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Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
By Sea_point June 30 2008
Connacht Rugby announced on the official website the season ticket pricing for the 2008-2009 season. But first news has also reached us of confirmation that two players that are definitely still contracted to Connacht for next season at Fly-half and Hooker.

News has come through thay apparently both Andy Dunne & Conor Muldoon are contracted to Connacht for another season. So four flyhalves we have at our disposal for next season, but at least they will be well serviced by three pretty decent scrum halves.

Of concern though must still be a lack of real cutting edge out wide. We do not have one out and out winger with Fionn Carr having played a lot of his rugby with Blackrock College last season at Full Back. A lot of our backs are utility players either switching between Full Back and Wing (Bibo & Carr) or Wing & Centre (Riordan, Matthews and John Hearty - remember him...???) for club or province. There's no one in our back three options who is going to remotely scare any of the better sides in the ML or Europe (and let's face it , based on the ML table of the last few seasons with Borders gone that means everyone)...  

It's been confirmed that Joe Merrigan has retained his place in the Connacht Squad for this season, with both Conor Muldoon and himself taking on the mantle of local lad in the hooker berths. With Sean Cronin will no doubt arrive from Shannon intent on winning a starting slot here, most likely with a view to getting back onto the Munster payroll in the near future. Both Conor and Joe will need Sean's arrival as an early warning sign for them that they need to push hard this season if they are going to survive next season's cull. With this situation really Adrian Flavin should be under pressure right from the off this season.   

Also with the squad head-count at 34 with the signing of Mike Roberts , apparently there might be one or two signings still to be announced before summer ends. Fingers crossed these will be mainly focused on strengthening our attacking options out wide or we will have another season relying on the tries from our forwards and the kicking accuracy of our fly-halves (of course with Bibo & Carr we have extra kicking options now as well)....  

Connacht Squad  - 2008/2009

Backs (16): Gavin Duffy, Daniel Riordan, Liam Bibo, Mel Deane, John Hearty, Keith Matthews, Aidan Wynne, Fionn Carr, Mike Roberts, Tim Donnelly, Andy Dunne, Ian Keatley, Troy Nathan, Frank Murphy, Kieran Campbell, Conor O'Loughlin.

Forwards (18): Brian McGovern, Robbie Morris, Brett Wilkinson, Ronan Loughney, John Lyne, Adrian Flavin, Sean Cronin, Joe Merrigan, Conor Muldoon, David Gannon, Andrew Farley, Andrew Browne, Mike Swift, Ray Ofisa, Mike McCarthy, Johnny O'Connor, John Muldoon, Colm Rigney

 

Last Updated: 08/07/2008 

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Re: Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
Posted by: RogueXV (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:06:30:15:09:46

Considering their funding Connacht have no business carrying 4 outhalves. The only explanation can be is they had the three others signed before they knew Keatley would be available to them and they could not pass up on him (is it possible Keatley, Carr and/or Cronin's salaries are not coming out of Connacht's budget?). So either someone is going to be moved (Nathan to prop) or be a highly paid AIL player.

Borders No.2 mentioned on another thread that Merrigan had resigned. I wouldn't be shocked if he hadn't considering the amount of time he played for Connacht over the past couple of seasons, but is he really gone?

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Re: Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
Posted by: Borders no.2 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:01:19:18:28

Again a statement from the branch is required here.

Seapoint,where did you hear that info.?Is this from a new source or from the IT list from last week?

I know their 2 names weren't under the Irish Times list of released players but they may have been waiting to see if other signings went through before confirmation of these issues?

Btw has there been any movement on the winger that was rumoured to be heading this way or has that lead gone dead???

Again so much mystery involved in Connachts dealings.

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Re: Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
Posted by: Sea_Point (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:07:02:00:48:50

Can't say but it's verified. Joe Merrigan was sort of an assumption on my part based on Conor Muldoon being confirmed and Merrigan not being on the original squad list,,,,,,

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Re: Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
Posted by: The West's Away (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:09:04:16:41:21

what happened to Ofisa Trev?

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Re: Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
Posted by: Borders no.2 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:09:04:23:45:43

Left at the end of last season to return to Samoa to play 7s I think.Someone might correct me on that or verify it because I have a short memory

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Re: Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
Posted by: Eyre Wolfe (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:09:05:09:34:25

Thought you might appreciate the heads up on Connachts prospcts as the Welsh press see them ;

"Key Man - Andrew Farley
Player to Watch - Jonny O Connor

Season Verdict - Seem to be treated almost as an after thought by Irish Rugby Union power brokers, Connachts role is to develop young players for prdeominantly Munster and Leinster, Not finishing bottom ( of the Magners League ) would be an achievement"

Western Mail 4/9/08

ps.They tip Leinster to retain the title .

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Re: Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
Posted by: lgwt@castlebar (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:09:05:10:28:32

In answer to the Trev, the Farmer, Ofisa question - he has indeed gone back across the equator to play Sevens.

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Re: Update on Connacht for 2008-09 Season
Posted by: RogueXV (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:09:05:14:46:37

Don't think Connacht's style of play or the weather suited Trev.

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