Transfers 2014/15

[Groundhog]

He's a hooker? I'm fairly certain he won't get near an Irish jersey with the volume of quality hookers and looseheads we have. Connacht would have done well to sign one of Munster's three quality hookers to be honest. We're ****ting out hookers. Guys like Annett are leaving Ulster for England but Connacht have signed a foreign guy. Really don't understand that.
Yeah said in the article he's nicknamed 'beast', and is renowned for his gym work. That alone won't cut it though but it can't hurt.
I seriously doubt that Clarke will see an Irish jersey either. Who is an excellent player is Jake Heenan but he won't be staying here for long. He's going to be world class one day. The only place we could use projects is in the centre and maybe Tighthead Prop if Martin Moore doesn't reach his hype. Otherwise it's not justifiable to me.
Apparently Connacht got a budget increase of 350K this year from the IRFU with rumors of them seeking private investors for the club as well. They can make all the signings in the world but they will have trouble holding them and maintaining a squad like this.

 

[Darwin]

He's a hooker? I'm fairly certain he won't get near an Irish jersey with the volume of quality hookers and looseheads we have. Connacht would have done well to sign one of Munster's three quality hookers to be honest. We're ****ting out hookers. Guys like Annett are leaving Ulster for England but Connacht have signed a foreign guy. Really don't understand that.
Yeah said in the article he's nicknamed 'beast', and is renowned for his gym work. That alone won't cut it though but it can't hurt.
I seriously doubt that Clarke will see an Irish jersey either. Who is an excellent player is Jake Heenan but he won't be staying here for long. He's going to be world class one day. The only place we could use projects is in the centre and maybe Tighthead Prop if Martin Moore doesn't reach his hype. Otherwise it's not justifiable to me.
Apparently Connacht got a budget increase of 350K this year from the IRFU with rumors of them seeking private investors for the club as well. They can make all the signings in the world but they will have trouble holding them and maintaining a squad like this.

We've already given you superstar tightheads such as Peter Borlase & Michael Bent - what more could you want?

 

[munstermuffin]

We've already given you superstar tightheads such as Peter Borlase & Michael Bent - what more could you want?

If we kept the receipts can ye do refunds on them ??????

 

[Darwin]

If we kept the receipts can ye do refunds on them ??????

We will start giving refunds when you start paying the NZRFU for the players

Until then we will continue to throw in one Michael Bent for every Jared Payne you receive.....

 

[munstermuffin]

We will start giving refunds when you start paying the NZRFU for the players

Until then we will continue to throw in one Michael Bent for every Jared Payne you receive.....

In fairness if New Zealand really wanted any of them guys they'd have kept them easily.

 

[Darwin]

In fairness if New Zealand really wanted any of them guys they'd have kept them easily.

I don't think it is that simple. The NZRFU have very limited resources, so do end up losing a lot of guys they would have liked to have kept. The majority of the guys who have headed to Irish provinces thus far haven't been massive loses, but I'm sure the NZRFU would have loved to have kept the likes Jarrad Payne & Jake Heenan.

Just a random question: Why has there been such a big influx of New Zealanders into Irish provinces in the last couple of years? The has always been the odd New Zealand player in Ireland, but it seems are rather popular destination for NZ players in recent seasons. Have the rules changed or have the Irish provinces become richer?

 

[Groundhog]

Big emphasis on signing Project players these days so New Zealand is targeted because it has a huge surplus of talent that wants international rugby. In the past we could just sign established internationals like JDV Howlett Cullen and Botha but now the provinces have to fight smart and target youth. New Zealand's a good option but Munster's two project boys are Saffas.
As for money. Well Connacht have more. 350K more as of last week.

 

[Darwin]

Big emphasis on signing Project players these days so New Zealand is targeted because it has a huge surplus of talent that wants international rugby. In the past we could just sign established internationals like JDV Howlett Cullen and Botha but now the provinces have to fight smart and target youth. New Zealand's a good option but Munster's two project boys are Saffas.
As for money. Well Connacht have more. 350K more as of last week.

I thought there was some sort of limit on the number of NIQ players that were allowed in each squad? Having a quick look through the Connacht squad I count at least 4 NZ players that aren't eligible for Ireland (+ another 2 next year), as well as players listed as being from Scotland, South Africa, England etc.....

 

[Groundhog]

There's different slots. An NIQ like B.J Botha can never play for Ireland and I think three NIQ's are allowed for Munster, Ulster and Leinster, but there is an additional spot allowed for a project, ie a guy who can qualify for Ireland. When your project becomes qualified like Payne next year the spot frees up. Of course all of your NIQ spots can be filled with projects who will no longer limit your potential when they qualify after three years.
Connacht however are different. They're allowed a larger number of slots, not certain how many but that's how they pull it off. Only province that can.

 

[Peat]

Main three have four plus project. Connacht currently have whatever the hell they want. Got to question whether guys like Annett even want to go to Connacht.

Reality - project players aren't about the IRFU needing players in certain positions - its about insisting as much of the player pool, in any position, can be used if necessary.

