Not very respectful to a player who has given 14 years to the club......
No ones history entitles them to be free of criticism. I support the team, not individual players
In my opinion he offers nothing to the team, and is a liability.
He was good 6 years ago. Not so much now. There wasn't one game this season where I thought, "I'm happy O'Halloran is playing"
Connacht are regressing as a team, and we're rewarding our poor players with new contracts. I dont see how that will help us improve
Connacht probably would be better off trying to tempt Shane Daly from Munster, or approaching Dardis or Jack Kelly from the 7s.
Goes without saying that Tiernan has been a great servant, but the announcement today didn't exactly add to my excitement for next year. Still, he has plenty of experience so hopefully his role next year will be more of a mentoring one, and providing cover when we're stuck.
This extension was telegraphed some time ago. I understand your desire to defend Tiernan, everyone knows that he has done great things for the priovince, but his performances in recent years have not been good (although it would be an absurd injustice to lay all of Connacht's current ills at his door).
I hope that his role next year is appropriate and makes the most of his talents and experience, but would be disappointed if he is given the number of starts and minutes he got this season (16, 1115 mins). But, to be pedantic, Tiernan didn't 'give' his career to Connacht, he has been (presumably) well paid for it, and critics of this decision are right in their expectation that the club's resources are used efficiently rather than to keep supporters on board sentimentally. The reality is we've had a bad season, and need to be more clinical organisationally, not less - would Leinster have extended his contract?
I'm increasingly sceptical of AF's leadership, and would like to see journalists hold him to account more seriously than they have, he's handled them well, in fairness: 'Fest, relentless, adaptable...', my arse.
We don't need any further recruitment in the back three.
Connacht Rugby can confirm the players who will depart the club at the end of the season.
As previously announced, Ultan Dillane, Sammy Arnold, Abraham Papali’i and Tietie Tuimauga will leave the club at the end of their contracts to play in France, while Matt Healy has announced his retirement from pro rugby.
Fellow centurion Eoghan Masterson will move on after a 9-year spell at the club, as does centre Peter Robb who featured in the 2016 PRO12 Grand Final.
Also leaving the club are Greg McGrath, Jonny Murphy, Ben O’Donnell, Dominic Robertson-McCoy and Peter Sullivan.
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-confirm-departing-players-4/
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
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
Hooker
Shane Delahunt (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Dave Heffernan (31) - 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
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
David Hawkshaw (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Shane Jennings (21) - Signed contract in 2022
Back 3
Adam Byrne (27) - Signed contract in 2022
Mack Hansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Oran McNulty (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Tiernan O'Halloran (31) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
John Porch (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
Byron Ralston (22) - Signed contract in 2022
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), David Hawkshaw (Centre, Leinster), Shane Jennings (Centre, Academy), Adam Byrne (Back 3, Leinster), Diarmuid Kilgallen (Back 3, Academy), Byron Ralston (Back 3, Western Force)
OUT: Greg McGrath (Tighthead, TBC), Dominic Robertson-McCoy (Tighthead, TBC), Tietie Tuimauga (Tighthead, Colomiers), Jonny Murphy (Hooker, TBC), Ultan Dillane (Lock, La Rochelle), Eoghan Masterson (Back row, TBC), Abraham Papali'i (Back row, Brive), Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive), Peter Robb (Centre, TBC), Matt Healy (Back 3, retiring), Ben O'Donnell (Back 3, TBC), Peter Sullivan (Back 3, TBC)
*ages as at 01/09/2022
tighthead has to be a huge worry.
you'd wonder if they'll look at the AIL for a prop, Ben Griffin of Clontarf is only 20 and could be worth a shout. Luke Rigney at Shannon and Tom Connolly at Trinity too.
