CONNACHT’S ROBIN COPELAND has signed for French Pro D2 club Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente on a three-year contract.
The 32-year-old will make the move to France next season after two years with Connacht, who he joined from Munster in 2018.
Capped once by Ireland in 2014 under Joe Schmidt, Copeland will offer the French club a dynamic option in their back row.
Wexford native Copeland first broke into senior professional rugby in England with Plymouth Albion before a switch to fellow Championship side Rotherham, where he earned a move to Cardiff Blues.
Copeland’s explosive performances in the Pro12 and Heineken Champions Cup caught the attention of Schmidt and he was brought into the Ireland set-up even while still based in Wales.
Copeland joined Munster in the summer of 2014 and won his Ireland cap when he came off the bench against Georgia in that year’s November Tests.
After four seasons with Munster, where he made more than 70 senior appearances, Copeland made the move to Connacht two years ago.
He will leave Andy Friend’s squad next season, however, having secured a three-year deal in the French second division with Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente, whose coaching staff includes former Italy international Mirco Bergamasco.
Ref should have wore a red jersey he was cualas 16th man
@Moss Cotter: free in last min of normal time that resulted in Cuala goal looked horrid dodge
Entertaining but ref was very generous to Cuala
The free at the e d of normal time was a terrible decision should have been a free out at least , gaa refs can decide games more than in other games with dubious decisions and they are not answerable to nobody .
Some game
Cuala 1.12 from frees na piarsaig 0.4 from frees tells all abou the ref.
@Tony Mcgrath: Tells you more about na Piarsaig.
@Thomas McGilly: It really doesn’t Thomas. Ref performance was horrendous. Some the frees he gave to Cuala were ludicrous. Na Piarsaigh should have been out of sight.
@Colm O’Sullivan: Watched the game back today. Na Piarsaig were very cynical. Some soft frees to Cuala but to say that Cuala got 15 points from the ref is myopic to.say the very least. He wasn’t as bad as he’s being painted out.
Great game in the second half and extra time. Serious intensity to the game. Looking forward to the replay
What a game served up by both sides, thought that Ronan Lynch was completely under utilised by Na Piarsaigh, they were under serious pressure in their half back line and midfield. Lynch has played some of his best hurling in half back line the last few years not up at corner forward.
Any word when replay is? Can’t wait
Didn’t keep the referee quiet though… could backfire on Cuala in the replay
Will two boys back for the replay
@Aidan: I’d expect so, they’ve served their one match suspension
The ref saved Cuala twice.
They kept King Con quite anyway..
@Denis Hayes: He isn’t a hurler, he is an athlete, he is as likely to score a goal as a Point
@El Johno: of course he’s a hurler and one of the best, why not? Because he’s a Dub?
@Denis Hayes: Mike Casey did an outstanding job , removed his influence from the game completely.
@Michelle Dermody: Mike Casey is a class act, and probably the best full back Con has come up against todate. A young fit skilfull guy who stuck like glue to him.
Can’t wait for the round 2.
@Michelle Dermody: in fairness Con was a marked man
@Ray Farrell: Both Mike Casey and his brother Peter are a joy to watch, whether in Na Piarsaigh or Limerick colours. Honestly think Mike is the greatest Limerick defender I’ve seen for many years, not since a young Mark Foley was knocking around anyway.
Peter also has the potential to be the best corner forward the county has had since Eamon Cregan.
Fintin your headline score is incorrect
Ref a joke
I am following hurling years and that ref was a joke