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Five Ireland internationals among 21 new contracts announced by Connacht

11 Mar 2021

Ireland fly-half Jack Carty (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Ireland internationals Dave Heffernan, Ultan Dillane, Finlay Bealham and Jack Carty are among 21 players to have agreed contract extensions with Connacht.

The quartet have re-signed for the province ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Hooker Heffernan and lock Dillane were included in Andy Farrell’s national squad for this year’s Guinness Six Nations, with the latter coming off the bench in the 15-13 defeat to France on February 14.

Australia-born prop Bealham has not played for his adopted country since last year’s Autumn Nations Cup, while Carty has not featured since the 2019 World Cup.

Episode 20 – Finn Russell, Zebo and Ryan chat Six Nations, Nights out in Paris, World Rugby Awards and Open Top Buse‪s‬

Wing Alex Wootton – the Guinness PRO14’s joint-top try-scorer – has signed a permanent contract with the Westerners having joined on loan from Munster last summer.

The new contracts include 19 players from the club’s current squad, plus first professional deals for academy products Oran McNulty and Cian Prendergast.

Head coach Andy Friend told Connacht’s website: “I am delighted to see so many of our current crop of players sign on for another season.

“This is still a very challenging time for everyone in Irish rugby so to have them commit to Connacht Rugby again says it all about the belief we have as a group to continue the progress we’re making.”

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Rob 4 minutes ago

Furious Fabien Galthie says France have cited two Ireland players over Antoine Dupont incident

Got everything and still found something to moan about….

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frandinand 10 minutes ago

Will Vern Cotter succumb to second season Blues in Auckland?

He's 33 and these flaws in his game at 10 have been obvious his whole career.

For whatever reason he has never improved these facets of his game.

You're in dreamland if you think he will make improvements in the next few weeks whilst his hand mends.

It's why so many competent analysts say he's not an international quality 10.

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Teddy 16 minutes ago

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His heads gone.

Already has one foot on the hallowed Limerick turf.

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HOWARDCLIFFORD 17 minutes ago

Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

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lK 21 minutes ago

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Pellegrini was superb!

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JW 29 minutes ago

Will Vern Cotter succumb to second season Blues in Auckland?

Yeah it’s been slow progress, still time though. I’d like Perofeta to get preference when he returns however.. still.

60 Go to comments

JW 33 minutes ago

Will Vern Cotter succumb to second season Blues in Auckland?

Yeah he needs to work over time on it in these new few weeks recovering from his hand injury. Nearly kicked a 5m kick to the corner dead off the side of the boot!

60 Go to comments

JW 36 minutes ago

Will Vern Cotter succumb to second season Blues in Auckland?

Most readers and commentors have come and gone before that game fran. You also have to click where it says “Top” and change it to newest.

A few Brumbies pushing their case for when others return.

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Teddy 41 minutes ago

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Fun

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Teddy 42 minutes ago

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Fair comment.

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JW 42 minutes ago

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That’s a high number of turnovers, maybe that was a key to the game.

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JW 42 minutes ago

'It's like the British and Irish Lions': Brumbies coach reacts to historic victory over Blues

You didn’t get it? 2001… 2013… 2025!

If it was a big game his line would go down in history as something like “a win at Eden Park is as rare as playing against the BIL”.. as it is I don’t think the game has much relevance being an expected tight game but that just highlights how tough a repeat fixture later in the competition will be.

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JW 51 minutes ago

Fijian Drua stun ladder-leading Chiefs in Lautoka to snap winless run

Clayton MacMillan again guilty of putting little thought and planning into a game, its his main ‘work on’ while at Munster. Chiefs didn’t have any other strategy than “don’t fall in to the Drua trap of playing like them”.

Hopefully these circumstances don’t repeat themselves this season!

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Teddy 56 minutes ago

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Rascals for it.

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Teddy 57 minutes ago