I know what you mean porterbelly but Ireland aren't exactly heavy in that position. That said I'd like to see one of the young Ulster boys get a shot if and when the new squad is announced.

To be honest I hope Hagan doesn't get selected at the minute. That will send out the wrong message for potential signings for us, that 3rd choice in Leinster is better than 1st choice in Connacht

Fair play to the Bull. It'll also mean that Kidney won't be picking him for anymore Ireland squads and might give Hagan a fair shot (doubtful)

the hayes thing appears to be put to bed once and for all. it was announced today that he is retiring on 31/12. something to do with tax break being for a calender year so if he played on would lose 8 mths of it. his last hc game is sunday. one of the great ones without ever being technically great. he just wanted it more.

Could be have a separate topic for signings/re-signings that are confirmed and a separate one for who we'd like to see here/speculation. Any time I come on and see a number of extra pages under the signing announcements I think we have signed someone! Just a suggestion.

well said connman and rogue.

the reality is this losing streak didnt start this year. its been going on since the league began. someone posted league finishig positions on forum recently and connacht have been at bottom practically all the time. so, what ever the reasons, the culture/tradition is a losing one and needs quality outside help to change. that quality can only come from -

a. within the province which will take time.
b. by signing experienced proven winners from munster and leinster who are nearing the end of their career(they wont come any earlier)

The tight games which inevitably connacht lose atm can be turned into wins with a change in attitude.that change doesnt come easy. it requires a commitment(mentally a well as physically) from the players(all squad) to themselves and each other to not just talk about change but to go out and make it happen. to achieve change of attitude you need a certain type of player(more than one) within a squad. these players are what we are lacking. munster have an abundance of them and some are available. we are short on them( lots willing on physical side but lacking on mental side) so to me its a no brainer.
we have talented players coming through who will thrive in a driven(really want to win and will do whatever it takes) dressing room. if its not connachts one it will be another teams one.
for that reason connacht have to act nowbefore its too late. we are already 10 yrs behind other provinces. to catch up we need to raid their experience as well as their acadamies while buildig our own experience and acadamy.
that is the only sustainable way forward.

Am in complete agreement with Connman on this. Connacht have lost too many games because they do not have the attitude and experience to close them out. Certainly the likes of Stringer and Wallace would help on this front plus they could pass on a lot of knowledge to the younger players. Connacht need to import some of that winning mentality. Going by recent form, they might be served to look at Leinster though one of the reasons they are on top ATM is they are a younger team than Munster. But maybe there's a player or two. Not sure what the likes of Shaggy, D'Arcy or Cullen are on contract-wise. Browne is getting good experience with them, he might resign with them but maybe could be enticed to return.

Going by success rate of NIQ signings I would stay away from SH players. The players that have come in from England have had a better and more consistent impact on the team.

'Munster Retirement home' makes me chuckle....considering the run of form we have had and still people cant see how poor the team is. I would more than happily open up the Retirement home if it means getting 1 good season out of a Player who will give us a much needed boost...at least non season ticket holders might go to the Sportsground to see Strings, Wallace and Quinlan..and dont tell me they wouldnt make a difference.. They could help win games we wouldnt normally win, close them out etc...get us into the rabo midtable and get some confidence back in the team...


So yea Munster Retirement Home is open for Business as indeed is the Leinster One!!! Anything to improve this team....What a bad run they are on.............

Thinking about the NIQ thing:

reynecke George vainikolo signed to 2013 - 3 NIQ spots filled

nikora IQ next year so that's ok.

one project player (which will probably be Rodney resigning).

Dylan, Henry, and Ray (NIQ next year) contracts up in the summer. We'll likely have to let them all go just to be able to sign one new NIQ player.

So where are we going to sign from - the IRFU will need to lean heavily on the other provinces or we won't have a squad worth talkin about.

Roger Wilson? Must be coming towards the end of his contract at Northampton. Would he consider a couple of years with us.

theCulk wrote: Enough with the munster player talk sheesh. We're not a munster retirement home. If ye want to go see munster player ye know where to go

With the exception of Stringer, who clearly wants to keep going and is far superior to what we have, hear, hear. I'll also ignore the obvious gag about us not being a Munster retirement home but rather a Leinster creche.

Hayes (God bless the legend that hs is) is done. He'll supposedly play his last game against us on Stephen's day, and probably have his arse handed him by our inadequate scrum.

O'Driscoll should have gone to Ulster or Leinster years aog, but he settled for second choice at Munster. It used to sicken me to see him named in Ireland sqauds when he couldn't hold down a provincial starting berth.

As for the Quinlan a few years ago/Wallace now thing, we didn't/don't need them blocking our up and coming backrow talent. It's the one area we see to be ok in.

In fairness Quinny wanted to come for the coaching angle. Wallace would do well to recover at all from his injury at his age, but if he does he'd surely be thinking of a good 2012/13 with Munster & Ireland and a shot at the Lions before retirement.

POD played shag all rugby in his Leinster days. That's why there's alot of rough edges to his game. Gametime is the key

I don't know if it's a case of Munster wanting shot of him. I thought he was ready to retire at the end of last season and Munster asked him to play a little bit longer.

Your correct Ummm Hayes was asked to stay on because of injuries to Botha and Hurley. He'll be gone soon.

Christian Short is Irish qualified so no worries there but I think we're good in that position. I'd keep Ah You and Rodgers one has had fitness issues the other lad's been unlucky with injury both will come good though.

I think the talk about POD 'learning' off Stringer is garbage. Your telling me he didn't "learn" off Reddan and Boss? No I think get the pack sorted and the rest will follow.

Enough with the munster player talk sheesh. We're not a munster retirement home. If ye want to go see munster player ye know where to go

wallace will stay at munster for at least 1 more season and will go straight into hcup squad when fit. hayes would only come if offered a player coach role and maybe not even then. he is farming at home and will prob retire.
stringer tho is still playing wit fire in his belly and his nose is out of joint with treatment from mcgahan. i agree wit him. for that reason he mite be interested. it wud have to be more than a lucrative contract tho to tempt him tho. some coaching and captaincy role would have to be thrown in. he wud be worth the money tho and you would see a massive improvement in pack and 10 immediately. remember that munster never had a dominating scrum until this year and ireland were a crap scrum for year when stringer was at 9.he can deliver in any circumstances and demands same from everyone around him. he wud do a lot for attendances as well.
hayes and ah you are very similar in physique and hayes was never a great scrummager either but found a way to survive. so far ah you has been unable to find that way. maybe if hayes did come he mite teach him.
there was talk about micko d not being good enough for connacht.
ive never heard anything so rediculous. he is anatural leader of men and top second row.its leaders like him connacht are crying out for.

The niq rules are 'five plus one', but we actually have six plus one with Dylan, Henry and Rodders added to the four you've listed.

Not sure if the reduction will also apply to us, our development status seems to give us some wriggle room, so we might drop to five plus one OR four plus one.

Miah will be IQ next season, though. but of course razor will revert to NIQ.