Santiago Cordero 1 of 7 players confirmed to be exiting Connacht

Connacht have confirmed that three more players, including Puma winger Santiago Cordero, will be leaving Galway when their contracts run out at the end of the season.

Cordero, who has won 50 Test caps for his country, has made 21 appearances for the club since recovering from a serious knee injury during pre-season, soon after joining in 2023.

The 31-year-old, who started his career with the Jaguares before spells in the Premiership with Exeter Chiefs and in the Top 14 with Bordeaux, has scored just two tries in 20 appearances this season.

Connacht, who are still looking for a head coach for next season after announcing last month that Pete Wilkins was standing down, have already signed his replacement: versatile Highlanders back and one-time All Blacks hopeful Sam Gilbert.

The club has already announced that JJ Hanrahan, Munster’s third-highest points scorer of all time with 743 points, is returning to his former club along with Andrew Smith.

United Rugby Championship

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Leinster

16

14

2

0

67

2

Glasgow

16

11

5

0

59

3

Bulls

16

12

4

0

58

4

Sharks

16

11

5

0

53

5

Cardiff Rugby

16

8

7

1

46

6

Stormers

16

8

8

0

45

7

Scarlets

16

8

7

1

43

8

Benetton

16

8

7

1

41

9

Munster

16

7

9

0

41

10

Edinburgh

16

6

9

1

39

11

Ospreys

16

7

8

1

38

12

Ulster

16

7

9

0

38

13

Lions

16

7

9

0

35

14

Connacht

16

5

11

0

35

15

Zebre

16

5

10

1

29

16

Dragons RFC

16

1

15

0

9

Adam McBurney and John Porch were granted early releases from their contracts. McBurney joined Romanian outfit CS Dinamo Bucure?ti, while Porch is now with Vannes in France’s Pro D2.

Former Ireland Under-18 and England Under-20 outside centre Piers O’Conor, who has scored three tries in 17 games, is leaving the club just a year after moving from Bristol Bears and already has another club lined up.

Openside Conor Oliver, who joined the club from rivals Munster in 2020 and has gone on to make 95 appearances for the province, scoring 10 tries, will also be moving on.

“Connacht Rugby would like to thank all the players for their contributions to the club and the province. They will always be welcome back to Dexcom Stadium.

“And as is tradition, supporters will have an opportunity to pay their well-wishes to them after the full-time whistle in Saturday’s game against Edinburgh,” the club wrote on their website.