https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120221378#Comment_120221378
And there it is.
Wonder will internationals be released for this weekend coming and if so will Bundee get game time
I'd doubt it. If anyone was to be released I'd say it's Prendergast
Would expect Blade back too
It's very unlikely that we'll see Bundee until after the 6N. He's got plenty of Ireland minutes left over the coming three fixtures. Friend/Wilkins will probably see him being away with Ireland as a break to clear heads after the recent issues inside the squad.
L'equipe reporting Senekal off the Oyonnax as forwards coach next year.
Well bugger.
The42 reporting that Prendergast and Blade have been released for the weekend.
Just checked the Pro D2 table. Oyonnax look like huge favourites for automatic promotion, although the league structure will require them to win a semi-final and final to go straight up. Being top of Pro D2 points to a much larger budget than ours too.
New Connacht Rugby website for anyone interested.
Not surprised Blade is released. For all the reasons I have mentioned. Folks seem to think he should be on the international scene. I am not one of these people who think he adds nothing. He is a menace but not a team player
Saying he isnt a team player is just wrong as is saying he adds nothing. you can criticise players without going for the full on oh hes shiite.... sometmes.
He is not shite. He is a very talented young player but he just doesn't suit Connacht or Ireland. Explosive is great but the team has to understand what is happening
That's great news. When the injury happened I was thinking he could be out for much longer. I'd imagine Forde will retain the 12 jersey with Hawkshaw covering 10/15 from the bench.
Replacement for Friend is lined up and should be announced end of this week or early next week, per Furlo on twitter
You have a strange take on things. Half of what you say makes sense and the other half is simply not making any sense?
Good luck finding sense in any of the stuff that lad says
"He is a very talented young player"
There you go
John Muldoon coming back
I've heard the same today from a normally reliable source. No indication of what coaching role he's taking on yet.
Might be going to munster as a coach
Ya himself Bundee, Eric Elwood Ultan Dillane Mack Hansen, Finley they're all heading down to Munster 🙄😂
Anyone else get the feeling Bundee might be at another province next year? One year extension which wasn't formally announced, 33 so probably not a central contract. Could we just have been outbid? I remember there was rules about that but someone will have to refresh my memory.
Plus the unceremonious dropping which has happened to the likes of Ultan before when we knew he was leaving. Hard as it would be to see him play somewhere else hepled connacht take such a huge step by signing on with us for his prime years, he'd go with everyone's best wishes
Bundees staying
Muldoon takes Pete Wilkins Job...
Wilkins takes friends job?
Speaking as a massive Bundee fan for all he has done for us both on and off the pitch (admittedly maybe not so much on pitch in recent times for one reason or another). Personally I am hoping what Friend stated is true and he will be still here next season but having said that I'm not sure I would agree that he would go with everyone's best wishes if he were to move to Munster next season.
Is it still a rule that provinces can't outbid another province for a player? If Munster can't offer more money, why would Bundee leave? Not like he's going to win silverware with Munster either...
I think Wilkins is very much a coach but who knows.
If Aki moves I would guess its will be France. John muldoon would be welcomed at any of the 4 provinces. Will interesting with flanery reported coming back also.
What role would muldoon be coming back in?
Bristol haven't exactly been pulling up trees with the quality they've got, mentioned on the rugby pod that Lam could be under a bit of pressure to keep his job.
I'm not saying I don't want him back, the man is a club legend, but the timing and role would need to be right.
Yes, it is a rule that you can't outbid another province for a player on their books, presumably this includes centrally contracted players. But we don't know the details of the central contracts, i.e. what are the respective roles, rights, and responsibilities of the provinces and the IRFU. Bundee's central contract was extended until the end of 2024, as I believe has Connor Murray's.
As you will recall from the Henshaw case, a player can still leave at his own request, although that instance concerned the end of a provincial contract. There could always be a mutual agreement among all parties that the differences are irreconcilable and an alternative arrangement agreed upon. I suppose another scenario would be that post RWC, all parties decide to terminate the contract and he leaves Ireland.
Hopefully the 6N intermission and Bundee's time away in camp has provided the space for everyone to step back and reflect with greater maturity on whatever conflict is disrupting the relationship. I do not want to see him in red, and it would be proof to me of a real 'character' failure at a club level. It is true that we now have great options these days at 12, but this is not about mere team sheets - we've lost often enough to know that is not all that counts. Bundee has been a crucial part of our club, arguably the most important player of the professional era at least, and it is vital culturally that this situation is correctly resolved.
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