John Smith

Rugby is the real winner

[Georgian Rugby @GeorgianRugby]

For the first time in Georgian history, the Junior Lelos have defeated the New Zealand national team!!! 🔥🔥

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@Caolan_Scully @ExaminerSport Add in george murray doing exits, ian costello will probably do goal line attack, may aswell give Ackie Mullins the S+C. Where is the GM/DOR in all of this? Circus

[Tight Five Rugby @TightFive_Rugby]

Really not going to be able to compute that George Ford and Jack Willis aren’t Lions, but Gregor Brown is.

Doesn’t sit right with me.

[Rugby on TNT Sports @rugbyontnt]

As if the day couldn't get any better for this @BathRugby supporter 👟🔥

[Skyrugby @sky_rugby]

Couldn’t believe this yesterday, an army of ppl run down behind the kicker to put him off.

In a u14 game 🤯

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@CianTracey1 What about the ail pushed aside for 15 years?

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@RTEsport How has the new general manager not got the key player for Munster squared away. Other players signed on in November. Poor management from the province again

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@leinsterrugby @stmcnews @terenurerugby did fintan not play for terenure this year and last year? Seems the club are forgotten again on helping players develop. #grassroots

[Darby O'Gill @MacConRaoi7]

Have a Listen to This… 😡

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@Munsterrugby @UCCRFC @LeicesterTigers Did ye have a young team out??

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@leinsterrugby @NaasRFC @newbridgecol He played with @UCDRugby a few weeks ago also. Don't forget the clubs.

[Off The Ball @offtheball]

"[If] the best coaches in the world were available, I'd have still been backing Mike."

Ronan O'Gara shares why Mike Prendergast would've been his preferred appointment for the Munster head-coaching role. 🏉🔴

@Team_Optimum | #UnlockMoreYou

#Irishrugby #rugby

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@neil_treacy Who is scrum coach there?

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@leinsterrugby @BlackrockColl @BCRFC @johnscrothers @sportsfile Where did he play his minis rugby?

[Nick Mullins @andNickMullins]

A minor point maybe as we gear-up for later, but love the way England A team announcements offer a nod towards the junior clubs where it all started. Grassroots beauts.

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@The42_ie 332 minutes this season. Lads are paid to go to the gym and be a pro and not play rugby. Just over 4 full games, and it's middle February.

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@rugbyontnt @BristolBearsW @ThePWR She passed it to her teammate. Calm down.

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@CianTracey1 Munster rugby as an organisation is embarrassing. What do we expect when the academy manager makes himself director of operations and then the interim head coach. Ian costello is on a power trip and has no clue what his doing. Back to UL bohs, he should be sent..

[John Smith @Smity10Smith]

@TheRugbyPaper How is george ford still in the conversation?

[Joe Naughton @JoeNaConnacht]

*Embarrassment at the Sportsground: Connacht’s Seismic Overhaul Needed After Humiliating Loss to Ulster Third-String, as New Stadium Risks Becoming a €30 Million Ghost Town*

Connacht Rugby needs to brace itself for seismic shake-up at the end of the season, after losing a seventh successive Irish derby, this time to a 3rd string Ulster side at home, a major clear-out of players and staff is needed. Of the current management team—Pete Wilkins, Scot Vardy, John Muldoon, Mark Sexton, and Willie Ruane—it’s likely that only one or two should remain as the province needs to undergoe a complete overhaul.

*Players Out of Contract*

To the best of my knowledge the following players are on expiring deals:

Definitely Keep
•Eoin De Buitléar
•Sam Illo
•Josh Murphy
•Niall Murray
•Paul Boyle
•Sean Jansen
•Ben Murphy
•Oisín McCormack
•Shane Jennings
•Mack Hansen
•Piers O’Conor*

Keep?
•Dave Heffernan
•Joe Joyce
•Conor Oliver
•David Hawkshaw
•Josh Ioane
•Andrew Smith

Unlikely to be around next season
•Adam McBurney
•Temi Lasisi
•David O’Connor
•Sean F O’Brien
•Colm O’Reilly
•JC
•JJ Hanrahan
•John Porch
•Santiago Cordero
•Chay Mullins

This could free up €1.5 Million.

By letting go of a significant number highly paid players, Connacht is set to free up maybe €1.5 million from the salary. This creates an opportunity for three to four major marquee signings, targeting positions of need—most notably at out-half, Loosehead Prop and Full back. The province must decide whether to give the reins to Sean Naughton or invest in a marquee No. 10 from the market.

New Stadium, New Challenges

With the opening of their state-of-the-art stadium next season, Connacht faces a stark reality: unless bold moves are made, the venue could look desolate with fewer than 5,000 supporters per game. Fans need reasons to believe in the project, and without key signings or a vision for the future, the enthusiasm surrounding the new stadium may quickly fizzle out.