overstrander wrote: If this rumour is accurate then Lam sees some worth in Madigan:

www.punditarena.com/rugby/sokeefe/northampton-madigan-bid/

Great, if he takes him to Bristol we'll gladly have AJ back... :whistle:

Is this the same Pundit Arena that had Aki and Dillane playing for Munster this year, or some completely different one?

overstrander wrote: If this rumour is accurate then Lam sees some worth in Madigan:

www.punditarena.com/rugby/sokeefe/northampton-madigan-bid/

Huge money really.

If this rumour is accurate then Lam sees some worth in Madigan:

www.punditarena.com/rugby/sokeefe/northampton-madigan-bid/

Evil_g wrote: Willie Ruane:

“I think Ian Madigan is a fine player in fairness, but Ian Madigan is in France and he is contracted to another team at the moment anyway,” said Ruane.

“And we have some pretty good out-halves at Connacht Rugby, so I think we are pretty happy with where we are at.”

Connacht distance themselves from a move for Ian Madigan

That looks like that then.

What else could he say to be fair though. I think that was a fairly non-committal type of response.

For once, perhaps we have all the advantage here. Over to you IRFU!!!

Evil_g wrote:
That looks like that then.

He put some distance between Connacht and Madigan, but it wasn't exactly definitive. As many have said on this thread, the only way this will happen is if the IRFU decide they want him back in Ireland. I believe Joe Schmidt was asked about it yesterday and despite being non committal, he did seem to indicate that it would be good to have him back in the country.

Willie Ruane:

“I think Ian Madigan is a fine player in fairness, but Ian Madigan is in France and he is contracted to another team at the moment anyway,” said Ruane.

“And we have some pretty good out-halves at Connacht Rugby, so I think we are pretty happy with where we are at.”

Connacht distance themselves from a move for Ian Madigan

That looks like that then.

Darragh wrote: I think it's quite funny how unconvinced many of us are on him!!!!

He would certainly add real value to the organisation and team. How many other 30 cap players do we have?

We must be delusional to think otherwise as Boshoff is an unknown quantity really and Carty and the other options really are not at Madigan's level.

Can he be inconsistent? Of course. But my god, we have suffered from terrible inconsistency over the past few seasons with the exception of the pro12 run in under McGinty. (Still pisses me off he is not Irish qualified).

I'd argue that Sexton through his injuries is inconsistent because he is available so little. Paddy Jackson is also vulnerable to the odd brain fart, as is Keatley, etc.

I think he is a player who needs a regular run of games and a supporting coach. Something he hasn't had for a few seasons. I am not saying he is guaranteed that here but I think all the components are there to make a smashing european level 10. Regarding Ireland, who knows.

His goal kicking is also top notch. He is usually very durable too and not often injured. And he can play 12.

I think most of us would also prefer to see Irish born and qualified players excel over imports too.

It comes down for me the cost and his appetite to come here and really leave a legacy here, which he could very well do.

I think a lot of Connachts play looks a bit too exciting at times. I think Madigans play borders on reckless. And we can't afford that. So Jack is not a terribly exciting player. So the onus is left on Tiernan to drive the backline. I don't think AJ was in any way exciting. He just made the right choices at the right time. He knew when to take the ball into contact and when to swing it wide (and here I mean open up opportunities). Jack is very much more conservative while I consider Ian as a total loose cannon with his passing. I would be very reluctant to sign Ian. I like a degree of moderation. I think he would not suit our culture. Many media folks believe that the Connacht culture is built on an uncontrolled gameplay. I believe this not to be true. I believe everything AJ did, all his choices, were the right choices. I do not believe Ian makes the right choices and I believe that is why he was never a first choice player.

Darragh wrote: it's got to be an attractive place to come and play footy for an Irish player not getting time at his home team.

We won the league last year. We've been off our game this season and still were the best team not to make the not-HEC Q/Fs. The gameplan is good and playing for Connacht doesn't disqualify you from the international game any more. I'd certainly question the ambition of a non-first-choice player at another province who wouldn't come here.

I'm not mad about Mads (sorry) but I'd imagine (and hope) that any obstacle to him signing (other than KK not wanting him) would be financial.

I get why Madigan isn't linked to Munster and Leinster given the outhalf quality there, but why isn't Ulster (the bottomless moneypit) seen an option for him?

The outhalves after Jackson are Herron (he was horrific at 10 in a PRO12 game earlier this year) and McPhillips (Under 20's outhalf/give him time).

Is it the Sterling based contract maybe?

Let's be realistic and we don't get him, but Denis obrien and his buddies get together and get him back to Leinster.. I think we should then try get one of the back ups that are there as it is (Carberry/Ross Beirne) both have pro12 exp. and would get more game time behind Boshoff than being behind sexton Madigan and the one who opts not to move

Actually two other observations.

You got to wonder how much longer has Sextons body got left. Poor fella has been through the ringer with the concussions, then the legs. There is a good chance his body will fail him in the next few seasons. In a way, it is already happening. Accepting that nobody can quite dislodge Sexton when fit, Madigan may surely think, he has got what it takes to take on Paddy Jackson or Joey Carbury, etc. And thus be in a strong position the day Sexton can't go on.

