CONNACHT HAVE ANNOUNCED that academy players Cillian Gallagher, Peter Claffey and Conan O’Donnell will all move onto senior professional contracts with the province for the 2018/19 season.
Confirmation of the deals for three highly-promising homegrown players is positive news as Connacht look to build towards next season and the longer-term future.
Tighthead prop O’Donnell came through the ranks of Sligo RFC and Summerhill College and was impressive for the Ireland U20s across two seasons in 2015 and 2016.
O’Donnell earned his senior Connacht debut in the Pro12-winning 2015/16 season under Pat Lam and has gone on to make a total of nine appearances for the province, including one appearance off the bench under head coach Kieran Keane this season.
Fellow Sligo RFC man and Summerhill College alumnus Gallagher is capable of playing in the back row or second row and has made five appearances for Keane’s side in the current campaign, including a Guinness Pro14 start against Munster.
Gallagher’s potential was clear as he rose through Connacht’s underage teams and he also played two seasons for the Ireland U20s.
Second row Claffey is a native of Portumna who played with Ballinasloe RFC and in school at Garbally College as a youth, going on to represent the Ireland U20s alongside O’Donnell and Gallagher in 2016.
Claffey has yet to win a senior cap for Connacht but has been heavily involved in their British and Irish Cup campaigns in recent seasons.
The development of players from our club and school system and through our academy is essential for the future success of Connacht,” said CEO Willie Ruane.
“We are delighted that three more players are making the step up to full-time professional contracts next season. Our vision of ‘Grassroots to Green Shirts’ sets out a clear strategy of developing homegrown players through the structures in place in the province.
“All three have come through that path and they will be an important part of the senior squad next season.”
- This article was updated at 2.57pm to correct an error stating that Conan O’Donnell had not played for Connacht this season, as well as correcting his number of senior appearances.
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“The Aviva Stadium is expected to be at a reduced capacity for the game, in the region of 27,000, although that could change in the event of exceptional demand” surely that’s how it is with moat teams? I’d imagine there will be a lot more of a demand than the 27,000 capacity anyway.
@Dave Murray: I would have thought that certain sections will not be used with restricted capacity, resulting in a smaller staff requirement. If they put all 52k tickets on sale, all sections will have to be available and therefore full match day costs applied.
@Paul Ennis: I get that, just thought it(a little)odd that they would announce a 27,000 capacity restriction before tickets are on sale to the public and see what the demand is etc. But I guess with a short turn around and Easter weekend it could be harder to shift 50,000 tickets and get staff in like you said.
@Dave Murray: EPRC also organising the game rather than Leinster, and they’re shit at running things.
Without being presumptuous – is the semi final
Draw already planned out?
@Daithi Mc Ghiollamhairtin: Yeah. Leinster/Leicester v Toulouse/Sharks and La Rochelle/Salarycens v Exeter/Stormers
@baz dunne: many thanks
@baz dunne: Salarycens hahaha
5 day turnaround with the knock on effect of potential reduced capacity due to the limited timeframe is a great reward for going through as top seed. This is an absolute joke
@Rob Doyle: Your prize for top seed is its at “home” or at least 10mins down the road from it, so be thankful you’re not coming from Welford Rd with a week to plan it!! it does feel too near, be better if a 2 week gap but all the teams that are through are in the same scenario regardless of they seeding. 27k is an average sized rugby stadium, crucially it’s circa 10k more than full RDS capacity, and the fans all know the weekends of the semis well in advance, if not the exact day. I’m not overjoyed by a half full Aviva myself but it is what it is.
Real shame it’s not in a packed RDS, a half full Aviva sucks.
I think we’ll Leinster, Sharks, Stormers, and La Rochelle in the semis.
@Brenda Collins: 3 from URC? they’ll be due an ol restructure soon enough so.