Connacht sign four players from rival provinces Leinster and Munster
The growing trend of players moving between the four provincial teams in Ireland is showing no signs of slowing down, with Connacht today confirming the signing of four players already in the Irish system. The Galway-based club have confirmed that Munster players Sammy Arnold and Conor Oliver, and Leinster duo Jack Aungier and Oisin Dowling will all join Connacht from July 1st.
Munster have also confirmed that 22-year-old tighthead prop Roman Salanoa will join from Leinster on a two-year deal.
Arnold, Dowling and Aungier have all signed two-year contracts with Connacht, with the length of Oliver’s deal undisclosed.
Arnold, capped once by Ireland, will complete the rare feat of representing three of the Irish provinces.
Born in Surrey, the 24-year-old centre has played for both Ulster and Munster, winning Ulster’s Academy Player of the Year before moving south in 2016, where he won Munster’s Young Player of the Year award.
Oliver has made 28 appearances in the Munster back row since making his debut in February 2016, and was named Academy Player of the Year the following season.
Both Arnold and Oliver worked with Connacht attack coach Nigel Carolan while part of the Ireland squad at the the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship.
Aungier and Dowling become the latest young prospects to leave Leinster’s highly competitive senior squad in search of more game-time.
Prop Aungier has made five appearances in the Guinness Pro14 since his debut last November, while Dowling has clocked up six appearances across the past two seasons.
Connacht head coach Andy Friend believes all four players can make significant contributions to his squad.
“In Sammy, Conor, Oisin and Jack we have secured the signings of four very talented and promising young Irish rugby players,” he said.
“They each have unique skillsets which will enhance our squad for next season and beyond, and will allow us to continue to grow as a program. We’re all looking forward to welcoming them to The Sportsground and integrating them into our playing squad.”
Connacht were sitting fourth in the Guinness Pro14 table when the league was suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, winning seven of their 13 games.
?? | Connacht Rugby are pleased to announce four new signings ahead of the new season ?
Sammy Arnold, Conor Oliver, Jack Aungier & Oisin Dowling will all join the squad from July 1st ?#StrongerInGreen #HomeAdvantage
Full story ? https://t.co/tdcQqO5eEl pic.twitter.com/dfTNt0ctZM
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) May 18, 2020
Meanwhile, Munster have announced the signing of tighthead prop Roman Salanoa on a two-year deal.
Hawaiinan-born Salanoa represented the USA U20s as an 18-year-old in 2016 and moved to Dublin the following year.
He has made three Pro14 appearances this season.
Munster head coach Johann van Graan said Salanoa is a promising prospect, while also thanking the departing Arnold and Oliver.
“We are delighted to add to our tighthead options with the signing of Roman. He is an exciting prospect and we look forward to welcoming him to the province.”
“I would like to thank Conor and Sammy for everything they have done for Munster Rugby.
“As two young hugely talented players they both have very bright futures ahead and we wish them every success.”
?? Munster Rugby can confirm that @SammyArnold9 and @ConorOliver are departing the province next month as tighthead prop Roman Salanoa joins the senior squad.
All the best to Sammy and Conor at Connacht and we're looking forward to welcoming Roman to Munster!#SUAF ?
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) May 18, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments