Jordan Duggan is in the academy, he played with the eagles over the year but tore his ACL in the last match in Boston. Fingers crossed he's back next year, he's very promising

connachta wrote:

Mark Mostyn wrote: Conan O'Donnell is likely leaving. Pretty sure Jordan Duggan is in the academy but it's never been formally announced. We will probably sign a senior tighthead and also bring Ryan Lomas and maybe Liam Winnett into the academy. Hopefully Delahunt stays. Murphy's future probably depends on whether the coaches feel Tierney-Martin is ready for first team minutes.

Cannon and Claffey rumoured to be off. Will probably bring in at least one replacement, 5 senior locks is not enough.

Connolly is also on the way out, just waiting for an official announcement. Not much to suggest any of the academy lads are ready so perhaps we'll replace him externally. Hope McKeon stays.

One of McKeon/Mitchell/Kerins will probably be kept.

Bit thin at out half but dunno if we'll sign anyone else. Dylan Prendergast might be brought into the academy.

Pretty stacked at centre now, maybe we'll keep one of Robb/Ronaldson/Griffin.

Still light in the back 3. Maybe a new signing, de Buitlear promoted, and Hugh Lane into the academy.

Robb clearly within the 3
Prendergast same family as the coach hanging around in France (Stade Français for now)?

Mark Mostyn wrote: Conan O'Donnell is likely leaving. Pretty sure Jordan Duggan is in the academy but it's never been formally announced. We will probably sign a senior tighthead and also bring Ryan Lomas and maybe Liam Winnett into the academy. Hopefully Delahunt stays. Murphy's future probably depends on whether the coaches feel Tierney-Martin is ready for first team minutes.

Cannon and Claffey rumoured to be off. Will probably bring in at least one replacement, 5 senior locks is not enough.

Connolly is also on the way out, just waiting for an official announcement. Not much to suggest any of the academy lads are ready so perhaps we'll replace him externally. Hope McKeon stays.

One of McKeon/Mitchell/Kerins will probably be kept.

Bit thin at out half but dunno if we'll sign anyone else. Dylan Prendergast might be brought into the academy.

Pretty stacked at centre now, maybe we'll keep one of Robb/Ronaldson/Griffin.

Still light in the back 3. Maybe a new signing, de Buitlear promoted, and Hugh Lane into the academy.

Robb clearly within the 3
Prendergast same family as the coach hanging around in France (Stade Français for now)

Conan O'Donnell is likely leaving. Pretty sure Jordan Duggan is in the academy but it's never been formally announced. We will probably sign a senior tighthead and also bring Ryan Lomas and maybe Liam Winnett into the academy. Hopefully Delahunt stays. Murphy's future probably depends on whether the coaches feel Tierney-Martin is ready for first team minutes.

Cannon and Claffey rumoured to be off. Will probably bring in at least one replacement, 5 senior locks is not enough.

Connolly is also on the way out, just waiting for an official announcement. Not much to suggest any of the academy lads are ready so perhaps we'll replace him externally. Hope McKeon stays.

One of McKeon/Mitchell/Kerins will probably be kept.

Bit thin at out half but dunno if we'll sign anyone else. Dylan Prendergast might be brought into the academy.

Pretty stacked at centre now, maybe we'll keep one of Robb/Ronaldson/Griffin.

Still light in the back 3. Maybe a new signing, de Buitlear promoted, and Hugh Lane into the academy.

