Well I for one am hoping for Toulouse again. Would like to see a second French team in our group, so wouldn't mind Biarritz too, with Exeter or Quins pick of the English sides.

ConnachtCows wrote: I wouldnt be getting too excited about new signings.
I think they were being honest, when they said that all the money has been spent.

While extra money will be coming in, now that we're in the HC, we might not see that until next season

The money should be invested in advertising in my opinion. Getting more fans to buy season tickets, and more people going to the odd game will be major. It will help long term, for seasons where there is no HC rugby

Partly disagree with this..Ok for long term investments, but more to expend the sportsgrond than in advertising, 'cause Connacht is already known in Galway, and we can't expect regular attendance by people from other part of the province for reasons of distance..

And above all, I really think we must buy the 2 or 3 players we desperatly miss, particularly a hooker ( we've only 2!) and a centre (only 3!). Attendance will continue to increase thanks to a more complete team, which will engender more regular wictories in Hcup and Rabo. It's time to avoid 12 loses in a row, or frustrating defeats (Cardiff, Leinster, Gloucester home and away, Treviso). It's time to finish growing, and difinitly becoming an "average" European squad, struggling with Ulster for 3rd Irish spot in HCup!

Moreover with the pression of French league, HCup might be reduced to 20 clubs, so it will probably be our last entrance for 4 or 5 years, let's capitalize on it!

rossie wrote: im being a bit tongue in cheek here but how would the clansmen feel about loughney going to munster in exchange for Borlase, henry and gleeson/dineen? Could be a good bit of business for all concerned especially with white already coming.

Failing a deal along these lines i think budget is already spent for next season.

Yeah sure while we're at it why don't we swap Wilko for Horan too!!!

That said I would love to see us take JJ Hanrahan on loan for next season to give us a bit more depth.

But i think you are right about budget being expended already and guys are going to have to get their heads around the fact there is no more money. I think loan signings are going to be the only further additions to the squad if any but I really hope I am wrong on that front.

Regardless of the permutations for our group anything less than Toulouse / Clermont will feel like a bit of a let down after the draw we had this year. I hope Toulouse become our new Harlequins and they're sick of the sight of us in a couple of years!

I wouldnt be getting too excited about new signings.
I think they were being honest, when they said that all the money has been spent.

While extra money will be coming in, now that we're in the HC, we might not see that until next season

The money should be invested in advertising in my opinion. Getting more fans to buy season tickets, and more people going to the odd game will be major. It will help long term, for seasons where there is no HC rugby

Yes a three year deal

www.connachtrugby.ie/2011080982565/mazda...as-new-title-sponsor

salmson wrote:

connachtexile wrote:
Wasn't Mazda a one year deal? Anyone know what the story is there?

Three year deal I thought. They must be delighted. All our HEC matches were covered live, plus a massive increase in attendances, and that's just year one.

Yeah, 3 year deal. €3M over the 3 years. Bank Of Ireland offered €100,00 a year

ummm, wrote: Seedings won't be announced until June. But we will have 6 points, which should put us ahead of the likes of Treviso, Castre, Dragons

We'll be in tier 3.

The 4th tier will be as follows (none of these affected by Bath's notional chance of catching Sale or which of Biarritz/Stade plays in the HEC next year):

Benetton Treviso 4 points
Castres Olympique 4 points
Exeter 3 points
Montpellier 3 points
Racing Métro 92 3 points
Aironi/Viadana/Rome/Amatori Milan etc. 2, 1, or 0 points depending on how the new team is structured.

If, as seems likely, Sale are in the HEC, we won't even be the lowest ranked third tier team.

Seedings won't be announced until June. But we will have 6 points, which should put us ahead of the likes of Treviso, Castre, Dragons

connachtexile wrote:
Wasn't Mazda a one year deal? Anyone know what the story is there?

Three year deal I thought. They must be delighted. All our HEC matches were covered live, plus a massive increase in attendances, and that's just year one.

