Connacht strengthen further ahead of next season

Connacht Rugby have further strengthened the squad ahead of next season with the signing of David Hawkshaw from Leinster.

The 22-year-old has made eight appearances for Leinster and can cover the 10 or 12 positions, giving Andy Friend and his Connacht coaching staff further options in both positions.

On the international scene, Hawkshaw was captain of the Ireland Under 20 team that won a Grand Slam in the 2019 Six Nations, playing alongside his future team-mates Niall Murray, Colm Reilly and Dylan Tierney-Martin.

Hawkshaw said he’s looking forward to linking up with his new club: “I understand that I now need to start getting games under my belt to add that extra layer of experience to my game. The chance to play with Connacht Rugby and to hopefully put my hand up for selection on a more consistent basis is all that I want and the rest is up to me. I look forward to doing that next season.”

Connacht head coach Andy Friend added: “David has the potential to be another exciting player for us. He’s still young so will have the platform at Connacht to show what he can do, whether that be as an out-half or inside centre. His leadership attributes as shown during his time as captain of the Ireland Under 20s are also clear to see.”