Fitzgerald Snr, Tom Daly & Angus Lloyd signed up ahead of 19/20 season per Connacht Rugby Instagram account

Loosehead

Denis Buckley - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Matthew Burke - Signed contract in 2019
Paddy McAllister - Signed contract in 2019
Peter McCabe - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
Conan O'Donnell - Signed 1 year contract in 2018

Tighthead

Finlay Bealham - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Conor Carey - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
Conor Kenny - Signed contract in 2019
Dominic Robertson-McCoy - Signed contract in 2018

Hooker

Shane Delahunt - Signed contract in 2019
Dave Heffernan - Signed contract in 2019
Tom McCartney - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
Jonny Murphy - Signed contract in 2018

Dylan Tierney - Academy year 1

Lock

James Cannon - Signed 2 year contract in 2017
Peter Claffey - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
Ultan Dillane - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Cillian Gallagher - Signed contract in 2018
Joe Maksymiw - Signed contract in 2018
Quinn Roux - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Gavin Thornbury - Signed 2 year contract in 2019

Niall Murray - Academy year 1

Back row

Paul Boyle - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Jarrad Butler - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
James Connolly - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
Robin Copeland - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Colby Fainga'a - Signed contract in 2018
Eoghan Masterson - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Eoin McKeon - Signed contract in 2017
Sean O'Brien - Signed 2 year contract in 2018

Joshua Dunne - Academy year 1
Cian Huxford - Academy year 1
Sean Masterson - Academy year 2
Mikey Wilson - Academy year 1

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade - Signed contract in 2018
Angus Lloyd - Signed contract in 2019
Kieran Marmion - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Conor McKeon - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
James Mitchell - Signed 2 year contract in 2017

Stephen Kerins - Academy year 3
Colm Reilly - Academy year 1

Outhalf

Jack Carty - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Conor Fitzgerald - Signed contract in 2019
Dave Horwitz - Signed contract in 2018

Luke Carty - Academy year 2
Conor Dean - Academy year 1

Centre

Bundee Aki - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
Tom Daly - Signed contract in 2019
Tom Farrell - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Kyle Godwin - Signed contract in 2018
Eoin Griffin - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
Peter Robb - Signed contract in 2019
Craig Ronaldson - Signed contract in 2018

Kieran Joyce - Academy year 2
Sean O'Brien - Academy year 1

Back 3

Niyi Adeolokun - Signed contract in 2019
Stephen Fitzgerald - Signed contract in 2019
Matt Healy - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Cian Kelleher - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
Darragh Leader - Signed contract in 2018
Tiernan O'Halloran - Signed 2 year contract in 2018

Mark Balaski - Academy year 1
Colm de Buitléar - Academy year 2
Conor Hayes - Academy year 1
Oran McNulty - Academy year 1

he'd be competing to be 1st choice with Bealham

salmson wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote:
Why would we use a marquee NIQ spot on a replacement? Seems a bit of a waste to me

I suppose the answer to that is also a question: do you know of an available IQ TH who's as good or better than Carey?

That's not the point. Why sign a marquee player to be on the bench.
If we have to sign a NIQ player, that's fair enough, but dont waste budget on a marquee player who isn't first choice

He's signed up with the crusaders until 2020.

If possible at all I’d have a go at getting oli jager from the crusaders

Maybe Ben Betts

ConnachtCows wrote:
Why would we use a marquee NIQ spot on a replacement? Seems a bit of a waste to me

I suppose the answer to that is also a question: do you know of an available IQ TH who's as good or better than Carey?

connachta wrote: Worrying for Conan O'Donnell

1) Buckey, McAlister, McCabe, Burke
3) Bealham, NIQ, McCoy, Kenny....
we won't have 9 props and we can't go in Champions Cup without a marquee NIQ

Why would we use a marquee NIQ spot on a replacement? Seems a bit of a waste to me

Have Daly and Fitzgerald Snr been confirmed?

His Dad rather gave the game away on Twitter (last away day, farewell tour etc.)

salmson wrote: On that subject, I'm expecting the list of those released to come out this week. In previous years they've been given a send off the last home game. We were *supposed* to carry a squad of 43 this year. So far we have just 5 out or confirmed out (Reece, Scholes, Kellerher, Carey, Connolly) and minimum 9 in (Boyle, Burke, Kenny, les deux Fitzgeralds, Daly, McAllister, direct Carey & Kelleher replacements according to Friend). That's just the definites, strong rumours of others. So there'll be quite a few more leaving, sadly.

Where does it confirm Connolly leaving ?