1
Santiago Cordero 1 of 7 players confirmed to be exiting Connacht
By Neil Fissler
Connacht have confirmed that three more players, including Puma winger Santiago Cordero, will be leaving Galway when their contracts run out at the end of the season.
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Cordero, who has won 50 Test caps for his country, has made 21 appearances for the club since recovering from a serious knee injury during pre-season, soon after joining in 2023.
The 31-year-old, who started his career with the Jaguares before spells in the Premiership with Exeter Chiefs and in the Top 14 with Bordeaux, has scored just two tries in 20 appearances this season.
Connacht, who are still looking for a head coach for next season after announcing last month that Pete Wilkins was standing down, have already signed his replacement: versatile Highlanders back and one-time All Blacks hopeful Sam Gilbert.
The club has already announced that JJ Hanrahan, Munster’s third-highest points scorer of all time with 743 points, is returning to his former club along with Andrew Smith.
United Rugby Championship
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Leinster
16
14
2
0
67
2
Glasgow
16
11
5
0
59
3
Bulls
16
12
4
0
58
4
Sharks
16
11
5
0
53
5
Cardiff Rugby
16
8
7
1
46
6
Stormers
16
8
8
0
45
7
Scarlets
16
8
7
1
43
8
Benetton
16
8
7
1
41
9
Munster
16
7
9
0
41
10
Edinburgh
16
6
9
1
39
11
Ospreys
16
7
8
1
38
12
Ulster
16
7
9
0
38
13
Lions
16
7
9
0
35
14
Connacht
16
5
11
0
35
15
Zebre
16
5
10
1
29
16
Dragons RFC
16
1
15
0
9
Adam McBurney and John Porch were granted early releases from their contracts. McBurney joined Romanian outfit CS Dinamo Bucure?ti, while Porch is now with Vannes in France’s Pro D2.
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Former Ireland Under-18 and England Under-20 outside centre Piers O’Conor, who has scored three tries in 17 games, is leaving the club just a year after moving from Bristol Bears and already has another club lined up.
Openside Conor Oliver, who joined the club from rivals Munster in 2020 and has gone on to make 95 appearances for the province, scoring 10 tries, will also be moving on.
“Connacht Rugby would like to thank all the players for their contributions to the club and the province. They will always be welcome back to Dexcom Stadium.
“And as is tradition, supporters will have an opportunity to pay their well-wishes to them after the full-time whistle in Saturday’s game against Edinburgh,” the club wrote on their website.
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Vannes are in the top 14 this season not Pro D2 as indicated in the article
Sam Gilbert is a loss for NZ rugby. That next tier down of player is pretty hard to keep.
Sam Gilbert is a good player. All these players have gives their all for Connacht. Shame Piers is leaving and we didn't get to see the best of Santi, but Connacht need to rebuild for next season. Gilbert and Ioane, at theclub still leaves 1 Niq place available.