Interview with him here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc4y004QpjM
4 starts in the last 2 years at Leinster.
It's a good move for Byrne but im not sure if its a good move for Connacht. Frailties in defense that i cant see ever improving. He simply does not like tackling. IF he can get a run of 15-20 games a season for 2 years he will deliver on his attacking potential.
Funny, I thought in the games I've seen this year that his defence had improved a huge amount. Always felt he was a guy who tackled because he had to not because he wanted to, but have seen him lay in some good shots this season.
We'll have to wait and see, it's irrelevant if he can't stay fit anyway.
Hold my hand up! I've seen next to nothing of Leinster in URC this season. No interest in the mismatches. Then again they lost to Cardiff! How did he play that day? On score sheet but came off early......injury?
Loosehead
Denis Buckley (32) - Signed contract in 2021
Matthew Burke (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Peter Dooley (28) - Signed contract in 2022
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
Darragh Murray (21) - Signed contract in 2022
Niall Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Gavin Thornbury (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Back row
Ciaran Booth (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Paul Boyle (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Jarrad Butler (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Shamus Hurley-Langton (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Eoghan Masterson (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Sean Masterson (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Oisin McCormack (21) - Signed contract in 2022
Josh Murphy (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Conor Oliver (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Cian Prendergast (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Donnacha Byrne (21) - Academy year 2
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) - Signed contract in 2022
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
Shane Jennings (21) - Signed contract in 2022
Peter Robb (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Back 3
Adam Byrne (27) - Signed contract in 2022
Mack Hansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Matt Healy (33) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Signed contract in 2022
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 1 year contract in 2022
Peter Sullivan (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Alex Wootton (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Josh O'Connor (21) - Academy year 1
IN: Peter Dooley (Loosehead, Leinster), Darragh Murray (Lock, Academy), Ciaran Booth (Back row, Academy), Shamus Hurley-Langton (Back row, Manawatu Turbos), Oisin McCormack (Back row, Academy), Josh Murphy (Back row, Leinster), Cathal Forde (Outhalf, Academy), Shane Jennings (Centre, Academy), Adam Byrne (Back 3, Leinster), Diarmuid Kilgallen (Back 3, Academy)
OUT: Ultan Dillane (Lock, La Rochelle), Abraham Papal'i (Back row, Brive), Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive)
*ages as at 01/09/2022
Given Connachts terrible ruck play and defence this guy looks like a good signing. Looks a Ardie Savea type player
Just saying
when you see Healy today and Killcoyne who should no more be around,
Another (new signing) Connacht player has a decent chance to wear 17 for RWC if he leapfrogs Buckley early next season...
Who would this lad be? I think Dooley could overtake Buckley and Burke. But, we will see.
He's referring to Dooley. He will definitely overtake Buckley. i think people forget that Denis wasn't in great form prior to his injury. Burke is difficult to assess, he made a lot of progress this year, solid and quite wily in the scrum, combined with good carrying, maul etc. We'll work out who ranks where once Dooley arrives.
Ireland's second row issues yesterday were a reminder that we have two (Murray, Thornbury) who may be seeing international action sooner than later. Surely one of them will be part of the tour to NZ?
That's an awful lot of inbounds, gotta think we'll be losing some very good servants at the end of season 😢
Looking at the contract list, and with talk of budgets being cut, you'd have to think Masterson, Healy, Robb, TOH, DRM and maybe one or two others will be on the way out. Would be sad to see all of those guys leave as they have, to a man, be great contributors to Connacht rugby.
From Bernard Jackman on the 42s podcast, I don’t think Connachts budget is being cut. Sounds more like Leinster and Munster. A great opportunity to close the gap in the Irish provinces
If Thornbury had got injured , I’m sure he’d have been capped by now. Probably the fourth best lock in the country.
Also think as a second row Murray is heads and shoulders Above Baird. As an athlete and impact from the bench Baird has it though.
Think you'll be dissapointed when joe mccarthy at Leinster leap frogs both of those lads, Joe mccarthy is outstanding at the moment
If Joe McCarthy passes Murray and Thornberry he will be a cracking player and well worth Irish involvement and I for 1 won't be a bit disappointed.
Thornberry has the potential, if fit, to be Connacht's best lock in the professional era and if McCarthy is better then Ireland and Connacht will be the better for it.
I'm glad to see Joe McCarthy do well, and that Leinster have a good prospect in the row, especially with Dunne leaving for Exeter. In the upcoming (ridiculous) series of Connacht v Leinster fixtrures, we will get to compare the locks. Although Thornbury will surely take some time to get back into the game, having been out for ten months now.
I'd say Murray is on the national teams radar. I think he's a better 2nd row than Baird, tbh. I think Baird is picked because of his athleticism.
Thornbury just can't stay healthy. It's why Leinster cut him.
I think Murray is a super prospect. He has real ability to win ball in the lineout, has great hands. With none of our top 3 Ireland locks being lineout specialists Murray is a guy who could step up. He has superb pace for a lock and is filling out plus he looks to have a very good mentality too. Baird for me is overhyped, a bit like Larmour and Casey when they came on the scene.
I think Burke the LH hasn't got the credit he deserves. When Buckley got injured there was a real fear for the scrum but he quietly stepped in and the scrum was rock solid with him there. He is also tidy around the field, doesn't do stupid things.
Prendergast if he stays injury free is another fine prospect. I'd just worry that he has played a bit too much rugby this year. He could well go to NZ if they take a wider squad. There was talk in NZ media of mid week games between the Irish squad and presumably the franchises. Looking to bring in more income after Covid I guess.
The NZ guy looks a good prospect based on his highlights reel, though it looked like the reel was created by himself. Has pace and can jackal and looks older and bigger than his age.
I am not sure about Adam Byrne. Always injured and a player that just hasn't stood out for me. Josh Murphy is another guy who hopefully will stay injury free. Where will he play with Prendergast nailed on at 6? Maybe 2nd row.
I see Hawkshaw noted above. Has he left Leinster. He might struggle for game time unless he fills in behind Jack Carty.
The Ire u20s were very impressive again the other night. Another fine bunch coming through that will need to spread amongst the provinces.
Thornbury had problems with his knees early on, that appears to no longer be an issue. This season he had an operation on his shoulder. Providing the surgery was successful, he may be able to look forward to a less disrupted future. Even so, his stats aren't that bad, in his early seasons at Connacht his minutes were low because he benched a lot.
21/22 - 0 matches
20/21 - 19 appearances, 1203 mins
19/20 - 9 appearances, 562 mins
18/19 - 16 appearances, 892 mins
17/18 - 16 appearances, 604 mins
Connacht just tweeted that another signing/extension is going to be announced today, no time given
Irish qualified winger/centre Byron Ralston signed from the Western Force
Any use?
Super rugby experience. Irish qualified. Young and versatile. I'd imagine he'll be useful ya!
Great signing considering Arnold is gone , toh and Healy could be going and tom Farrell’s injury profile. Porch likely gone after next season too
Are Connacht letting any back three players go? With Byrne coming in and now this guy. Seems to be a bit of a congested area. Unless Ralston is being viewed more as a replacement for Arnold?
Healy is done afaik
I think Healy and O'Donnell will be off, potentially Sullivan or O'Halloran too.
Would think Sullivan will be kept around given his recent game time
Its a bit like Robb always seems to get back into the team before his contract is up and does enough to get a new one.
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