London Irish have announced Rob McCusker, Chris Noakes and Leo Halavatau have all been released as they confirm their squad for the 2016-17 season.The team have dodged a post-relegation exodus retaining the bulk of their first-choice squad for next seasons promotion push in the Championship with the likes of Scotland international Blair Cowan, All Black prop Ben Franks and England Under 20 backs Johnny Williams and Theo Brophy-Clews staying put.The Exiles new director of rugby Nick Kennedy said: Its great to have everyone back for pre-season following the summer break and I know that the players are itching to right the wrongs of last season.Im excited at the prospect of what the new recruits can bring to the table in what is a promising squad with a lot of ambition.The Championship is going to be a tough competition and we will need to be fully prepared for the challenge that lies ahead.Forwards: Ben Franks, Blair Cowan, Conor Gilsenan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), David Paice, Dave Porecki (Saracens), George Robson (Oyonnax), Gerard Ellis, Harry Elrington, Isaac Curtis Harris, Jebb Sinclair, Jerry Sexton (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Trayfoot, Luke Narraway, Matt Kouris, Ofisa Treviranus, Ollie Hoskins (Western Force), Max Northcote-Green (Bath Rugby), Mike Coman (Edinburgh Rugby), Richard Palframan, Sebastian De Chaves (Leicester Tigers), Tom Court, Tom Smallbone, Will LloydBacks: Alex Lewington, Aseli Tikoirotuma, Brendan McKibbin, Ciaran Hearn, Conor Murphy, Darren Allinson, Fergus Mulchrone, Greig Tonks, James Marshall (Hurricanes), Joe Cockanasiga, Johnny Williams, Matt Williams, Rory Brand, Ross Neal, Scott Steele, Shane Geraghty, Theo Brophy Clews, Tommy Bell (Leicester Tigers), Tom Fowlie, Tom Parton, Topsy OjoOut: Andrew Fenby (retired), Geoff Cross (retired), Nic Rouse (retired), Tom Guest (retired), George Skivington (retired), Rob McCusker (released), Chris Noakes (released), Leo Halavatau (released), Tom Cruse (Wasps), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Matt Symons (Wasps), Jonny Harris (London Scottish), Jimmy Stevens (Nottingham Rugby), Halani Aulika (Sale Sharks), Dominic Waldouck (Ohio) Custom Lakers T-shirts . 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Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL.TORONTO - When a season doesnt go as planned, a team drastically underperforms on expectations, inevitably the time comes when a player-media spat makes its way into the public realm. If you had July 4 in your office pool, congratulations. Hours after going on a Toronto radio station Thursday morning to call into question the persistent criticism hes received from broadcast analysts and former major leaguers Gregg Zaun and Dirk Hayhurst, J.P. Arencibia stood by his comments before a large media horde at Rogers Centre. "I said what I felt," said Arencibia. "I said what I said this morning and I dont regret anything. I think that, again, I feel like me, myself and my teammates feel the same way. "Part of you guys is to be critical," he continued. "Youre not going to talk about every good thing. Youre not going to talk about this guy running the ball out hard. Youre not going to talk about the "sexy" things about the game. Obviously, controversy and negativity is sometimes part of the job. I think that was my point and I feel like I said what I needed to say." Zaun, a former catcher who played for the Blue Jays from 2004-2008, and Hayhurst, who pitched for Toronto in 2009, have regularly criticized Arencibias handling of the pitching staff, his defence and his offensive approach. Entering Thursdays series finale versus Detroit, Arencibias .216 batting average ranked 152nd out of 157 major league players with enough plate appearances to qualify. His .244 on base percentage ranked last among 158 qualified hitters. Arencibias 15 home runs leads all major league catchers but eight of them came in April, as did 16 of his 38 RBI. His WAR rating, which calculates a players value to his team above a minor league replacement, is 0.2. Defensively, Arencibia leads the majors in passed balls (10). Analysts in Toronto and elsewhere have opined on his pitch-framing abilities and his game-calling. Arencibia is a work in progress, hell admit as much, and says hes among the first to arrive and last to leave the ballpark. Whether its watching video or poring over scouting reports, Arencibia says hes constantly preparing. Behind the plate, Arencibia is a workhorse, having caught all but two games not sstarted by R.dddddddddddd.A. Dickey. The knuckleballer has a personal catcher, first Henry Blanco and now Josh Thole, otherwise its likely Arencibia would have played in some of those games. "Im not going to sit here and say Im excited or should be patted in the toosh for what Ive done but I also think there are a lot of things that go unsaid," said Arencibia. "Its just unjust sometimes. I think, obviously, were not where we wanted to be. The season hasnt gone with the high expectations and that stuff but I think theres nothing specific. Its over a period of time I was making a point of what was being said." After suggesting that because Zaun and Hayhurst played professional baseball, they should have a better understanding of the daily rigours, Arencibia called on both to become more accessible to the players. "I was able to talk to Dirk today," said Arencibia. "I told him, you know hey, you can say what you want to say. Just be around the guys more. Come in. Why was it the first time that youve shown face, today, when something was said? Thats my point. They were both on the other side of the game, they both understand the way it works, I understand its part of their job. Again, why is it the first time that they come around? Why arent they around our team? Probably because theres a little bit more to that." "You never see either one of them, thats a fact," said manager John Gibbons, who identified Arencibia as the clubs "whipping boy". "Where that goes, people view that as gutless. If youre going to write things, you show up. Thats just the way it is, thats how these guys view that stuff. If youre going to take your digs, youve at least got to be around. Thats the way (the players) think." Arencibia is 27-years old but still hasnt hit the three-year anniversary of his major league debut. Highly touted, he made a splash in his debut on August 7, 2010. In that game, a 17-11 win over Tampa Bay, Arencibia went 4-5 with two home runs and three RBI. It seemed the great expectation was set from the get-go. Now, while he struggles for a prolonged period of time, his ceiling has come into question. Kind of like the Blue Jays, version 2013, isnt it? ' ' '