NIQ roll call

CIARAN_BOYLE

Just thought I would do a bit of a head count of all the non Irish players playing here at the moment

Leinster
Strauss Hooker Project, qualifies November 2012
VDM LH Prop Contract expires June 2012
Wright Tight Head Prop Contract expires June 2011
Newlands Tight Head Prop Temprorary Injury cover for Wright
Hines Lock Contract expires June 2011
Berne OH/IC Contract expires June 2011
Nacewa Utility Back Contract expires June 2013

Newlands will be leaving once Stan Wright returns to fitness if not before (should his contract expire, I think it may). I expect Leinster to renew Stan Wright's contract assuming that he returns without a degradation of his skills. That said if rumours are true and Jamie Hagan is going to return to Leinster then I doubt that Leinster will carry 5 top props so Stan may move on. Nathan Hines is one of Leinster's top locks. His partnership with Leo Cullen is effective. That said he is 34 and Leinster may choose to replace him should a replacement become available. Given his age I'm sure the Leinster management would be more likely to offer Nathan a contract if he was to retire from international rugby after the world cup. Shaun Berne is to my opinion surplus to requirements at Leinster. Ian Madigan has come on leaps and bounds this season and can be considered an able and improvoing back up out-half. Berne can simply be dropped without weakening the squad.

To sum up if Hagan comes home I expect Stan to move on, should Hines leave he will most likely be replaced by another lock and I expect Berne to leave. Where do Leinster need to strengthen their team should they have a NIQ signing.

Ulster
Botha TH Prop Contract expires June 2011
Muller Lock Contract expires June 2012
Wannenburg Backrow forward Contract expires June 2012
Diack Backrow forward Project, qualifies August 2011
Pienaar Scrumhalf Contract expires June 2012
Danielli Wing Contract expires June 2012

Please note that Adam D'arcy is Irish qualified despite being born in Australia.

Media reports suggests BJ Botha is leaving in the summer. Will Ulster sign a new TH Prop or will they target another position to strengthen with the NIQ spot that is freed up. Who will Ulster sign as a new project player when Diack becomes IQ.

Munster
Du Preeze LH Prop Contract expires June 2012
Borlase TH Prop Project, qualifies November 2013
Warwick OH/FB Contract expires June 2011
Mafi Center Contract expires June 2011 (MAYBE I CAN'T FIND A GOOD SOURCE)
Tuitupou Center Contract expires June 2011
Howlett Wing Contract expires June 2011 (Option for another season)
With Paul Warwick's departure, I would hope that Mafi and Tuitupou follow his example and leave. Borlase has been poor so far but I believe that there is a lot more to come and I won't judge him (And call for a TH) untill he has had a pre-season with Munster. I'd expect a marquee signing to replace Tuitupou and Mafi at 12. What else do you think that Munster really need to fill the other NIQ spot.

Connacht
Ah You TH and LH prop Contract expires June 2012
Bernie Upton lock Contract expires June 2011
Taylor Number 8 Contract expires June 2011
Miah Nikora OH, IC Project, qualifies July 2012
Niva Ta'auso Center Contract expires June 2012

Please note that Ray Ofisa, Michael Swift, Troy Nathan, and Liam Bibo of Connacht are all qualified to play for Ireland.

I'm not going to suggest positions to focus on for Connacht since there may be a number of Irish players who are a surplus to requirements in other provinces moving to Connacht. George Naoupu return will take up a NIQ but I would expect to see Ezra Taylor depart.

porterbelly

Niva Ta'auso is not signed up for 2012 afaik and will probably be let go, depending on whether we're bringing in an NIQ centre. Ezra Taylor and Bernie Upton will probably be let go.

profitius

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Connacht
Ah You TH and LH prop Contract expires June 2012
Bernie Upton lock Contract expires June 2011
Taylor Number 8 Contract expires June 2011
Miah Nikora OH, IC Project, qualifies July 2012
Niva Ta'auso Center Contract expires June 2012

Please note that Ray Ofisa, Michael Swift, Troy Nathan, and Liam Bibo of Connacht are all qualified to play for Ireland.

I didn't realise they'd so many foreigners playing for them. There has to be better players in the AIL than some of those.

thomond2006

Munster
Du Preez LH Prop Contract expires June 2012
Borlase TH Prop Project, qualifies November 2013
BJ Botha TH Prop Contract expires 2014
Mafi Center Contract expires June 2012
Howlett Wing Contract expires June 2012

I think this will be our NIQ list for next year, I'm fairly sure Mafi signed a two year contract during the 09/10 season. Tuitupou is as good as gone, he can't make the starting lineup anymore.

There's obviously space for another NIQ, I'd fancy we'll sign a top centre.

[Jackass]

Leinsters NIQ for next season at the moment will be down to three, with Van Der Merwe, Nacewa, and project player Strauss who will qualify for Ireland by the end of his contract, which could bring it down to two. Although I'm sure there's at least one big NIQ signing in the pipelines, but good to clear out some of the spots from the squad, especially non-essential players.

athtrasna

Am I missing something but why did Leinster sign a NIQ Fly Half?

http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/rugby/eysnidsnidgb/

Leinster rugby have announced today the signings of Natal Sharks secondrow Steven Sykes, Connacht tighthead prop Jamie Hagan and Canterbury Crusaders outhalf Matt Berquist.