Also, the appointment of Keane as coach and a new chapter here may appeal to him more than he is prepared to say in public, who knows. Perhaps it's me, but it's got to be an attractive place to come and play footy for an Irish player not getting time at his home team.

sea_point wrote:

Darragh wrote: I think it's quite funny how unconvinced many of us are on him!!!!

He would certainly add real value to the organisation and team. How many other 30 cap players do we have?

We must be delusional to think otherwise as Boshoff is an unknown quantity really and Carty and the other options really are not at Madigan's level.

Can he be inconsistent? Of course. But my god, we have suffered from terrible inconsistency over the past few seasons with the exception of the pro12 run in under McGinty. (Still pisses me off he is not Irish qualified).

I'd argue that Sexton through his injuries is inconsistent because he is available so little. Paddy Jackson is also vulnerable to the odd brain fart, as is Keatley, etc.

I think he is a player who needs a regular run of games and a supporting coach. Something he hasn't had for a few seasons. I am not saying he is guaranteed that here but I think all the components are there to make a smashing european level 10. Regarding Ireland, who knows.

His goal kicking is also top notch. He is usually very durable too and not often injured. And he can play 12.

I think most of us would also prefer to see Irish born and qualified players excel over imports too.

It comes down for me the cost and his appetite to come here and really leave a legacy here, which he could very well do.

Will depend on what sort of ten the new coach wants at the helm next season, Madigan's huge achilles heel is the lack of control he's been able to bring to bear from ten.
He is a top class place kicker, absolutely no doubt about that and a dangerous broken field runner and can be utilised at 10/12 and 15..I'd only be comfortable if he came to us accepting that he would be utilised for the best interests of the team at any given time.

But realistically to come to Connacht, he'd need to be taking at least a €200k salary drop though (or someone else picking up the balance), I wouldn't have him near the salary of Mul or Bundee though straight off the bat, Performance related increments only.if he's sticking to his salary demands..

Fair points really.

I must say the way this has played out all the same in the media is very strange. I have no major problem him using the media but he definitely wants out of Bordeaux no matter what he stated about wanting to stay. His comments alone probably ensure that as they were quite critical and open.

If he genuinely wants to get back to Ireland, I can only see us as that option and the IRFU will have to really want him back. Perhaps that is something for Connacht to exploit?!!! We have nothing to lose.

I am not sure it does him or Ireland any good to go to Leinster for example.

One of the more interesting rugby stories at the moment, regardless of outcome.

Darragh wrote: I think it's quite funny how unconvinced many of us are on him!!!!

He would certainly add real value to the organisation and team. How many other 30 cap players do we have?

We must be delusional to think otherwise as Boshoff is an unknown quantity really and Carty and the other options really are not at Madigan's level.

Can he be inconsistent? Of course. But my god, we have suffered from terrible inconsistency over the past few seasons with the exception of the pro12 run in under McGinty. (Still pisses me off he is not Irish qualified).

I'd argue that Sexton through his injuries is inconsistent because he is available so little. Paddy Jackson is also vulnerable to the odd brain fart, as is Keatley, etc.

I think he is a player who needs a regular run of games and a supporting coach. Something he hasn't had for a few seasons. I am not saying he is guaranteed that here but I think all the components are there to make a smashing european level 10. Regarding Ireland, who knows.

His goal kicking is also top notch. He is usually very durable too and not often injured. And he can play 12.

I think most of us would also prefer to see Irish born and qualified players excel over imports too.

It comes down for me the cost and his appetite to come here and really leave a legacy here, which he could very well do.

Will depend on what sort of ten the new coach wants at the helm next season, Madigan's huge achilles heel is the lack of control he's been able to bring to bear from ten.
He is a top class place kicker, absolutely no doubt about that and a dangerous broken field runner and can be utilised at 10/12 and 15..I'd only be comfortable if he came to us accepting that he would be utilised for the best interests of the team at any given time.

But realistically to come to Connacht, he'd need to be taking at least a €200k salary drop though (or someone else picking up the balance), I wouldn't have him near the salary of Mul or Bundee though straight off the bat, Performance related increments only.if he's sticking to his salary demands..

chops123 wrote: Personally cannot see him coming here, he made something like 500,000 in Bordeaux, we could probably get 100,000 scraped together for him and would the irfu really give much extra to that? When he could go to England and get 3-400 thousand to sit on the bench for most matchs.. Personally like him as a player but would be afraid if he signed it would be treated as if we'd signed one of the best 10s in the game whereas at the minute he's fighting for 3rd best in Ireland with Joey Carberry who's only played a handful of games at pro level.. Would much rather we got a young 10 who played 20s in last few years, like Ross Byrne. But look if we get madigan and don't have to pay outrageous wages that's perfectly fine with me! I'd have more confidence in him than our current local out half

Not arguing with your post but just wanted to point out that I'm not sure about your figures there, Mul said in an interview 7 years ago that he reckoned the average non-international pro12 player was on about 100k. Wages have almost certainly gone up(and probably fairly substantially) since then.



EDIT: Link won't work to a timestamp, it's about 8 mins in.

I'm pretty sure signing a €500k player would SERIOUSLY dent our coffers, and I doubt the IRFU are that desperate for a mid-career 3rd/4th choice OH