The state of flux which has surrounded Connacht of late shows no signs of abating and following the apparent exodus of several squad members at the end of this season it now seems as if coach Steph Nel will also be leaving.
Although Nel is still under contract with the IRFU next season and has enjoyed a very successful couple of years with the so-called "development province", reaching the knock-out stages of the Celtic League in both campaigns and the quarter-finals of this season's Parker Pen Shield, it is believed that he is unhappy about the attempted disbandment of the provincial team and the recent player exodus.
Nel did not attend yesterday's training with the Connacht squad, who were informed by the Connacht Branch chief executive Gerry Kelly that there was "a possibility" that Nel could be leaving the province. The South African coach is reputed to have been in Dublin holding talks with IRFU officials, perhaps with a view to severing his contract and returning to his native country, although this is unclear.
In any event, the effects this might or might not have on the Connacht squad will be interesting. As things stand it is more or less assumed that Johnny O'Connor and Gavin Duffy will decamp to the English Premiership and join Wasps and Harelequins respectively.
Highly promising hooker Jerry Flannery and Eoin Reddan are almost certainly bound for Munster, as might Marty McPhail; back-rowers Colm Rigney and John O'Sullivan are apparently weighing up moves to Leeds and Narbonne, although both might yet stay.
It is expected that Kiwi lock Rowen Frost will move to Ulster, or perhaps a French club, while Ronnie McCormack might also end up at Ulster or Leinster next season.
There has clearly been a breakdown of some sort in negotiating new player contracts although contrary to some rumours in the past few days it is believed that Eric Elwood, the province's standard-bearer and still the third best Irish outhalf around by a country mile, has intimated that he will resign with his native province despite overtures from England (Leicester apparently sounded him out a month or two ago) and France.
Having already rebuilt the Connacht squad from a skeletal base, Nel is assuredly unamused at the task of doing it all over again, despite the undoubted success of the team on the field. However, it is also believed that Nel's own relations with some of the players have wilted in recent times, if only because of a flawed communication line, primarily when players have been dropped or omitted.
The young South African coach is held in high esteem, both in Connacht and IRFU circles, after also assisting Matt Williams impressively with the Irish A team for the last couple of seasons.
However, if it is true that he has expressed a desire to leave the province, then it is very difficult to see how he will be there at the start of the next season. Further meetings between leading Connacht and IRFU figures are scheduled over the next day or two, and the union will surely be keen to resolve Nel's position as quickly as possible.
One putative successor whose name has already been floating around some Connacht rugby circles this past day or two is that of Michael Bradley, already a full-time IRFU coach, even if his only portfolio at the moment is the Irish Under-21 team.
As a young, indigenous coach who is clearly being fast-tracked by the union, Bradley's elevation to coach of the "development province" would have its merits, and would probably be well received west of the Shannon as well.
