sign of progression or something building we get brought straight back down to earth

PB, Carr was Leinster academy the season before he joined Connacht and made one apperance for the seniors. Sure he was playing for Blackrock as well but all academy players play for a club. As for McSharry, he wasn't in the Leinster academy but he was in the sub-academy.

As for White, you're being fairly selective with the facts there yourself. Leinster weren't allowed to re-sign White. The IRFU only allowed us to give him a one year deal and though we were happy to keep him, it was made clear it wasn't going to happen so we went and found Bent. The IRFU pretty much paved the way for you to pick up a top-class tighthead so you don't always come out badly in these deals do you?

[Dexter]

Yes Gerry Kelly had a great relationship with Leinster but what did we gain from that? We lost 3 of our best players in his tenure, so in that way the relationship was great for Leinster. The ins and outs of the Jamie Hagan deal seem to be forgotten pretty quickly.

Fionn Carr was signed by Connacht from Blackrock. Dave McSharry from UCD. Kyle Tonetti from Sale Sharks. Jason Harris Wright from Bristol. Dave Moore from Harlequins. None of them had any affiliation to Leinster when we signed them.

The players we would have signed directly from Leinster in the last couple of years were Ian Keatley, Jamie Hagan,Paul O Donoghue and Nathan White. POD had made 8 starts in his time at Leinster, spanning about 3 years in or around the first team. He was not offered a contract by Leinster, so in which case he was a free agent. Keatley and Hagan were very young and well down the pecking order at the time.

White was offered a 3 year deal by Connacht, Leinster didn't offer him 3 years. He was 2nd choice at Leinster, he was signed by Connacht as 1st choice and vice captain.

There's a big disparity between who's benefitting from who in the transfer merry go round. We've lost key players, Leinster haven't. Joe Schmidt may not be happy but spare a thought for Eric Elwood and the Connacht fans. This is one of the main reasons Elwood is leaving Connacht. He's in a no win position where any time there's a sign of progression or something building we get brought straight back down to earth

PB, Carr was Leinster academy the season before he joined Connacht and made one apperance for the seniors. Sure he was playing for Blackrock as well but all academy players play for a club. As for McSharry, he wasn't in the Leinster academy but he was in the sub-academy.

As for White, you're being fairly selective with the facts there yourself. Leinster weren't allowed to re-sign White. The IRFU only allowed us to give him a one year deal and though we were happy to keep him, it was made clear it wasn't going to happen so we went and found Bent. The IRFU pretty much paved the way for you to pick up a top-class tighthead so you don't always come out badly in these deals do you?

The IRFU also made sure Leinster would be on the lookout for a top IQ lock when they blocked any contract extension for Nathan Hines.

[simonokeeffe]

Connachts competitiveness is a matter for the IRFU not Leinster

[Golf Man]

Yes Gerry Kelly had a great relationship with Leinster but what did we gain from that? We lost 3 of our best players in his tenure, so in that way the relationship was great for Leinster. The ins and outs of the Jamie Hagan deal seem to be forgotten pretty quickly.

Fionn Carr was signed by Connacht from Blackrock. Dave McSharry from UCD. Kyle Tonetti from Sale Sharks. Jason Harris Wright from Bristol. Dave Moore from Harlequins. None of them had any affiliation to Leinster when we signed them.

The players we would have signed directly from Leinster in the last couple of years were Ian Keatley, Jamie Hagan,Paul O Donoghue and Nathan White. POD had made 8 starts in his time at Leinster, spanning about 3 years in or around the first team. He was not offered a contract by Leinster, so in which case he was a free agent. Keatley and Hagan were very young and well down the pecking order at the time.

White was offered a 3 year deal by Connacht, Leinster didn't offer him 3 years. He was 2nd choice at Leinster, he was signed by Connacht as 1st choice and vice captain.

