CONNACHT HAVE ANNOUNCED their second signing from Super Rugby in less than a week, with confirmation that Auckland Blues front row Tom McCartney will join the province next season.
The 28-year-old, who is predominately a hooker but also has experience at loosehead prop, has agreed a three-year deal with Pat Lam’s side. McCartney has racked up a total of 64 Super Rugby appearances for the Blues, including two starts in the current campaign.
It is another strong piece of business from Connacht in the transfer market, following hot on the heels of their Bundee Aki coup.
Standing at 6ft 1ins and weighing close to 110kg, the front row broke into the professional game with ITM Cup side North Harbour, before switching allegiances to Auckland in 2007, where he first worked under Lam.
With Kiwi international Tony Woodcock having departed last season, McCartney started seven Super Rugby games for the Blues at loosehead, having previously only appeared in the number one shirt thrice at that level.
McCartney adapted well to the task, no doubt helped by his apparently voracious appetite for heavy gym work. Indeed, the powerful front rower is affectionately known as ‘Freak’ by his current teammates at the Blues on account of his extreme strength levels.
The latest addition to Connacht’s squad will join at the conclusion of the 2014 ITM Cup. Unsurprisingly, McCartney has stated he is excited about making the move to Ireland.
I believe Galway is a fantastic city and both myself and my fiancée Taryn, whose grandfather is from County Cork, are really looking forward to settling in over there,” said the 28-year-old.
“I’ve been with the Blues and Auckland Rugby for over seven years now and enjoyed every minute. But this move is a fantastic opportunity and the challenge I’ve been looking for.”
Up the Dubs
indeed…but last weeks game was like a dublin team 20 years ago. +7 victory for Cork. Cunningham needs to go.
Yep, there is something wrong in the camp.
@gold3n: Well in the game now, Nash really kept Cork in it with those saves.
Hey, listen I really hope we do well but I think we’ve taken a step back with this new managment setup. Don’t forget Cork have also been shocking over the past 18 months.
Just when we think we’re going to have a good year we lose to what was being described as the worst Dublin team of all time… More fake news…
Cork are in the same boat as us. They have struggled the past 18/24 months. Beating by a bad Wexford team last year??
Great to see our lads competing. Was expecting a hammering after last week. If it wasn’t for 2 great saves by Nash we could be well ahead.
Pa Horgan is having a shocker out there tonight.
Is this on TV?
Eir sport.
Anthony Dalys commentary is a disgrace here totally one sided.
@John Carroll: Can you blame him considering how bad Cork were?
Could have stayed in it if Pa Horgan learned how to pick up the ball in training for the penalty! Could have Used a Nash Rocket instead of a bobbly one.
@John Boyle Cork like any other county are entitled to be as good or as bad as they want over the seventhy minutes but they should like any other county be entitled to a fair non bias commentary and if Daly cant do that he should head off back to Clare and milk his cows!!!
Great win for Dublin after the poor result v tipp last week. Very poor cork side who will struggle to stay up after that performance. Great to see the dubs compete and show hunger and commitment. Something to build on. Looks like a toss up between dubs rebels and banner for the drop.