If Ulster don't offer Jack McGrath another contract, Connacht should try and entice him. He's been unlucky with injury, but has plenty more to give. He's be a great addition for us.
Papa came on as a sub against Leicester and Munster,. I'm sure we'll see more of him in the coming months.
Fifita - wasn't specified but would be very surprised if he got more than a year.
Papali'i - don't think he's checked out, he never wants for effort. I think it's pretty clear that he lost the trust of the coaching staff after the third red card.
Tuimauga - I'm almost certain is out of contract in the summer. Guess it's up to him to earn an extension, too early to cast a verdict on him imo.
I misread the article about the freeholder, as that’s the case it’s even more disappointing that the IGB are involved in the new development
No. Connacht Rugby and the IGB are long term co-tenants, both have the right to use it but neither is the owner or landlord of the other. IBG don't have the freehold either. GAA don't have any right to use it, nor would they want to even if Pearse was out of action - the pitch is too short.
I thought his bulk would be needed this weekend. Is he on a 1 year deal? Abraham Papal'i must have already checked out he never plays anymore. Is Tietie Tuimauga leaving in the summer aswel?
Looks like the are focusing on the league. Disappointing team but good news for Connacht. now its a game they should not be losing.
I only assume its up to Greyhound Ireland who uses it, would depend on the agreement they have with the IRFU
Is the Sportsground open to all sports? I was guessing thats why the IRFU wont fund any Connacht development. The GAA have as much right to use it as Rugby, they just dont.
No Dan Cole tomorrow, so the pressure will be on the other side of the scrum and from the start: Genge v Bealham.
Would soccer and rugby sharing an Astro pitch cause much issues? I know generally on Astro the lines are permanent but I’d assume there’d be some way round that, is there issues with grass length or the under pitch make up, I’ve heard of big shock pads going in under Astro rugby. I’m sure nothings insurmountable but it might make things less attractive for GUFC
Would rather see a stadium going ahead with UTD and cut all links with the greyhound industry, other than the obvious reasons for not wanting to be connected, you'd worry what would happen if the track went under like many others and yet they are the freehold owners. Maybe theres a simple solution to this risk
dont know why but scrum advantage tends to somewhat get neutralised by playing away,hope my theory holds up.
LEICESTER TIGERS:
15. Bryce Hegarty, 14. Freddie Steward, 13. Matt Scott, 12. Juan Pablo Socino, 11. Kini Murimurivalu, 10. Freddie Burns, 9. Richard Wigglesworth, 1. Ellis Genge (c), 2. Nic Dolly, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Harry Wells, 5. Calum Green, 6. Ollie Chessum, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: 16. Charlie Clare, 17. James Whitcombe, 18. Nephi Leatigaga, 19. Tom Manz, 20. Francois van Wyk, 21. Jack van Poortvliet, 22. Dan Kelly, 23. Hosea Saumaki
This lineup doesn't seem as scary. At least the replacement front row are not as high quality as the last time and their second row replacement is an academy player.
Leicester were completely dominant in the scrum, which was the difference between the teams. I'm not sure the second row we've picked tomorrow has the grunt to improve that, but let's see.
IIRC, at the end of the previous match, the English commentator said that no other team, apart from Saracens, had pushed Leicester as hard at home this season.
https://connachttribune.ie/sportsground-revamp-to-begin-in-summer-no-talks-held-with-galway-utd-over-move/
That's such an exciting looking team - hopefully the weather is decent and they can give it a good rattle tomorrow.
