Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

I think there will be more players leaving. Leinster will surely lose some as the game time has diminished for some lads. Arnold is a good player and he's looking out for his future

A 3 year deal is good going. Highly unlikely to get that from Connacht. Might have got 2 years max. Maybe even only a 1 year extension. Good solid player but replaceable.

Bundee's next contract will be interesting. Easy to forget but he's 31 now.

Arnold has been a good squad player but is not irreplaceable, I think we'll be able to promote Shane Jennings without too much of a blow to our depth. Obviously Jennings isn't at Arnold's level yet but he's better with ball in hand and probably has a higher ceiling.

100% I think it will.

It will have to have an impact on fringe players at leinster.

Serious competition at hooker.

In the back row I'm sure there are players with international ambitions who might need to move.

Any young centre could be behind henshaw and ringrose for a number of years with a lack of game time to try and impress.

Even at 10. A younger player like hawkshaw, Tector or Tim Corkery could need to move to get an opportunity.

In fairness to Arnold he did the right thing. Moved around the provinces to try and enhance his irish opportunity by getting minutes and now at 25 he is moving abroad on a 3 year contract. More power to him.

Dooley would be a good signing for Ulster

Mack Hansen called in to train with the Irish squad. Interesting. Would give him game time ahead of Zebo anyway.

He's a potentially very special player. A lot more confident in the air and a bit more about him defensively than Wooton (whom I rate a lot). He has that Kolbe "sneak past you in a telephone box" brain too.

Delighted for the lad.

I'm personally shocked a selection based on form was allowed to happen

/Sarcasm

Former Connacht man Colby Fainga'a has been called up the Wallaby squad.

Anyone having trouble with renewing their season ticket? I have two tickets on my account but was only able to renew one. When I logged back in to renew the second it already said I had an order made and I couldn’t renew the second. Also, and this is less of an issue, the ST was €200 plus charges rather than €195 as it is supposed to be.

Shayne Bolton played 13 for Wegians.

For those like myself who weren't aware, is this (playing AIL) something that happens regularly when there is a provincial break? Good idea to get the squad some game time, even if it is amateur.

Actually, no disrepect to the AIL at all - I meant amateur in the sense of being unpaid (and I did not use the word "just"). That comes with it, by definition, a lower standard than the professional level. But I think it's great that it is an option for current non-match-playing professionals, and also that it allows people who may have been overlooked previously to come into the professional game.

So it's good that these players are getting game time - albeit at a lower standard than the professional level.