Diom wrote: It's not too tough on Loughney. He'll be pushing for a start, and even if he isn't #1 every week he'll be our first choice backup on both sides of the scrum so will see plenty of game time.

Hagan made a wrong decision and we have all done that, but he seems to miss Connacht and he would have done well here this year. We should feel pity for him not anger.

Hahahahaa, excellent!!

sh1t everybodys looking at me here...

It's not too tough on Loughney. He'll be pushing for a start, and even if he isn't #1 every week he'll be our first choice backup on both sides of the scrum so will see plenty of game time.

Hagan made a wrong decision and we have all done that, but he seems to miss Connacht and he would have done well here this year. We should feel pity for him not anger.

He's a <strong>BIG</strong> part why White is coming here. The IRFU want to keep White but leaving him at Leinster will stop Hagan's progress. They can't switch him to Munster cause that'll stop Archer's progress. Ditto up in Ulster with McAlister and Macklin. By switching him to Connacht there no halting the progress of any young Irish Prop and in two years time are gaining a new one. Some might say it's tough on Loughney but in my book he'll always be a LH first.

I'd like to think he had a very small part in getting Mr White to wear the green next year, certainly must not have portrayed us in a negative light.

(I would have given anything to have seen the look on Guy "we train differently" Easterby's face when he found out about Nathan was coming to Connacht)

RogueXV wrote: I continue to wish Jamie all the best with Leinster, but he sounds a little desperate there claiming his own HEC experience this year against Montpelier. Not to knock it, but Connacht has gotten that experience enough times in the challenge cup. Also, I hate to pull this scab off, but he mentioned when he left Connacht they were headed to the Amlin. Same place they were going when he verbally agreed to stay. :whistle:

Agree with your last part alright. Don't really think he was a little desperate to mention it, its his first time in the Heineken cup as well, a big landmark for anyone. Im not on here to be sticking up for guy, but like every Connacht fan I would welcome him back in an instant, if Leinster ever slip up I hope he knows where he would be welcome

I continue to wish Jamie all the best with Leinster, but he sounds a little desperate there claiming his own HEC experience this year against Montpelier. Not to knock it, but Connacht has gotten that experience enough times in the challenge cup. Also, I hate to pull this scab off, but he mentioned when he left Connacht they were headed to the Amlin. Same place they were going when he verbally agreed to stay. :whistle:

Funk It wrote: Fair play to him, always had and always will have a lot of respect for Hagan, gave his all for us and owes us nothing. A great player who will prove himself at the highest level yet, would hate to think any Connacht fan would have a grudge against him.

+ 1

Fair play to him, always had and always will have a lot of respect for Hagan, gave his all for us and owes us nothing. A great player who will prove himself at the highest level yet, would hate to think any Connacht fan would have a grudge against him.

not having a dig at jamie, kinda getting over it now about the move and all but came across this in the paper and just wanted to share it

Leinster to keep rolling as Hagan watches on

AFTER impressing against the Scarlets and being called up to scrummage with the Ireland squad this week, Jamie Hagan finds himself back on the Leinster bench this evening.

The prop has had a difficult season. He left Connacht for his home province last summer with the prospect of bigger things ahead. Instead, he has had to put up with Pro12 backwaters and the British and Irish Cup, while his former club were taking on Europe's elite.

Every time Hagan has put his head above water, he has found it dunked back down again and this evening he watches on as Connacht-bound Nathan White starts in his place.

The tighthead prop was focusing on the positives this week as he was asked to rate his season so far, but his frustration lies just below the surface. "It was a big transition coming from Connacht last year," he said.

"Obviously, Leinster play a different brand of rugby to Connacht, but I'm just taking it week on week. I can't really rate my year because my year isn't over yet."

So, does he regret making the move? "Hindsight is a great thing," he admitted.

"When I left Connacht they were going to be in the Amlin, but then Leinster won the Heineken Cup. I don't want to take anything away from Connacht. They've had a great season in the Heineken Cup finishing up with that famous win over Harlequins. But I have played Heineken Cup rugby this year, I played against Montpellier and hopefully, that experience will stand to me in the long run.

"The competition isn't just with Nathan, it's with Rossy (Mike Ross) as well. Everybody in this squad has competition.

"The quality at Leinster is insane. It's a healthy competition and good for all of us, because it keeps us on our toes."

Anyone know what Liam Bibo is up to these days. Always liked him, a real team player.

We signed three players after FC was told no, so know its not true but it was the excuse given.

Yes the lads did us proud when they were here, but not only them Troy, Willis, Neva, Bebo etc etc

At a guess I&#039;d say that no-one but the player and Connacht Rugby and their solicitors knows the dates that contracts were put in front of players to sign and the date that these signings were announced, they can be months apart if the fomer is during the playing season....

FC wanted to resign but left it too late as we had already signed replacements - i heard this from a v reliable source!

IMO we should loudly applaud cronin/ keatly/ carr/ hagan when they come back - we should take a certain amount of pride as them being ex-connacht if/when they progress to international level etc

We signed three players after FC was told no, so know its not true but it was the excuse given.

Yes the lads did us proud when they were here, but not only them Troy, Willis, Neva, Bebo etc etc

FC wanted to resign but left it too late as we had already signed replacements - i heard this from a v reliable source!

IMO we should loudly applaud cronin/ keatly/ carr/ hagan when they come back - we should take a certain amount of pride as them being ex-connacht if/when they progress to international level etc

Really don&#039;t agree with this thread heading, Jamie Hagan gave us everything on the pitch when he was here, nice bloke always stopped for a chat anytime i met him. Always has positive things to say about Connacht Rugby.

Well I think you&#039;ll agree that there really isn&#039;t any real hate towards Jamie or the other lads here, maybe dissapointment at his choice making but that&#039;s quite natural really.

He was an unpolished diamond when he came to us, and there is no doubt that he benefited hugely from his time here something to his credit that he has eagerly put in print and on audio lots of times in the last two years...

IMO, it&#039;s plain wrong to take it personally. They are trying to do their best for themselves and their careers, and it&#039;s not like they were "our own" anyway.

To be fair to " THE BEAST " he gave it all in spades last season. Can&#039;t see him getting much flack when he togs out for Leinster against us. In fairness to him his commitment could not be questioned from the first to the last match of the season. How was he to know when he was negotiating his contract that Connacht were gonna get a HEC slot and maybe just maybe that might have tempted him stay for another season? Carr&#039;s performances were very inconsistent compared with his previous season , looked to me like he was a player who was minding himself , waiting for a better offer which by all accounts never came. Keats & Troy also moved on last season but no mention of them in the same light as Jamie & Fionn.

Nor Cronin.