Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

freyners

Foxychick wrote: »

Just after getting city link bus from Dublin to Galway. Safety talk for journey done by a few of the lads on the team. Cringe

Sponsors get what the want i guess

Robbo wrote:

The Galway Agricultural & Sports Society Ltd are owners. They're a registered friendly society so their records aren't as easily available as those of a company. However, I may request them in person for the craic.

Bord na gCon are tenants in the same way that Connacht Rugby are and from what I'm led to believe the dogs might enjoy a "superior" tenancy. As the Sportsground is unregistered land, a trip to the Registry of Deeds might be throw some light on this.

My point is that their parlous finances might lead to them being open to having their tenancy (or principles) open to offer. Who knows though, the greyhound industry is subsidised to a ridiculous amount and those involved seem to be quite unbothered by scandal after scandal. They do like a bit of cash though.

Thats the group, thought it was a co-op for some reason. The superior tenacy thing I've heard before too.

Couple of problems I could see with any takeover (not that it seems likely or possible at the moment).

Running of the facilities on the main terrace side might be costly. The costs that side arent Connachts (or the revenue generate on match days) I'm led to believe, which is why the few times I'm that side I try to loop over to the clan for pint(s).
Ripping up the dog track would be costly and would make the pitch seem ridiculously far away on the main terrace side, worse than the time Ireland was in croke park. the dog track at least offers a clear idea of the sideline to specatators and players (altho this could end up being an advantage to our players when used to it should it happen)
Feck knows how much rent would be too if we were the sole tenant. We are only a year form a massive overrun so I imagine things are tight.


Of course, if we could get it we could probably increase capacity that side and get rid of the temp stand

connemara man

Let's start a crowd funding campaign to buy it all out and make the perfect little stadium

ki

Sportground would make an ideal location for a 10-15 all-seater with a roof.

Padkir

Would be a shame to seat it all though; better atmosphere generally in a terrace. Could leave one side terraced though; or at least the front of it terraced and seats at the back?

ki

Padkir wrote: »

Would be a shame to seat it all though; better atmosphere generally in a terrace. Could leave one side terraced though; or at least the front of it terraced and seats at the back?

I agree with a better atmosphere in the terrace but if there was a way to have easy swap in and out seats for concerts etc. it would be a greet revenue stream for whoever owns its - concerts etc.

freyners

Kingholm impressed me with the set up there. Mix terraced and seating and good facilities. Not a bad model to follow if possible

total former

I think the major problem is that Connacht / IRFU just wouldn't have the money to buy and completely redevelop the Sportsground.

franglan

Kingsholm would be the model to follow. We already have the shed with the clan terrace. Just need to get some local cider brewers in place!

freyners

total former wrote:

I think the major problem is that Connacht / IRFU just wouldn't have the money to buy and completely redevelop the Sportsground.

Yup. But it's good to have a long term plan in place should an opportunity ever come up.

Good for the supporters to dream too

ouncer

Anyone know of a stream for the emerging Ireland games

b.gud

ouncer wrote: »

Anyone know of a stream for the emerging Ireland games

Last year they were streamed on the IRB, now world rugby, site so I'd assume it'll be the same this year but if I get confirmation I'll post back here

its_phil

total former wrote: »

I think the major problem is that Connacht / IRFU just wouldn't have the money to buy and completely redevelop the Sportsground.

They've both tried. It's the dogs that are a nightmare to deal with. The commitment is there financially

ouncer

Hoping to see Buckley, Masterson, toh and Healy involved. If Healy rips it up (as I expect he will) he could pose a headache for Joe. Realistically I can't see him making the world cup squad. Gilroy has had a fantastic season, tommy bowe is a definite, Keith earls is playing out of his skin, and then there is the likes of zebo and (Dave) Kearney. Winger is a hotly contested spot and even if matt plays well I suspect Joe will stick with experience. The usual catch 22 situation.

The Lost Sheep

ouncer wrote: »

Anyone know of a stream for the emerging Ireland games

Try in the Irish thread tomorrow....

ouncer wrote: »

Hoping to see Buckley, Masterson, toh and Healy involved. If Healy rips it up (as I expect he will) he could pose a headache for Joe. Realistically I can't see him making the world cup squad. Gilroy has had a fantastic season, tommy bowe is a definite, Keith earls is playing out of his skin, and then there is the likes of zebo and (Dave) Kearney. Winger is a hotly contested spot and even if matt plays well I suspect Joe will stick with experience. The usual catch 22 situation.

Post better suited to Irish thread no? Dont see Healy being near world cup squad

b.gud

ouncer wrote: »

Anyone know of a stream for the emerging Ireland games

Georgian rubgy union are providing the streams, keep an eye on social media for details

freyners

TOH, Healey, Buckley and Marshall (and griffin) all starting. Belham heff cooney browne masterson on bench

Hopefully his doesnt lead for Buckley/Bealhams IRFU photos to be updated

Bazzo

Already linked it in the Ireland thread but for anyone who missed it, and seeing as the team is about a third Connacht , the link to the live stream of the match is:

http://rugbyge.tulix.tv/

ouncer

As matches go this one was highly forgetful. Penalty after penalty, messed up scrum after messed up scrum. Bright sides was that heffs lineouts were flawless and good to see grif and toh get tries. And to lump trajedy on tragedy I spent a further two hours of my life watching an Irish soccer game. Four hours never to be returned :-). On the plus side if your a rugby supporter at least there is the potential to witness a decent game

ouncer

You would expect it to be unlikely for any further rugby in Tbilisi this week after last nights natural disaster. Hope the team are all ok. Must have been a shock after the heatwave they played in yesterday. Thoughts to all the people who lost their lives and livelihoods in the floods

freyners

Team for uruguay match. Healy, Cooney, Heff, Browne, Masterson at 8 starting

Buckley and Marshall on the bench

Robbo

freyners wrote: »

Team for uruguay match. Healy, Cooney, Heff, Browne, Masterson at 8 starting

Buckley and Marshall on the bench

Healy out and Conway in to replace.

Also, today's the day for the Challenge Cup draw. We're in with the top seeds apparently.

b.gud

It's hard to be sure given the complicated nature of the draw, but I had a quick look and I reckon that the best possible group we could come up with is:

Connacht, La Rochelle, Zebre, Agen

The worst possible would be

Connacht, Harlequins, Cardiff Blues, Pau

I used this to get the info in case anyone would like to come up with what they think might better/worse scenarios. Or to point out how I've completely misunderstood the seedings

b.gud

La Rochelle and Edinburgh confirmed as tier 1 teams, Harlequins in tier 2

b.gud

Here are the final tiers confirmed

b.gud

Connacht are in pool 1

Joining them are Brive from tier 2

From tier 3 it's Newcastle Falcons

Final team is Enisei-Stm

b.gud

Here's the final table for Connacht, not a bad draw

wp_rathead

WE'RE GOING TO RUSSIA LADS

freyners

Who's coming to Russia lads??

connemara man

Rainbow trousers and a Connacht jersey

I'd urge as many as possible to make the weekend trip to Newcastle. Cracking city for a night out, lots of great people.