if Farrelly in the Indo says he's going then he must be staying.

swift4prez wrote: ray is gone according to galway bay fm

They're just basing it on what the press and Forum are saying I reckon, it's odds on though he's going so unlikely to be wrong...

ray is gone according to galway bay fm

Yeah, that thought struck me as well!

Unless Grace is out of contract as well, is he? I don't think so.

ummm, wrote:
"We will also have <strong>two out-and-out No 7s</strong>, which is terrific," added McFarland.

Eoin Grace must be feeling the love...

From todays Indo...

"Those who have doubts about the Faloon's abilities simply have not seen enough of him and his acquisition to join Jonny O'Connor means Connacht have two quality, specialist Irish-qualified opensides to compensate for Ray Ofisa's departure."

Not sure if Farrelly is making an assuption or if he knows something we don't. But it's out there now.

Further down the article is this from Dan McFarland

'"We will also have two out-and-out No 7s, which is terrific," added McFarland. "We were well aware of Willie's abilities; his hard edge and willingness to work and get stuck in is the kind of thing Jonny gives us and we appreciate those qualities."'

theCulk wrote: There's a 100 caps wall in the branch. I don't think a HOF is a good idea personally as any HOF should encompass the whole sport and not a single team/club.

There's also a 200 caps wall in the branch, which I'd assume the players have put up the label "The Michael Swift Wall" on it

It's common for teams to have their own Wall of Fame, instead of HoF.

The 100 caps idea is good too, but leaves out players from an era when Connacht would play 3-4 times a year.

Geoghegan, Staples, Mannion, Fitzgerald, O'Driscoll, Clancy... I like it.

There's a 100 caps wall in the branch. I don't think a HOF is a good idea personally as any HOF should encompass the whole sport and not a single team/club.

There's also a 200 caps wall in the branch, which I'd assume the players have put up the label "The Michael Swift Wall" on it

It's something I've been thinking about for a while. Why not set up a 'Hall of Fame'? We could nominate/vote players who've made a impact or been great servants of/to Connacht Rugby. Wouldn't be that expensive either maybe a plaque to the lad who gets in and a wall somewhere with the names of the players on it. That would let us thank players in the present i.e. Ray and past players i.e. Farley. Thoughts?

ummm, wrote: Being able to give Ray a decent send off, and pointing that out to the branch ahead of time, is all I'm asking.

That's not disrespectful. It's the exact opposite.

I emailed Leighton & Denis to suggest them contacting the Branch directly to find out in the strictest confidence if there is any news regarding Ray.

If they don't want to play ball, then I would suggest that the Clan respects the decision and follows a different tack by proceeding with a presentation to him to mark his passing 100 Caps a few games back....

Appearences: 105
Treis: 13

Feck it, lets promote Ray to CEO!

Being able to give Ray a decent send off, and pointing that out to the branch ahead of time, is all I'm asking.

That's not disrespectful. It's the exact opposite.

I don't think i can remember Connacht ever announcing during a season that any player would be leaving except where that player has retired through injury or signed for another club. Can anyone else?

Closest I can think is Matt mostyn where it was widely known that he was retiring but even that I think was eventually announced jointly by the branch and player.

If Connacht haven't offered ofisa a contract for next season,that will have been communicated to the player, ball is now in players court and it could never be right for the branch to be commenting until such time as the player determines.

Surely ray deserves at least that much respect after all his loyalty and commitment.

ummm, wrote:

simpleton wrote: It would be remiss of the branch to be commenting on the future of such a great servant to Connacht rugby (or any other player until the appropriate time) if that player was in negotiations with other clubs about his future and possibly using his current status as a bargaining chip.

Also if retiring it would be the players choice to announce that not the
Branchs.

I don't think it would be remiss at all. The fans need to know this, precisely <strong>because</strong> Ray has been such a great servant. If he plays his last match for us at the end of April and we don't get to say thank you he and the fans will have been short changed.

His NIE status is well known, as is our signing of a new No. 7, there is no bargaining chip.

ummmm i agree with the sentiment but i just dont think it would be right for the branch to make any announcement until after ray makes public his intentions, whatever they maybe. we have signed Nathan white but we haven't announced any information regarding Rodney, Rodgers or Stephens who are all out of contract afaik

simpleton wrote: It would be remiss of the branch to be commenting on the future of such a great servant to Connacht rugby (or any other player until the appropriate time) if that player was in negotiations with other clubs about his future and possibly using his current status as a bargaining chip.

Also if retiring it would be the players choice to announce that not the
Branchs.

I don't think it would be remiss at all. The fans need to know this, precisely because Ray has been such a great servant. If he plays his last match for us at the end of April and we don't get to say thank you he and the fans will have been short changed.

His NIE status is well known, as is our signing of a new No. 7, there is no bargaining chip.