Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

I think we can get to 36 but we will need viable first team options in the academy, especially at prop. Something like:

• LH: Dooley, Duggan, van Wyk; Bohan
• HK: Heffernan, Tierney-Martin, Victory; Yarr
• TH: Aungier, Barrett, Bealham, Illo; Murtagh
• LK: D Murray, N Murray, J Murphy, O'Connor; Anic, D Walsh
• BR: Boyle, Connors, Hurley-Langton, Jansen, O'Brien, Prendergast; Flynn, McCarthy, O'Brien, O'Connell, Power
• SH: Blade, Murphy, Reilly; Farthing, Lindner
• OH: Frawley, Ioane; O'Shaughnessy
• CT: Aki, Devine, Forde, Gavin, West; O'Sullivan, S Walsh
• B3: Bolton, Gilbert, Hansen, Jennings, Naughton, Treacy; Henson, Ryan

I don't particularly love it, particularly the front and second rows, but it's probably just about manageable with some clever academy pickups.

I wonder if Shane Delahunt misses it at all?

If Heffernan is the answer, we're in very bad shape. Our current batch of hookers are poor, and inconsistent.

Imagine getting a Tom McCartney now. That would be amazing

I still kind of expect to hear Connacht sign John McKee, and think if you get him you'll be getting a really good player. I can't see Leinster going into next season with all of Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Gus McCarthy, McKee & Stephen Smyth on their books (along with the Irish U20s hooker Lee Fitzpatrick).

It's not necessarily what I want or think will happen, was just trying to workshop a 36 man squad. You could squeeze in another forward if Aki leaves.

I also like Dowling, and being let go would be tough on Lasisi but that's pro sport. Hopefully for him he had a chance to impress in pre-season before he got injured.

I imagine our hand will be forced with Bohan, in the form of an offer from one of the other provinces. I'm sure Ulster or Munster are very keen.

Not a snowballs chance in hell we are going to 36 imo. 39 perhaps but I'd expect 40.

I don't believe that we will be going to 36 man squad this year. I think it will happen over time once the academy running effectively. We also have a number of players near retirement pre or post WC so may hold additional numbers until then.

Below is a breakdown of what could potentially happen going into next season

Loosehead Prop - 4 (1) 1 NIQ

Signed - Van Wyck, Duggan, Bohan (Academy)

TBD - Dooley, Buckley, Lasisi

Academy - NA

Rumours - NA

Buckley will possibly retire. Bohan to be given a senior contract. Dooley to move on and Lasisi to be offered another year. LH from Leinster probably brought into the academy

2026/2027 Depth Chart - Van Wyck, Bohan, Duggan, Lasisi - AN Other (A)

Hooker - 4 (1)

Signed - Heffernan, Victory

TBD - Tierney Martin, De Buitlear

Academy - Yarr

Rumours - John McKee

John McKee signed and one of DTM or EDB kept on.

2026/2027 - McKee, Heffernan, DTM, Victory, Yarr (A)

Tighthead Prop - 4 (1)

Signed - Illo, Barrett

TBD - Bealham, Aungier

Academy - NA

Rumours - Niall Smyth from Leinster, Aungier to Ulster/Munster

Bealham new 1 year contract. Aungier to move on. Academy prop brought in. Sign Smyth from Leinster

2026/2027 - Bealham, Illo, Barrett, Smyth, AN Other (A)

Lock - 5 (2)

Signed - Murray, Murray, Murphy

TBD - Dowling, O'Connor

Academy - Walsh

Rumours - Cormac Daly + others

Sign 2 locks or keep 1 of Dowling/O'Connor, Leo Anic brought in to academy.

2026/2027 - Murray, Murray, Murphy, Dowling, AN Other, Anic (A), Walsh (A)

Back Row - 6 (6) 1 NIQ

Signed - Prendergast, Boyle, Jansen, O'Brien, Connors

TBD - SHL, McCormack

Academy - O'Brien, Power, O'Connell, McCarthy, Flynn,

Rumours - Deegan

Sign SHL. McCormack moves on. 1 into academy (Keane maybe).

2026/2027 - Prendergast, Boyle, Jansen, O'Brien, Connors, SHL, O'Brien(A), Power(A), O'Connell(A), McCarthy(A), Flynn(A), AN Other (A)

Scrum Half - 2 (3)

Signed - NA

TBD - Blade, Murphy, Reilly

Academy - Farthing, Lindner

Rumours - Murphy to Munster - Milo-Harris

Blade signs on. Murphy or Milo-Harris. Reilly moves on. 1 into academy.

2026/2027 - Blade, Murphy, Farthing (A), Lindner(A), AN Other (A)

Out Half - 3 (2) 1 NIQ

Signed - Naughton, Frawley

TBD - Ioane, Carty

Academy - O'Shaughnessy

Rumours - Ioane moving on.

Carty or Ioane. 1 into academy.

2026/2027 - Frawley, Naughton, Ioane, O'Shaughnessy(A), AN Other (A)

Centre - 5 (2)

Signed - Forde, Gavin, Devine

TBD - Ralston, Aki, West, Hawkshaw

Academy - Walsh, O'Sullivan

Rumours - NA

West extended. Bundee gets a year. Ralston and Hawkshaw move on.

2026/2027 - Aki, Forde, Gavin, Devine, West, Walsh (A), O'Sullivan (A)

Back 3 - 6 (3)

Signed - Bolton, Hansen, Gilbert

TBD - Treacy, Jennings, Mullins

Academy - Ryan

Rumours - Larmour

Larmour signs. Treacy and Jennings extended. Mullins move on. Henson plus AN Other into academy.

2026/2027 - Bolton, Hansen, Gilbert, Treacy, Jennings, Ryan (A), Henson (A) AN Other (A)

Just guessing in terms of new signings but replace them with other potential targets but in terms of numbers I think it will be close to this.

Agreed

Shane Delahunt was so underrated - he loved a bit of niggle too, which I'm a huge fan of.

He was a little frustrating too.

Remember in Thomand, when he booted the ball clear, and ended up winning a 50:22

He was so hyped, that he made a mess of the subsequent throw

Playing pro rugby at that height must be tough and I can see why it wouldn't be for everyone. The calorie intake alone would be insane, never mind the strain on joints etc.

Shame from a Connacht point of view, we could have had our answer to the Barrett brothers (still might to be fair).

Not even close to those days :D