There's a big disparity between who's benefitting from who in the transfer merry go round. We've lost key players, Leinster haven't. Joe Schmidt may not be happy but spare a thought for Eric Elwood and the Connacht fans. This is one of the main reasons Elwood is leaving Connacht. He's in a no win position where any time there's a sign of progression or something building we get brought straight back down to earth

PB, Carr was Leinster academy the season before he joined Connacht and made one apperance for the seniors. Sure he was playing for Blackrock as well but all academy players play for a club. As for McSharry, he wasn't in the Leinster academy but he was in the sub-academy.

As for White, you're being fairly selective with the facts there yourself. Leinster weren't allowed to re-sign White. The IRFU only allowed us to give him a one year deal and though we were happy to keep him, it was made clear it wasn't going to happen so we went and found Bent. The IRFU pretty much paved the way for you to pick up a top-class tighthead so you don't always come out badly in these deals do you?

whil PB is probably a bit over teh top on this you are being just as selective. Leinster lost a solid NIQ prop in White and got what seems like a solid IQ prop in Bent - I'd prefr the IQ option myself - in any case its pretty even - the point in bold is the most important from a Connacht point of view - and is being missed by a lot of posters. If for example Ulster were able to offer huge money to some of teh Leinster guys to jump ship how would you feel about Sexton, Heaslip, Healy< Fitz all moved north - thats the equivalent

[jezzer]

If for example Ulster were able to offer huge money to some of teh Leinster guys to jump ship how would you feel about Sexton, Heaslip, Healy< Fitz all moved north - thats the equivalent

Provinces are NOT ALLOWED to offer more than the province the player is under contract to. So, if they went to Ulster for huge money, they would HAVE HAD to been already offered huge money by Leinster. If they chose to go anyway, I'd be pissed off with the players, not Ulster.

[hugonaut]

whil PB is probably a bit over teh top on this you are being just as selective. Leinster lost a solid NIQ prop in White and got what seems like a solid IQ prop in Bent - I'd prefr the IQ option myself - in any case its pretty even - the point in bold is the most important from a Connacht point of view - and is being missed by a lot of posters. If for example Ulster were able to offer huge money to some of teh Leinster guys to jump ship how would you feel about Sexton, Heaslip, Healy< Fitz all moved north - thats the equivalent

It's really not the equivalent at all. Leinster offered Mike McCarthy exactly the same amount of money as Connacht offered him. How does that equate to Ulster offering 'huge money' to Leinster players and them chasing the shilling over the border? That'd be against IRFU protocol. They'd be allowed match the offer Leinster made, no more – exactly as Leinster did to Connacht's offer.

With regards to Michael Bent: he was out there in New Zealand, not quite waiting for a phone call, but there to be approached by any Irish province [who, as far as I'm aware, get a top-up on the wage directly from the IRFU if they can draft in an Irish-qualified player from abroad in certain positions, and a further top-up if he's selected to play for Ireland] if they got their scouting in order.

[Sea_point]

If for example Ulster were able to offer huge money to some of teh Leinster guys to jump ship how would you feel about Sexton, Heaslip, Healy< Fitz all moved north - thats the equivalent

Provinces are NOT ALLOWED to offer more than the province the player is under contract to. So, if they went to Ulster for huge money, they would HAVE HAD to been already offered huge money by Leinster. If they chose to go anyway, I'd be pissed off with the players, not Ulster.

There is no restrictions on bonuses though and that is where Leinster and it's backers can make a vast difference to any amount Connacht can offer up front....

[porterbelly]

The primary reason for Sears media lash out is because initially Leinster approached McCarthy formally through Connacht and Sears himself. Dawson contacted Sears asking could they approach McCarthy, and Sears outlined to him that McCarthy was their flagship player and someone they wanted to build their team around and therefore was going nowhere.

Leinster ignored this and contacted McCarthy to discuss a move. Obviously there's nothing illegal about this approach but Sears thought that by explaining McCarthy's position and importance to Connacht that Leinster wouldn't approach him.

[Jarhead]

The primary reason for Sears media lash out is because initially Leinster approached McCarthy formally through Connacht and Sears himself. Dawson contacted Sears asking could they approach McCarthy, and Sears outlined to him that McCarthy was their flagship player and someone they wanted to build their team around and therefore was going nowhere.

