I know he's linked with Pau but would love to get Coughlan for a year. We need a number eight and someone with his experience and skill would be a big plus for us.

Imagine he's looking for more money as much as more playing time considering, as they say, he was a late bloomer. Connacht probably can offer as much playing time but probably cannot match even D2 French money and since this move signals he's given up the dream of representing Ireland there's no reason not to go abroad. It would take a brutal market indeed for him to end up at Connacht, though I'm sure he had an offer or two before deciding to leave early.

James Coughlan requested and has been successfully released from his Munster contract.
uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/james-coughl...tract-162419843.html

Munster are obviously jam packed in the backrow and he is the one to lose out; I admire his decision to move on rather than warming the pine or playing with the A team but he will find it hard to command a proper price at his age. Its a pity because he always gave his all but you had the feeling that Copeland hadn't been signed for the bench and was likely to be promoted.

A one-two year deal with Connacht could be a good move for everyone and allow some of the younger players more time to develop, but from the last few lines of the article above you get the impression he wouldn't want to play against Munster.

who is the redevelopment debt due to ? Irfu or a bank ?

Cash surplus while in itself is a good thing, it still means diddly squat is you are losing money. A loss is a loss, you cant dress it up as anything else by talking about cash flow.

www.irishexaminer.com/business/fewer-mun...ark-firm-269430.html
Losses narrowing at the Debt Star but no mention of the continual non-payment of the redevelopment debt.

I agree. A friend of main who played for Galwegians had nothing but good things to say about Flannery when he did a few training sessions with them a good few years ago when he was with Connacht. I imagine he's only gotten better since. (My friend played second row).
As for Walsh he's being in the Irish International set-up in one aspect or another for years so will love to see how he does. I think it's also good for AIL Rugby as it shows the coaches there. There's a chance of some up-ward momentum.

Like all pro sports fans there tends to be an attraction to the bright light that is the southern hemisphere big name. Ironically most are unhappy with brian walsh because of his AIL experience and not FLA who has no experience. It shows the criteria being used to judge this.

Glad your excited just had a gander at the Munster rugby forum and there seems to be a lot of people very unhappy with it. The term jobs for the boys has being thrown around a bit and completely amateur coaching. Personally I have no problem with any of the appointments and wish them well but a bad run of results and the begrudgers will stick there already sharpened knives in them.

Munster announce their backroom staff.
Axel head and forwards coach.
Micko asst forwards coach and technical advisor.
Flanno scrum coach.
ian costello defence and kicking coach.
Brian walsh attack and backs coach.
All on 2 year contracts.

Very excited by this. I think this will retain what was good about last 5 yrs while putting the munster back into munster.

Munster Academy named for next year:

Munster Rugby can today confirm that 7 new players will join the Greencore Munster Rugby academy for season 2014/15.

Out of the current academy crop of 20 players 2 will advance to senior development contracts next season, academy player of the year Shane Buckley and Johnny Holland, while Darren O'Shea will pursue a playing opportunity abroad.

The 7 new recruits include 5 Ireland U20s players, Max Abbott, Ryan Foley, Dan Goggin, Darragh Moloney and Brian Scott, who are all promoted from the sub academy, while Ard Scoil Ris fullback Stephen Fitzgerald and UCD's Jamie Glynn have also been added.

Fitzgerald recently lined out for the Ireland U19s against France and Glynn started for the Munster Development XV against Enisei-STM.

Brian Haugh, Niall Kenneally, Harry McNulty and Darren Moroney have been released from the programme.

2014/15 Greencore Munster Rugby Academy (position/club)

Year 3: Ryan Murphy (Back row/Dolphin), Jack O'Donoghue (Back row/UL Bohs), Darren Sweetnam (Fullback/Dolphin).

Year 2: Rory Burke (Prop/Cork Con), Jack Cullen (Scrumhalf/Bruff), Niall Horan (Prop/Shannon), David Johnston (Fullback/UL Bohs), Gearoid Lyons (Outhalf/Shannon), Greg O'Shea (Winger/Shannon), Sean McCarthy (Lock/Shannon), John Madigan (Lock/Dolphin), Rory Scannell (Centre/Dolphin), Alex Wootton (Winger/Garryowen).

Year 1: Max Abott (Hooker/Cork Con), Stephen Fitzgerald (Fullback/Ard Scoil Rís), Ryan Foley (Scrumhalf/Cork Con), Jamie Glynn (Scrumhalf/UCD), Dan Goggin (Centre/Young Munster), Darragh Moloney (Lock/Cork Con), Brian Scott (Prop/Dolphin).

Glasgow won this game with a superior bench not something you'd expect to be saying when Munster are playing a Pro12 game against anybody but Leinster. Like Phatguerilla i have been telling anybody that would listen that Glasgow are a serious contender, and they have timed their run perfectly. I don't want Ulster to beat Leinster but would love to see a Glasgow/Ulster final go figure.

fair play to glasgow, I've been backing them for the league since the start of the season would like to see them do it.
Nakawara was great, Glasgow's bench really added to the team imo. Munster/penney still don't trust a few players on their bench (with good reason).
Can't agree about the ref tbh felt he got a few things wrong but most importantly the breakdown was ridiculous, only thing he seemed to ping was coming in from the side, but rarely if ever for lying over the ball, slowing the ball down, etc etc. Made things fairly messy but it was even if that's anything.

Glasgow were fantastic. Munster gave it all but like the Toulon game they lacked the firepower.

Nakarawa is some man. Very good game with a huge crowd and a tense finish. Great advertisement for the league. Pleased for Glasgow, nothing against any of the other provinces but it'd be good for the league to see Glasgow come through and win it. The league needs more than the 3 provinces and Ospreys competing for the top 4 each year if its to gain public interest.

Pretty much word for word what I wanted to say and like Swift4prez also said great refereeing from Mitrea. Hopefully this raises the profile of rugby in Glasgow and Scotland overall.

Nakarawa is some man. Very good game with a huge crowd and a tense finish. Great advertisement for the league. Pleased for Glasgow, nothing against any of the other provinces but it'd be good for the league to see Glasgow come through and win it. The league needs more than the 3 provinces and Ospreys competing for the top 4 each year if its to gain public interest.

Great game between glasgow and munster. half time glasgow 9 munster 7
basically its glasgow attack for 40 mins and munster defending.
munster went to the TMO twice, once a try, other wasnt.
no surprise its a good game with Marius Mitrea in the middle. great free flowing rugby, no messing at scrum. you get 1 chance