Looking through the squad list again I'm struck by how good the age profile is. Average age is just below 26 by my calculations.

42.ie ran a piece about him a while back, it had a potential Connacht target written all over it. Looks like a good prospect, well worth taking a chance on.

Peter Sullivan of Lansdowne, a 21 year old winger, has linked up with the squad on a trial basis.

Have agreed about your 1st part for ages

but we've quality in back-row and I can't see who can be downgraded for Copeland...

We're still short a bullocking, ball carrying back row or second row South Sea Islander. That's the biggest gap I see in the squad at the moment.
@ Connachta - Robin Copeland won't like to see you having him in the 3rd's!

So good to see a full squad on the training pics. Even Godwin, who's not listed, appears.

So my own prediction on the picking order

(1-15)

Team 1

Denis Buckley (29)
Dave Heffernan (28)
Finlay Bealham (28)
Ultan Dillane (25)
Gavin Thornbury (25)
Sean O'Brien (24)
Colby Fainga'a (28)
Jarrad Butler (28)
Kieran Marmion (27)
Jack Carty (27)
John Porch (25)
Bundee Aki (28)
Tom Farrell (25)
Stephen Fitzgerald (23)
Tiernan O'Halloran (28)


Team 2

Paddy McAllister (30)
Shane Delahunt (25)
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (25)
Quinn Roux (28)
Joe Maksymiw (23)
Paul Boyle (22)
Eoghan Masterson (26)
Eoin McKeon (28)
Caolin Blade (25)
Kyle Godwin (27)
Matt Healy (30)
Peter Robb (25)
Tom Daly (26)
Niyi Adeolokun (28)
Darragh Leader (26)

Team 3

Matthew Burke (22)
Tom McCartney (33)/Jonny Murphy (27)
Rory Burke (25)/Conor Kenny (23)
Niall Murray (20)
Cillian Gallagher (22)
Robin Copeland (31)
Mikey Wilson (21)/Cian Huxford (20)/Joshua Dunne (19)
Sean Masterson (21)/Neal Moylett (21)
Stephen Kerins (23)/Angus Lloyd (26)
Conor Fitzgerald (22)
Colm de Buitlear (21)
Dave Horwitz (24)
Sean O'Brien -3.0- (21)
Peter Sullivan (21)/Hugh Lane (20)
Conor Hayes (20)/Mark Balaski (21)

Great news.

Eoin McKeon signed a contract extension

It could also just be his personal choice to travel the world playing 7's

Enda wrote: I wouldn’t say Conroy has any weaknesses. Because he is so fast he was probably given the opportunity to join the 7s program. It has been a great move for him. He must be having the time of his life playing with a very progressive unit and representing Ireland at the same time. He might go back to 15s at some point but he wouldn’t be thinking about that yet. Porch looks like a good signing, good luck to him.

:silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:

Sorry, I'm not trolling here, but if the player had no weaknesses, he would be playing 15s, not 7s.
As the article in the Irish Times mentions, the salary of a 7s player is akin to a development contract within the 15s game - www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/salaries-...nimum-wage-1.3902505

If Conroy was in anyway decent, he would have made it through the academy at Connacht. Speed is not enough in the game

I wouldn’t say Conroy has any weaknesses. Because he is so fast he was probably given the opportunity to join the 7s program. It has been a great move for him. He must be having the time of his life playing with a very progressive unit and representing Ireland at the same time. He might go back to 15s at some point but he wouldn’t be thinking about that yet. Porch looks like a good signing, good luck to him.

Watching the 7s the last few months I think it's curious that we let Conroy go, particularly with Porch being signed from 7s with a similar profile of having some basic experience in 15s but mostly 7s. Obviously management saw some big flaw in Conroy's game that they don't in Porch's... which begs the question what? Having admittedly watched very little of our new signing I'm curious if anyone else can spot it. Does Porch seem like a strong defender? A powerful runner? Conroy has the lightning pace, the finishing and from what I've seen his skills seem up to scratch

Aussie local paper has Porch down for two seasons...

www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/613...4-contract/?cs=13570

Mark Mostyn wrote: Loosehead

Denis Buckley (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Matthew Burke (22) - Signed contract in 2019
Paddy McAllister (30) - Signed contract in 2019


Tighthead

Finlay Bealham (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Rory Burke (25) - Signed contract in 2019
Conor Kenny (23) - Signed contract in 2019
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (25) - Signed contract in 2018

Hooker

Shane Delahunt (25) - Signed contract in 2019
Dave Heffernan (28) - Signed contract in 2019
Tom McCartney (33) - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
Jonny Murphy (27) - Signed contract in 2018

Lock

Ultan Dillane (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Cillian Gallagher (22) - Signed contract in 2018
Joe Maksymiw (23) - Signed contract in 2018
Quinn Roux (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Gavin Thornbury (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019

Back row

Paul Boyle (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Jarrad Butler (28) - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
Robin Copeland (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Colby Fainga'a (28) - Signed contract in 2018
Eoghan Masterson (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Eoin McKeon (28) - Signed contract in 2017
Sean O'Brien (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (25) - Signed contract in 2018
Stephen Kerins (23) - Signed contract in 2019
Angus Lloyd (26) - Signed contract in 2019
Kieran Marmion (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018

Outhalf

Jack Carty (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Conor Fitzgerald (21) - Signed contract in 2019
Dave Horwitz (24) - Signed contract in 2018

Centre

Bundee Aki (28) - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
Tom Daly (26) - Signed contract in 2019
Tom Farrell (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Kyle Godwin (27) - Signed contract in 2018
Peter Robb (25) - Signed contract in 2019

Back 3

Niyi Adeolokun (28) - Signed contract in 2019
Stephen Fitzgerald (23) - Signed contract in 2019
Matt Healy (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Darragh Leader (26) - Signed contract in 2018
Tiernan O'Halloran (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
John Porch (25) - Signed contract in 2019

Exactly

Wegians89 wrote: Think he meant played against Munster in limerick

Oh right, my mistake

Think he meant played against Munster in limerick