Leinster ignored this and contacted McCarthy to discuss a move. Obviously there's nothing illegal about this approach but Sears thought that by explaining McCarthy's position and importance to Connacht that Leinster wouldn't approach him.

How do you know? Are you Sears/Dawson (or either of their PA's)?!

Connacht would be nowhere without the other provinces, and in particular Leinster, over the last few years. They have NEVER qualified for the Heineken Cup off their own achievements. They also couldn't have beaten Harlequins if Leinster hadn't qualified them for the competition.

In addition to the extra revenue streams Leinster have opened up for them, it is a fact that they wouldn't have kept players such as McCarthy (amongst others) if they were not in the Heineken Cup. Cronin et al agreed to leave BEFORE they'd ever "qualified" for the Heineken Cup. In addition, they wouldn't be able to sign the likes of Dan Parks etc. without being able to offer Heineken Cup rugby (again thanks to Leinster).

[Oldschool]

Yes Gerry Kelly had a great relationship with Leinster but what did we gain from that? We lost 3 of our best players in his tenure, so in that way the relationship was great for Leinster. The ins and outs of the Jamie Hagan deal seem to be forgotten pretty quickly.

Fionn Carr was signed by Connacht from Blackrock. Dave McSharry from UCD. Kyle Tonetti from Sale Sharks. Jason Harris Wright from Bristol. Dave Moore from Harlequins. None of them had any affiliation to Leinster when we signed them.

The players we would have signed directly from Leinster in the last couple of years were Ian Keatley, Jamie Hagan,Paul O Donoghue and Nathan White. POD had made 8 starts in his time at Leinster, spanning about 3 years in or around the first team. He was not offered a contract by Leinster, so in which case he was a free agent. Keatley and Hagan were very young and well down the pecking order at the time.

White was offered a 3 year deal by Connacht, Leinster didn't offer him 3 years. He was 2nd choice at Leinster, he was signed by Connacht as 1st choice and vice captain.

There's a big disparity between who's benefitting from who in the transfer merry go round. We've lost key players, Leinster haven't. Joe Schmidt may not be happy but spare a thought for Eric Elwood and the Connacht fans. This is one of the main reasons Elwood is leaving Connacht. He's in a no win position where any time there's a sign of progression or something building we get brought straight back down to earth

Jesus, not happy with making an idot of yourself on PR?

Just stating some facts

Unfortunately some of you are so consumed with your own agenda that you can't see the wood from the trees.

A 4th competitive Irish province for the betterment of the national team, because that's supposed to be our main agenda right? God forbid

Not to mention the jobs it creates, which I'm surprised we haven't had some politician on claiming the credit for.
I'm obviouly not a Connacht fan, but that Biarritz game must have been worth quite a bit of money to the local economy.
I think your comment about the Irish agenda tho' is a bit off. Ireland should be doing a lot better than it is and despite attempts to suggest otherwise by people (not yourself I hasten to add) who have their own self serving agendas, it is not because the provinces are so successful.
While the rest of the world wonders why, with such a successful provincial game, the Irish team isn't doing better, we know from experience how narrow minded and parochial Irish rugby can be when it comes to the national team. It's a national failing tho, you've only to look at what Bertie has done to this country to see what lack of imagaination, narrow mindedness and self interest can do to a thriving economy.

[Jarhead]

In addition, I don't actually rate McCarthy. Granted he's played well in the last few months, but I'd be confident that won't last and he return to the usual cheap shot, holding players off the ball, not-doing-much gameplan that we've come to know over the last few years.

The fact that he's been given a 3yr deal baffles me. How lessons from the O'Donoghue and Sykes debacles haven't been learned beggars belief.

[Donny B.]

The primary reason for Sears media lash out is because initially Leinster approached McCarthy formally through Connacht and Sears himself. Dawson contacted Sears asking could they approach McCarthy, and Sears outlined to him that McCarthy was their flagship player and someone they wanted to build their team around and therefore was going nowhere.

And does McCarthy get a say in that?