Two scrumhalves face Connacht exit as NZ halfback Milo-Harris lined up

Connacht could move for Kiwi scrum half Lisati Milo-Harris to bolster their ranks next season, with Matt Devine on his way to Ulster and Ben Murphy linked to Munster.

Garbally College product Devine, 23, has scored three tries in eight games this season for Connacht, including one on his last appearance in a Challenge Cup win over Montauban.

The former Ireland under-20 international has made 29 appearances for Stuart Lancaster’s side, in a position where they are well stocked, with German Albert Lindner and Tomás Farthing waiting in the wings for an opportunity.

He won two Connacht Schools Senior Cups in 2019 and 2020 before signing his professional contract with Connacht two years ago and is hoping that a switch north of the Border will bolster his chances of regular starts.

Devine has only started two games this season in the United Rugby Championship, a defeat at Leinster and then against Montauban, the same number as in the whole of last season.

Murphy, who won his two Ireland caps against Georgia and Portugal in the summer, signed a contract extension in January 2025 but has been on the radar of Munster for much of this season.

Lancaster has been busy in the transfer market after announcing that Ireland and Leinster ace Ciarán Frawley and Bath’s South African-born loosehead Francois van Wyk are moving to a revamped Dexcom Stadium next season.

Openside flanker Will Connors will also be making the move from Leinster after agreeing terms for a switch across the country from the Irish capital.

Milo-Harris, 29, played for Auckland, Taranaki, the Chiefs, Southland, the Blues and Northland before linking up with Stade Montois in the Pro D2 at the start of last season.

He has scored six tries in 15 appearances for the Mont-de-Marsan side in the Pro D2 this season, which isn’t a bad return playing for a club who are 15th in the 16-team division.