Andy Friend says the quality of Connacht’s recruitment for next season is a sign of the progress they have made in recent seasons.
The province has been busy in the transfer market in recent weeks, confirming dealers to bring Josh Murphy, Peter Dooley, Adam Byrne and David Hawkshaw to Leinster next season, some of whom they may play this Saturday in their URC Interpro round. Sports ground (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
There are plans to be a major body modification at the sportsground this summer, with the province already retiring to lose Ultan Dillane, Sammy Arnold and Abraham Papali’i, but Friend has also hinted that it will be a final addition as part of the next Season can be.
Connacht has dominated the careers of many Leinster natives over the years, most recently Paul Boyle, Tom Daly, Gavin Thornbury and Conor Oliver, as their latest signings of their provincial rivals look to add real depth to the western province, with Byrne and Ireland. internationally, while Dooley also has experience in Irish camps.
The reduced number of players in the URC season will certainly have helped Connacht, with players on the sidelines of other squads less likely to sit and wait their turn.
A friend admits that he was not able to attract players of that caliber to the sports field a few seasons ago.
“It’s probably the biggest change since I was here,” he said.
“I remember talking to a number of Leinster players in my first year, and some French players who were not given playing time and there was no way to interrupt them.
“But I think that’s a compliment to the Connacht and the kind of program we’re building there, that if we talk to these men right now, there’s a wish and for them, they’ve chosen to tear it down and come down here. and want to play in the green at Connacht which is great for us.
“I think it’s great for them too, because the only way to be a rugby player is to play rugby.
“So there is opportunity here, they got no guarantees at all.
“They come in a squad and as we all say the players can win the best man, there will be 15 every week and hopefully you are good enough and you are in the 15th.”
At the helm of the four Leinster players, Friend has added two 21-year-old prospects from the Southern Hemisphere, in the form of New Zealander Shamus Hurley-Langton (above) and Irish-qualified Australian Byron Ralston.
Versatile back Ralston comes from the Western Force in Australia, with the added benefit of being Irish qualified, and friend jokes that Mack Hansen’s dream debut season could put some early pressure on him.
“When he looked at the Western Force, his agent told us he was Irish qualified, so you’re more interested when you see that.
“But he’s very athletic, he’s played on the wings, but he can also play in the centers and actually has a desire to play outside the center, which is a position where we need more coverage. So that’s great.
“He has the youth on his side and probably the most important thing is that you then talk to his coaches who have been training and they say he is very, very coachable.
“He wants to come here, he has other options, but a bit like Mack Hansen he wants to come here and discover the Irish roots and see what an opportunity presents itself here.
“So I think he’s a great signing for us. There’s going to be some pressure because everyone else will say he’s the new Mack Hansen – the poor bugger – listen you never know what he’s going to do.”
And the Connacht boss also spoke of his excitement for Hurley-Langton, who he compares to a sportsground favorite from a few seasons ago.
“He’s another exciting young prospect,” he added of Hurley-Langton.
“To me he’s a very similar version to Colby Fainga’a, and we know how good Colby was to us. He’s a powerful backslider. He plays eight, he can play seven, he attacks and defends with tremendous power. “
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