I could be wrong, but I seem to remember hearing last year that season ticket income cannot be used to pay players, because it's not guaranteed year to year. So even with an increase on ST's we will not be able to splash out on someone new.

Our best bet would be a new sponsor to go with the Mazda cash.

Wasn't Mazda a one year deal? Anyone know what the story is there?

im being a bit tongue in cheek here but how would the clansmen feel about loughney going to munster in exchange for Borlase, henry and gleeson/dineen? Could be a good bit of business for all concerned especially with white already coming.

Failing a deal along these lines i think budget is already spent for next season.

On the subject of the Draw with 7 french teams next year theres a chance of two in the group. Anyone know the final seedings?

I could be wrong, but I seem to remember hearing last year that season ticket income cannot be used to pay players, because it's not guaranteed year to year. So even with an increase on ST's we will not be able to splash out on someone new.

Our best bet would be a new sponsor to go with the Mazda cash.

Surely after qualifying again the board will be able to generate extra funds to sign one or two more. Has Henry signed for anyone for 12/12 ? AFAIK he hasn't so maybe if funds come available we should try to keep him or else get a solid NIQ that is capable of breaking the line. I like the look of Luke O'Dea also.

After O'Dea's performance in the B&I cup I doubt Munster would let him go. Would really like to see Henry signed again if we could stretch the budget now that we've H Cup again next year. It's great to have this as it will give us more momentum and because of the all Irish Final more time to arrange/plan for next years tournament.

We now have B&I Rugby and Heineken Cup Rugby to look forward to next year. Life is good!

Super stuff. I would nearly expect that the players that we are currently bringing in are pushing the budget for further signings even though we have HC qualification now. Although I hope I'm wrong.

Looking forward to the draw already. Based in northern England now so will hopefully be making any away games in the HC across these waters. Really wouldn't be against a weekend in France or Italy either so bring it on. Was gutted I couldn't make the game over in Toulouse, ye seemed to have had a belter over there.

Do we want glamour or a soft pool? Do we care?

Could go Toulouse/Clermont/Exeter or could go Cardiff/Edinbugh/Castres.

Pool One:

Toulouse
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque Or ASM Clermont Auvergne (Biaritz win/lose Amlin)
Cardiff Blues
Northampton Saints

Pool Two:

ASM Clermont Auvergne or Stade Francais (Biaritz win/lose Amlin)
Leicester Tigers
Toulon
Harlequins
Edinburgh

Pool Four:

Benetton Treviso
Castres Olympique
Exeter
Montpellier
Racing Métro 92
Aironi/Viadana/Rome/Amatori Milan or whatever.

its_phil wrote:

Porterbelly wrote: We're in Pot 3 as well which is a help

Should be scope for a couple of signings fingers crossed

Could we target any of these:


Fionn Carr/Andrew Conway/Luke O Dea
Aaron Dundon
Ian Nagle/Damien Browne/Mark Flanagan
Paddy Butler (depending on if Munster sign a back rower and Leamy's fitness)/Leo Auva'a
NIQ centre to replace Fa'afili. Don't fancy Dineen or Gleeson

Conway will come through next year for Leinster. We don't need a back 3 player we have plenty of them coming through.
Dundon or Tom Sexton I'd like to see.
Everyone in Leinster seems happy with Browne, so can't see him leaving.
Nagle is going to be 3rd choice second row in HC and a first choice in Rabo for Munster next year so he won't leave.
I havent seen a lot of Flanagan to judge him.
Butler will be in that Munster team and will make a big push so I wouldn't be expecting him either. He'll get games in the Rabo which he'll probably take.

Center and a hooker is all I want. Who to get in the center is the big question?

There's nobody domestically who's available who would add another dimension to our team which we need in the centre. We need 4 good centres, we saw how all were needed with injuries this year. Henry was hit and miss but was good at getting over the gainline and offloading.

Someone like Seru Rabeni, he is 33 and playing in Pro D 2 but he was top class in the prem with Leicester and Leeds and he's a brilliant carrier.