Sykes has agreed to a three-year-deal and he will link up with the province this summer while former Leinster academy member Hagan has also signed a three-year deal.

Kiwi playmaker Berquist has agreed a one-year deal with a further option to extend.

Interestingly, both Sykes and Berquist came up against each other during last Sunday’s Super 15 clash in Twickenham which the Crusaders won 44-28.

Sykes, 26, has established himself as one of South Africa’s premier lock forwards in recent years, but he has never been capped by the Springboks meaning it is possible that he could qualify to play for Ireland on residency grounds at the end of his three-year contract.

Sykes started his career with the Sharks in 2003, playing for the U20 side. Standing 1.98m tall and weighing in the region of 115kgs, the giant forward quickly made a name for himself in Durban and earned his Currie Cup and Super Rugby debuts in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Former Leinster and Ireland Youths prop Hagan, 23, has played 23 times for Connacht in all competitions so far this season and 46 (including 13 in the Amlin Challenge Cup) games in total since his move from Leinster in 2009. A former Leinster Academy graduate who was educated in Gormanston College, he weighs in at 125kg and stands tall at 1.90m.

“I am delighted to be heading back home to Leinster and I am looking forward to the new challenges that I will face. Everyone in Connacht (particularly Eric Elwood and Dan McFarland) has been very good to me over the last few years and I'm looking forward to pushing on from my experience in Galway to make an impact when I return to Leinster in the summer,” said the Balbriggan native today.

Waipukurau-born Berquist, 27, joined the Canterbury Crusaders in 2010 having also played for Hawke’s Bay, Otago and Auckland. An accurate goal-kicker, he made his provincial debut in 2003 and has since gone on to play 67 times at provincial level, with a further 21 caps to date at Super 14/15 level.

Commenting on the moves, Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt added: “We are pleased to secure Steven’s signature, and this is a further welcome boost coming off the back of retaining some of our senior and up-and-coming players in recent weeks.

“Steven has gained a wealth of experience at Super 15 level in recent years and, at 26, we believe that his best years are still to come. He is an ambitious and talented player who is excited about joining the province.

“Jamie’s desire to return to the province of his birth after an impressive spell with Connacht over the last few years is another important acquisition for the panel. Our coaching team have been impressed by the level of his performances again this year and we believe that he has the potential to improve even further.

“Matt has been understudy to Dan Carter at the Crusaders this year, which limits any player’s game time a little, but he has proven quality and experience in the NPC and Super 15 and he will provide further competition for our established and up-and-coming out-halves.

“We are pleased to have secured all three players and I am sure that they will prove to be strong additions to the side over the coming seasons.”

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/rugby/eysnidsnidgb/#ixzz1HvwFBBkN

CIARAN_BOYLE

athtrasna wrote: »

Am I missing something but why did Leinster sign a NIQ Fly Half?

http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/rugby/eysnidsnidgb/

To replace Berne and because Joe Schmidt doesn't think Madigan and McKinley are ready and Nacewa is more important at FB or Wing

athtrasna

Interesting...I thought Leinster was awash with Back 5 players...when they aren't injured of course...which is why in my head Nacewa was a 10...doh!

Those 2 months of National team made me forget my provincial knowledge beyond my own team

little173

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

To replace Berne and because Joe Schmidt doesn't think Madigan and McKinley are ready and Nacewa is more important at FB or Wing

A real blow to those young guys, not great for Ireland to have a Leinster NIQ at Fly Half really though only signed 1 year deal so guess they will have to bide their time, and force some game time.

porterbelly

profitius wrote: »

I didn't realise they'd so many foreigners playing for them. There has to be better players in the AIL than some of those.

Ofisa is quality, Swifty is iron, try and get someone at 33 who'll play every game of every season and put body and soul on the line for the cause. He's in his 11th year at the province. Bibo doean't get games.

A big problem for Connacht is that AIL players don't want to leave a solid job for a 1/2 year contract at Connacht. Leo Auv'a form Old Belvedere has been tearing up trees and was sounded out about a possible move west afaik. He declined on the basis that he's 28 and has a good job and it would represent a big risk to leave that job for a contract at Connacht.

We recruited 3 lads from the AIL this season, Rob Sweeney and Darragh Fanning from St Marys and Shane Monahan from Blackrock.

Podge_irl

little173 wrote: »

A real blow to those young guys

Sexton will be missing an enormous amount of next season. They'll get plenty of gametime, but seeing as how poorly Leinster played at the start of this season I doubt Schmidt wants a repeat. Not sure Madigan would ever be good enough for 10 anyway, so we'd be relying on just McKinley. Besides, if Sexton got injured Leinster would be in serious trouble having two such inexperienced fly halves. It's only a one year deal.