I agree that we need another center I said it on another tread but I like most think that if we got 4 OH's then why not 4 SH's? Also if EE got rid of Jarvis I think there'd be serious hard feelings by alot of people. I for one would like to see an announcement for Tonetti and Jarvis sooner rather than later.

He has another year.

Is Frank Murphys contract up at the end of the season too??
Would create a space for Stringer.

salmson wrote:

ummm, wrote: Am I right in thinking all of our SH's are signed for next year? If that's the case then it might not be financially viable to drop one of them. It could be a case that while signing Stringer would be nice to have, it just might not be realistic.

You're right, all signed for another year. As are the outhalves, but that doesn't seem to be stopping us going for Mr. Parks, if the whispers are to be believed.

It's a long shot, but maybe we're going to be allowed a bigger squad next year? With the plan to get the 'A' team more matches we'll need Jarvis & Nikora pulling strings there.

You're right, all signed for another year. As are the outhalves, but that doesn't seem to be stopping us going for Mr. Parks, if the whispers are to be believed.

jarvis is only on a development contract which ends at the end of the season which leaves us with two.

hint why there is space for parks

ummm, wrote: Am I right in thinking all of our SH's are signed for next year? If that's the case then it might not be financially viable to drop one of them. It could be a case that while signing Stringer would be nice to have, it just might not be realistic.

You're right, all signed for another year. As are the outhalves, but that doesn't seem to be stopping us going for Mr. Parks, if the whispers are to be believed.

ummm, wrote: I'm more worried about centres.

Good point. McSharry and Griffin might be the first choice pairing but they have only 11 starts each this year (from 22 games) so we're definitely a bit short there.

A lot of the Stringer discussion has made the assumption that we would actually go after him. This is assuming we (a) have the cash and (b) don't have more pressing holes to fill.

Am I right in thinking all of our SH's are signed for next year? If that's the case then it might not be financially viable to drop one of them. It could be a case that while signing Stringer would be nice to have, it just might not be realistic.

I'm more worried about centres. Henry is on a single year deal. If he leaves we have McSharry and Griffen the locked in starters, Tonetti very capable of covering either position, but after that... not much. Both McSharry and Giffen have missed a number of matches with injuries, we need another proper centre, not a 'oh he can play XYZ and also centre'-centre.

I just saw over on the Munster tread that his contract is up at the end of the season. With McGahan going and no-one in the replace him yet we would have the jump on anyone if we wanted to sign him.

sea_point wrote:
I wouldn't be too sure that Stringer won't get anything extra from the Falcons even if they go down.

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he will come back to Ireland or indeed to us.

It'll all come down to the deals that are put on the table, and I'm sure he'll have options aplenty...

If he stays with Newcastle - or any foreign club, and that includes Ulster for tax pusposes - he loses his tax rebate when he retires. They'd want to be giving him an entire Championship team budget to make it worth his while.

So basically, unless some Franch team offers his a Jonny Wilkinson type wage, he re-signs for Munster, signs for us, or retires.

First option seems most likely if O'Leary heads off to France.

Borders no.2 wrote: Hopefully he will be at Connacht next season. Newcastle will at least give him a taste of playing in a poor side battling at the wrong end of the table and suggests that he wants to play rugby and not just see out his career living off past glories at Munster.

O'Leary to Perpignan looked a done deal but recent reports would tend to suggest he's mulling over his options perhaps waiting to see McGahans replacement but that may take some time to figure out I'd imagine. Hopefully he'll make up his mind one way or the other soon or Perpignan make up his mind for him. Duncan Williams is obviously Munster's 3rd choice with a 2 year deal so Stringer may be a possibility as I'm sure Munster will be looking to trim what looks a fairly hefty wage bill.

I wouldn't be too sure that Stringer won't get anything extra from the Falcons even if they go down. They'll be desperate to bounce straight back up and may view him as the ideal partner for Gopperth who's staying on regardless. I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he will come back to Ireland or indeed to us. It'll all come down to the deals that are put on the table, and I'm sure he'll have options aplenty...

Hopefully he will be at Connacht next season. Newcastle will at least give him a taste of playing in a poor side battling at the wrong end of the table and suggests that he wants to play rugby and not just see out his career living off past glories at Munster.

O'Leary to Perpignan looked a done deal but recent reports would tend to suggest he's mulling over his options perhaps waiting to see McGahans replacement but that may take some time to figure out I'd imagine. Hopefully he'll make up his mind one way or the other soon or Perpignan make up his mind for him. Duncan Williams is obviously Munster's 3rd choice with a 2 year deal so Stringer may be a possibility as I'm sure Munster will be looking to trim what looks a fairly hefty wage bill.

I'd like to have Stringer but on a 1 year rolling contract. 2 years is to much of a gamble on a 34 year old even if he's seldom injured and you MUST finish your career in Ireland to avail of the tax rebate.

I think that the most valid point is that Peter is not ready to retire. If he was he would have sat it out in cork till the end of the season and not bothered wit the wanderly wagon routine around the AP. I think the fact that he has chosen this route shows that he still has the hunger and more importantly feels he has something to prove.

As to whether he will be wanted at munster next season i think that that will depend on whos in charge there but i would be trying my damnest if i was eric to get him on board for next season.

I would bring him in on a 2 year deal.
He is light years ahead of Murphy, and I would back him up for next year with Dave Moore and O'Donohue.
And I don't particularly care if that would mean breaking Murphy's contract. We have to move on and he has been very poor indeed for some time now.

_nobody_ wrote: I am pretty sure you have to finish you career in Ireland to benefit from this. It does not have to be one of the professional teams however, if being paid by an AIL club you are seen as a professional rugby player and can finish your career that way

Exactly right, which is why he won't be going abroad and his current English deals are very loudly trumpeted as "loans" - should he retire in May it'll be as the employee of an Irish province.

His choices are as follows:

1 New contract with Munster (if they'll give it).
2 Move to another province (realistically, us).
3 Retire. He has his 10 years done.

Continuing to play (semi) professionally for an AIL club, assuming there's someone willing to pay him, is redundant as he has his 10 years done.

sea_point wrote: Would have though that he's already done enough years give his length of service with Munster, it's ten year based isn't it?

I am pretty sure you have to finish you career in Ireland to benefit from this. It does not have to be one of the professional teams however, if being paid by an AIL club you are seen as a professional rugby player and can finish your career that way