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS LEICESTER TIGERS
Saturday 15th January, 15:15 @ The Sportsground
Number/Name/Caps ( * denotes uncapped)
15. Tiernan O’Halloran (197)
14. John Porch (47)
13. Sammy Arnold (26)
12. Bundee Aki (114)
11. Matt Healy (150)
10. Jack Carty (169) (C)
9. Kieran Marmion (196)
1. Matthew Burke (33)
2. Shane Delahunt (110)
3. Finlay Bealham (168)
4. Oisín Dowling (14)
5. Niall Murray (24)
6. Cian Prendergast (18)
7. Conor Oliver (30)
8. Jarrad Butler (83)
Replacements
16. Dave Heffernan (153)
17. Tietie Tuimauga (2)
18. Jack Aungier (22)
19. Ultan Dillane (123)
20. Paul Boyle (63)
21. Caolin Blade (139)
22. Conor Fitzgerald (44)
23. Tom Farrell (67)
Very good news. Fingers crossed Tom Farrell goes uninjured as he's classy and will be critical - with Arnold's departure we lose experience in midfield (although Bolton has looked good and Forde and Jennings are exciting too). Conor Oliver has really been a revelation this season in what had been a problem position for Connacht since Fainga'a's departure. He has a steely but controlled aggression, and is a good carrier in what is now a very dynamic back row (or will be once Boyle returns and we get to see him, Prendergast and Oliver together). Tierney-Martin we don't see a lot of but McNulty is doing well. Caolin? Enough said, I wouldn't swap our nines with another province. Hopefully a longer contract is agreed next year.
Almost definitely.
Carty opted for one year before getting his most recent big 3 year contract, it can be a good move for valuable players.
Wonder was it Blades decision to go for a one year. I would have thought Connacht would be keen to sign him for longer.
Is Fifita injured allot or just not getting in the team?
Loosehead
Denis Buckley (32) - Signed contract in 2021
Matthew Burke (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Jordan Duggan (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Tietie Tuimauga (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Charlie Ward (22) - Academy year 2
Tighthead
Jack Aungier (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Finlay Bealham (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Sam Illo (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Greg McGrath (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Hooker
Shane Delahunt (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Dave Heffernan (31) - Signed contract in 2021
Jonny Murphy (30) - Signed contract in 2021
Dylan Tierney-Martin (23) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
Declan Adamson (23) - Academy year 3
Eoin De Buitléar (20) - Academy year 2
Lock
Oisin Dowling (25) - Signed contract in 2022
Leva Fifita (33) - Signed contract in 2021
Niall Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Gavin Thornbury (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Darragh Murray (21) - Academy year 2
Back row
Paul Boyle (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Jarrad Butler (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Eoghan Masterson (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Sean Masterson (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Conor Oliver (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Cian Prendergast (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Ciaran Booth (22) - Academy year 2
Donnacha Byrne (21) - Academy year 2
Oisin McCormack (21) - Academy year 3
Scrumhalf
Caolin Blade (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
Kieran Marmion (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020
Colm Reilly (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Will Reilly (u22) - Academy year 1
Outhalf
Jack Carty (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022
Conor Fitzgerald (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Cathal Forde (20) - Academy year 2
Centre
Bundee Aki (32) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Shayne Bolton (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Tom Daly (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Tom Farrell (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Peter Robb (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Shane Jennings (21) - Academy year 3
Back 3
Mack Hansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Matt Healy (33) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Oran McNulty (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Ben O'Donnell (27) - Signed contract in 2020
Tiernan O'Halloran (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
John Porch (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Peter Sullivan (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Alex Wootton (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Academy year 2
Josh O'Connor (21) - Academy year 1
IN:
OUT: Ultan Dillane (Lock, La Rochelle), Abraham Papal'i (Back row, Brive), Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive)
*ages as at 01/09/2022
Good to hear some more contracts coming in. Hopefully we'll not lose any more front line players.
Two year extensions for Farrell, Oliver, McNulty
One year for Blade & Tierney-Martin
I'm wondering if Hansen was fully fit against Munster. Id have TOH 15 Wootton and Porch with McNulty 23.
Re: Hansen, I completely agree. I'd love to see him at 15.
He's such a classy footballer and he could much more influence in attack from full back. He looked pretty class in the few clips I saw of him at 15 for the Brumbies.
Really like the look of McNulty but I see him as more of a winger long term.
He didnt look himself against Munster probably should not have played seemed very leggy. Hopefully its just a just a calf injury.
Hopefully Wootton has recovered from whatever resulted in him missing the Munster game. And is Healy available for selection or injured? Haven't heard from him in a while. I thought Oran McNulty looked good in his recent starts.
Where do people see the competition for full back? Tiernan is back in as incumbent, Porchy started most of the games there last season while TOH was injured. I'd like to see Hansen there at some point.
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