More than enough on merry-go-round to go round

Irish Provinces Squads for 2005/06 season: No less than 37 provincial players will be lining out this season with a different team. Some have gone to Heineken European Cup sides with others going back to club rugby - and there are also several retirements.

As the flurry of contract signings, releases and head hunts finally settles prior to the series of pre-season friendly matches next month, a number of familiar names have disappeared, or jumped ship, from the European Cup and Celtic League sides.

Connacht, the most susceptible squad to asset stripping, were indeed plundered. Michael Bradley's fiery side of last year - who came so close to European Cup qualification and left a number of big clubs bruised - coughed up several of their big-name players to other Irish provinces.

Hooker Bernard Jackman, who this summer earned his first Irish cap on the national side's tour to Japan, has moved to Leinster while Munster have snapped up two others, the highly-rated back row John O'Sullivan and the converted second row, giant Shannon prop Tony Buckley.

While Connacht mull over some of their notables departing, the other three provincial sides have been busy juggling names with budgets and positions.

Leinster, now under the guidance of head coach Michael Cheika and assistant coach David Knox, have had the biggest high-profile clean-out of players following the messy end to last season when Declan Kidney opted for Munster before the season had ended and a number of players were discarded.

Twelve players have left the squad. Shane Byrne opted for the Saracens front row, while Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings preferred departures to Leicester.

David Quinlan's signing with Northampton, Aidan McCullen's move to join Trevor Brennan in Toulouse and David Holwell's decision to retire after a superb one-season cameo for Leinster leave a lot of holes to be filled around the heart, and fringes, of the squad.

Also, with Peter Coyle, Gavin Hickie and John McWeeney being released and Victor Costello opting for retirement, Cheika has a serious reconstruction job on his hands.

For a start, he has brought in New South Wales Waratahs A second row Adam Byrnes to add to prop signings, Wasp's Will Green and Ulster's Ronan McCormack.

Jackman, at hooker, also bulks up the front row while a number of players, such as Trinity back row Jamie Heaslip along with flanker Niall Ronan and lock Ciarán Potts, have signed professional contracts.

Both Gary Brown and UCD's Eoghan Hickey have both been given development contracts, leaving Cheika with two more names to sign before the September European Cup deadline.

One will likely be a back, to cover for Brian O'Driscoll while he recovers from shoulder surgery.

Munster have been comparatively stoic, but have interesting recruits. While James Blaney and Jim Williams have retired, Mike Storey has returned to New Zealand, Tom Bowman to Australia and scrumhalf Eoin Reddan to Wasps, the management have bought tried performers.

Mick O'Driscoll returns from France while Bourgoin prop Federico Puccearrello joins the front row. The arrival of Natal Sharks centre Trevor Halstead has generated interest as has scrumhalf Tomás O'Leary, son of the legendary Cork hurler Seánie.

Munster are also leaving a contract position vacant as coach Declan Kidney faces into the first few matches.

Ulster's recruitment drive has centred around Irish under-21 players - prop John Andress, number eight Stephen Ferris, flanker Oisín Hennessy and second row Lewis Stevenson - as well as a few experienced heads.

Mark McCall welcomes back front row Justin Fitzpatrick from Castres and will have to wait until the NPC contract of Waikato scrumhalf Issac Boff expires at the end of September before he wears the red hand on his breast.

The gritty, uncompromising style of former Australian international Justin Harrison will also give the Ulster pack something of a fiery edge. The province are still looking for a backrow and have left one contract outstanding.

Connacht have had their squad emptied and, like Leinster, 12 players have departed.

Like Ulster, they have looked to the Academy and Irish under- 21 squad for talent. But McCall has also trawled abroad and in Andrew Gallagher has unearthed a New Zealand second row. Frik Venter, who can play prop and hooker, arrives from South Africa while Colm Rigney returns to Ireland from Leeds Tykes to bulk up the backrow.

Blackrock duo David Gannon and John Harty, both former Leinster players, have been given development contracts and will not play in Stradbrook for their club rugby this season.

Connacht

Out: Henry Bourke, Peter Bracken, Mick Carroll, Justin Meagher, Bernard Jackman, Paul Neville, Mike Walls, John O'Sullivan, Peter Myburgh, David Kelly, Niall O'Brian, Tony Buckley.

In: David Gannon (secondrow), John Harty (centre), Andrew Gallagher (secondrow), Frik Venter (prop/hooker), Colm Rigney (back row), Michael Diffley (prop), Daniel Riordan (back), Ronan Loughney (prop), Joe Merrigan (hooker).

Two contracts to be filled.

Leinster

Out: Shane Byrne, Peter Coyle, Niall Treston, Leo Cullen, Aidan McCullen, Shane Jennings, David Holwell, David Quinlan, Gavin Hickie, John McWeeney, Victor Costello, Ricky Nebbett.

In: Will Green (prop), Ronan McCormack (prop), Bernard Jackman (hooker), Adam Byrnes (secondrow), Ciarán Potts (second row), Niall Ronan (flanker), Simon Crawford (secondrow), Johnny Wickham (prop), Jamie Heaslip (backrow), James Norton (utility back), Gary Brown (utility back), Eoghan Hickey (outhalf).

Two contracts to be filled.

Munster

Out: James Blaney, Mike Storey, Tom Bowman, Jim Williams, Eoin Reddan, James Storey.

In: Trevor Halstead (centre), Federico Puccaearrello (prop), Mick O'Driscoll (second row), John O'Sullivan (flanker), Tony Buckley (prop), Tomás O'Leary (scrumhalf), Jeremey Manning (outhalf).

One contract to be filled.

Ulster

Out: Andy Ward, Neil Doak, Gary Longwell, Mat Mustchin, Tim Barker, Andy Kershaw, Gavin Pfister, Simon Shaw.

In: Issac Boff (scrumhalf), Justin Harrison (secondrow), Justin Fitzpatrick (prop), John Andress (prop), Stephen Ferris (number eight), Oisin Hennessy (flanker), Lewis Stevenson (secondrow).

One contract to be filled.