Connacht Squad 2016/2017

Apologies it was of course the Independent not the Irish Times.

To Answer Salmson, I for one do not think we should be losing players of Rodneys std, we should have two to three of them for every position on the pitch. This is not always possible I know, but in this case it is within our capabilities to keep Rodney and the other props for many years to come. His best years are ahead of him and its sloppy business if we have let him go. We saw this year with the injury crisis how we need 3 good players for every position and Rodney has the potential to get many more caps for Ireland if he keeps his head down and improving. Les Kiss sees the potential in him, why let Ulster reap the rewards for Connachts hard work. it makes no sense to me.

I for one will be sad to see Rodney go, clearly a very popular member of the squad and I think the work he does is very underrated. When fit (bit of a disclaimer there ) I think he runs White very close for the starting spot. He's our most offensive tackler too and his close in carrying is probably the best in the squad (granted not an area of strength for us).

There's been grumblings on other forums that this was a Nucifora move (no inside knowledge myself) and I can see that to be honest as in any interview he always talks up Galway and how happy his family are there in a way that comes across as genuine (not always the case, often you can tell players are just doing their PR bit) so upping sticks to Belfast seems odd to me.

Anyway- I've always liked him so I hope the move works out for him though it's a pity he couldn't have stayed with us

Sorry I disagree. I don't see the difference if he is native our not. Over the years we have seen some very good non native players leave and make big impacts for other provinces. I don't care where a player is from, be it Galway or Samoa as long as he does his stuff in the Connacht Jersey. Rodney has the potential for many more Ireland Caps in him and it should be Connacht who get the benefit of this and not Ulster. We need players of his std and above three deep in every forward position, pushing each other stepping up when one is injured etc. This year we are all to aware of injuries and what they do to a squad. I would be sad to see Henshaw go, but it has been accepted he would leave from the day his star started shinning. I would be gutted to see Rodney go, the potential is there. The same goes for Bealham, for Niyi for James Connolly, Dani and many more like them in the squad we need to nail them down and reap the rewards for the work that went into them and not let other provinces benefit. just my opinion.

While I understand clover and others disappointment I don't think it's fair to say it's sloppy business, it's economics.

The IRFU give a maximum of 90K per year per provincial contract, the provinces have to fund any amount over that themselves. Development contracts are of the order of 20K per annum (I know of one player who got less) and are funded by the provinces. Given Rodney's position and the strength of sterling, keeping him would have been an equivalent cost to most of what's spent on the 5 development contracts announced this year.

We just don't have the income stream/numbers coming through the gates to justify multiple big-money contracts in the same position, which leaves us vulnerable to injury crises and unable to be competitive throughout a season. Bit of a chicken and egg thing unfortunately.

I know I am going to invite an absolute storm of critics for what I am about to say but I can not believe the amount of comments that are sighting loyalty as a reason a professional sportsmen should stay with one employer.
A rugby players career is short enough and they need to capitalise on their earning potential. He also has to think of his family, schools etc.
None of the people actually suggesting that Rodney should stay out of loyalty would think twice about changing their own jobs if they were offered an opportunity to move for more money.

Has there been any word on Dave McSharry lately? Don't recall hearing anything since he had to go off in the Newcastle game, that's over a month ago.

Fourdogs wrote: I know I am going to invite an absolute storm of critics for what I am about to say but I can not believe the amount of comments that are sighting loyalty as a reason a professional sportsmen should stay with one employer.
A rugby players career is short enough and they need to capitalise on their earning potential. He also has to think of his family, schools etc.
None of the people actually suggesting that Rodney should stay out of loyalty would think twice about changing their own jobs if they were offered an opportunity to move for more money.

If I was mediocre at my job with low earning potential, and then a company spent a lot of time and money training me up, I personally would feel feel a sense of loyalty to the company, and assuming I was being paid in the same ballpark I think I'd be inclined to repay that loyalty by sticking around. Having said all that, none of us know the ins and outs of the Rodney situation. As someone else pointed out, it may well be that Connacht think they can manage with other lower cost players. I'm mostly just sad to see him going as he had become a fan favorite for many reasons. And if he has to go, I'm happier to see him go to another province rather than England or France.

menacethedenis wrote: Has there been any word on Dave McSharry lately? Don't recall hearing anything since he had to go off in the Newcastle game, that's over a month ago.

I was wondering the same thing earlier. I have no idea, but my fear would be this could be a case of no news being bad news.

menacethedenis wrote: Has there been any word on Dave McSharry lately? Don't recall hearing anything since he had to go off in the Newcastle game, that's over a month ago.

No, he had a lot of concussions last year, one in Spring and 3 I think (Eagles, AIL, Newcastle) towards the end of the year, so I wouldn't expect to see him any time soon unfortunately.

I know what your saying Salmson and I understand. But to progress on and off the field as both are equally important Rodney is the type of player we should be busting a gut to keep and get more of. Over the years for various reasons we have let go players that have went on to be stars with other teams , some we asked to leave others our hands were forced and we must stop both of these from happening into the future if we are to gain momentum.

With the small investment that was the clan stand, and what it is, and what it gives us it was a small investment . It invited and received a new fan, increased numbers and gave the ground a good look. We need to go another step on the facility investment again, so we can fit in more for the big games, but more importantly make extra money to allow us to compete for players and allow us to keep players. This investment must come from Galway itself, it reaps the reward in revenue it needs to put something back from time to time.

On Dave McSharry, with his history on concussion, I hope for his sake he either calls it a day or takes a year out and re valuates after that. He has a lot of living to do, and rugby is not the be and end all.

Rodney to Ulster confirmed

www.connachtrugby.ie/rodney-ah-you-to-join-ulster/#ConnachtNews

greyingbeard wrote: Sad to see the personality go but the player shouldn't behard to replace for next season.

Any news on the specifics of why he chose Ulster over us (assuming we offered him a contract)?

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/rod...m-connacht-1.2500869

On the announcement he is swapping Galway for Belfast, the 27-year-old said: “I’m really excited about the challenges that lie ahead with Ulster. They are a side with big ambitions and are capable of winning silverware in the very near future.
“I feel that the environment at Ulster will allow me to reach my potential and help me to realise my ambitions in the game. With so many players pushing one another for starting places, it will hopefully spur me on to a new level. I feel, at 27, that my best years are ahead of me and I want to push hard for more international recognition too."