By my reckoning this is the breakdown of the squad for next season excluding academy players. Looking a bit tight in the front row lets hope everyone can stay relatively healthy
Loose Head
Denis BUCKLEY
Matthew BURKE
Jordan DUGGAN
Peter DOOLEY
Tight Head
Jack AUNGIER
Finlay BEALHAM
Sam ILLO
Shane DELAHUNT
Dave HEFFERNAN
Dylan TIERNEY-MARTIN
Oisín DOWLING
Leva FIFITA
Josh MURPHY
Darragh MURRAY
Niall MURRAY
Gavin THORNBURY
Back Row
Ciaran BOOTH
Paul BOYLE
Jarrad BUTLER
Shamus HURLEY-LANGTON
Seán MASTERSON
Oisín MCCORMACK
Conor OLIVER
Cian PRENDERGAST
Scrum Half
Caolin BLADE
Kieran MARMION
Colm REILLY
Out Half
Jack CARTY
Conor FITZGERALD
David HAWKSHAW
Bundee AKI
Shayne BOLTON
Tom DALY
Tom FARRELL
Cathal FORDE
Shane JENNINGS
Back Three
Adam BYRNE
Mack HANSEN
Diarmuid KILGALLEN
Oran MCNULTY
Tiernan O’HALLORAN
John PORCH
Byron RALSTON
Alex WOOTTON
Adam Byrne isnt a centre.
Yep realised after I posted I forgot to move him, it's been fixed now
Would rather a more experienced option, as it would be hard to develop three prospects in the same position. I'd like to see us focus on developing Illo, hopefully he gets some decent minutes under his belt next season.
true but one injury and you are screwed, need a few bodies.
Haven't we effectively been down the AIL route already with Greg McGrath? He was brought in by Leinster from Lansdowne and played very sparingly before being signed by Connacht. Given how many scrum penalties we conceded this season (and that was not all on McGrath), I don't think we can afford to take such risks again.
Surely Tuimauga wouldn't have been released unless the budget really is there for someone who can stop the leak? If not, come November when Finlay is with Ireland, Aungier will start and Sam will be on the bench, and we have no TH in the Academy. That's a scary thought, given injuries etc. This front row situation has been terribly managed, if they weren't going to retain McGrath they should have given Illo the minutes.
I note also that the statement in the Indo that all players on the SA tour were contracted for next season turns out to be untrue, seeing as Greg and Johnny Murphy were in the party.
Murphy probably wouldn't have travelled if Delahunt was fit. You can't believe everything you read in the papers, even if it does come from the coaches mouth
2 weeks ago these guys said Connacht have signed a international TH
so because one AIL prop didnt work out, theres no point trying with others?
I think it’s a more a case with the profile of tight head we currently have we could do with an experienced signing
No issue with recruitment from the AIL, once we have a couple of reliable THs that can enable us to bed new players in without risking a ridiculous spanking (we've had enough of those this season). There's been a lot of problems on that side of the scrum. Jack Aungier didn't have a great season , although he's young so not writing him off, and Illo didn't get played.
I have nothing against, and know nothing about, Griffin, beyond AIL match reports, but I think the desire for a tried and tested TH is self-explanatory.
Any chance you’d have a link?
Just on no academy tight heads. Is fun. Wright, an exiles u20 and potentially a South African tight head not lined up for the academy next season? Obviously would need a signing regardless
oh I agree an experienced signing is needed, but Connacht need more than 1 TH signing.
I see Hawkshaw starting at 10 very soon. Until he wins that role he'll do a good job at centre but it won't take long for him to get the starting job at 10. He's a wonderful player, he did some damage against us a short while ago when he came on at 10 for Leinster in the URC.
Masterson is a good player, I hope he gets a chance somewhere else. Friend will look to Australia for imports. It's not a great squad, but there good players. I think Friend has made a mess of Connacht tbh.
Couldn't disagree more. Look at the squad he inherited: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018%E2%80%9319_Connacht_Rugby_season
I think he's done an excellent job managing our squad, and gradually clearing out average players. Heading into next season I think almost every player is first team quality, or looks very much to have the potential to be. We have an excellent cadre of exciting prospects in their early twenties. Unfortunately for Friend he may not be the coach that gets the most out of those players, but imo he will be leaving the squad in great nick if he is replaced next year.
Salanoa from Munster I wonder is he worth a shot?
Rarely fit and firmly 4th choice at Munster.
But it looks like needs must
Munster are already down one THP for next season with John Ryan heading to Wasps so the chances of them giving up their now 2nd/3rd choice are non existent.
I think it was mentioned that they are looking to sign a TH so I'd imagine he will come from the SH. I doubt they are looking at loan deal. I think hooker could be a huge issue too if there's an injury picked up.
Now, that's an extremely exciting signing
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