 

[munstermuffin]

What Groundhogs trying to touch on is IRFU state only 1 province can have a NIQ 10 or 3 but that's never enforced. We have Botha and Ulster had Afoa. If it was enforced Ulster couldn't sign another NIQ TH prop and Botha wouldn't have been allowed resign for us last year.

 

[big ginger 8]

Seriously, are Connacht not capable of developing their own players. I wonder whether we will see him in an Ireland jersey in 3 years time (alongside the likes Bundee O'Aki, and Craig O'Clarke)

He is a good solid player, but not a major loss to NZ rugby. By all reports he is outstanding in the gym - unfortunately he was never really able to transfer this onto the rugby field.

Can guarantee we'll never see Clarke in an Ireland jersey...he was a Junior All Black. . Also with your first question while they're greatly improved Connacht aren't really able to produce players with a much smaller and older population which has a low interest in rugby. Hopefully that does seem to be changing with the likes of Henshaw, McKeon and Griffin in there starting team all from the province and young guys. McCartney will be good for them but I'm not even sure if he'll start. Harris-Wright is pretty big for them at hooker and Buckley shows a lot of promise at loosehead.

I don't think it is that simple. The NZRFU have very limited resources, so do end up losing a lot of guys they would have liked to have kept. The majority of the guys who have headed to Irish provinces thus far haven't been massive loses, but I'm sure the NZRFU would have loved to have kept the likes Jarrad Payne & Jake Heenan.

Just a random question: Why has there been such a big influx of New Zealanders into Irish provinces in the last couple of years? The has always been the odd New Zealand player in Ireland, but it seems are rather popular destination for NZ players in recent seasons. Have the rules changed or have the Irish provinces become richer?

Just on Heenan despite being a former u20's captain he wasn't on any franchises books, so I don't know how much effort was made to keep him.

Along with the other reasons the guys mentioned about NZ's surplus etc don't forget that all four provinces have had New Zealanders as head coaches, so they would have had contacts back home and been more aware of the talent. Leinster alone at one stage had Schmidt, Gibbes and Feek!

 

[Darwin]

Can guarantee we'll never see Clarke in an Ireland jersey...he was a Junior All Black. . Also with your first question while they're greatly improved Connacht aren't really able to produce players with a much smaller and older population which has a low interest in rugby. Hopefully that does seem to be changing with the likes of Henshaw, McKeon and Griffin in there starting team all from the province and young guys. McCartney will be good for them but I'm not even sure if he'll start. Harris-Wright is pretty big for them at hooker and Buckley shows a lot of promise at loosehead.

True. I wasn't really being serious about McCartney or Clarke playing for Ireland, and I'm very skeptical as to whether we will see Aki playing for Ireland (I suspect he will be playing for Samoa before the next RWC).

In terms of McCarney, he is a much better hooker than loosehead. Though he is capable of playing LH I don't think he should even be considered as a LH option.

Just on Heenan despite being a former u20's captain he wasn't on any franchises books, so I don't know how much effort was made to keep him.

Along with the other reasons the guys mentioned about NZ's surplus etc don't forget that all four provinces have had New Zealanders as head coaches, so they would have had contacts back home and been more aware of the talent. Leinster alone at one stage had Schmidt, Gibbes and Feek!

The vast majority of New Zealand under 20 players aren't signed for any Super Rugby franchises for several seasons - it doesn't mean we don't want to keep them! Heenan was involved with the Blues development side (so was obviously highly rated), and would probably have pushed for a spot in a Super Rugby franchise this year if he had stayed in NZ, but he left before he even had a chance to prove himself.

 

[lynam1104]

I think Heenan is very ambitions and perhaps a bit impatient with the NZ system and wanted to be playing as high level rugby as possible as soon as possible and when the chance at Connacht came he jumped at it. I don't think he'll play for Ireland.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Has anyone said Biggs to Wuss.

Wuss should have easily the best team in the championship, if Bris go up.

 

[nickdnz]

Annnd...Andre Taylor is heading to Kinetetsu Liners.


That sucks. Alot. He only just starting getting back some good form. In top form I feel he is NZ's most dangerous fullback, though it seems he can be a bit tempremental.

It does leaves the Canes with a lot of holes to fill net season with Leiua and Lam also off.

 

[goodNumber10]

Robbie Deans - Wild Knights

 

[nickdnz]

Robbie Deans - Wild Knights

Damn, I was hoping the Hurricanes may get him.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Lorenzo Cittadini to Wasps is confirmed

 

[Darwin]

Annnd...Andre Taylor is heading to Kinetetsu Liners.


That sucks. Alot. He only just starting getting back some good form. In top form I feel he is NZ's most dangerous fullback, though it seems he can be a bit tempremental.

It does leaves the Canes with a lot of holes to fill net season with Leiua and Lam also off.

Taylor is certainly a loss to the Canes - as you say when he is form he is an electric attacker. His inconsistency is his biggest issue, along with his amazing ability to forget he has 14 team mates once he starts running with the ball....