Connacht have ignited the hype ahead of Saturday\u2019s United Rugby Championship (URC) trip to Dublin by confirming the signing of Ciaran Frawley, one of the stand-out Leinster players in last weekend\u2019s win at Munster.<\/p>\n
Stuart Lancaster\u2019s Galway-based side have endured a desperate run of results, losing at Ospreys and Dragons and then at home to Ulster. However, they have put a pep in their step ahead of their daunting trip to Leinster with the capture of Frawley on a two-year deal from the summer of 2026.<\/p>\n
Frawley made rugby headlines around the world when he landed the drop goal for Ireland that defeated the Springboks in Durban in July 2024. However, Sam Prendergast\u2019s emergence has since checked his progress as a fly-half at club and country level.<\/p>\n
Instead, Frawley\u2019s six starts this season for Leinster<\/a> have highlighted his versatility, wearing the No.12 shirt on four occasions and getting chosen twice at No.15 \u2013 including last Saturday night\u2019s URC victory in Limerick<\/a> where his tackling was on point.<\/p>\n \u201cHis best days are still ahead of him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Frawley would have made his Leinster breakthrough when Lancaster was their senior coach under Leo Cullen. That position in recent times has been filled by the more pragmatic Jacques Niebanber, but with Lancaster now in charge at Connacht<\/a> following his unsuccessful stint at Racing 92, his approach to bring Frawley out west through to the summer of 2028 has proven successful.<\/p>\n The ex-England boss said: \u201cCiaran\u2019s arrival next season is a real statement of intent by the club. I know him well from my time in Leinster, and I saw him grow from an academy prospect into a key member of the senior squad and play for Ireland also.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is still only 28, so I firmly believe his best days are still ahead of him. I\u2019m delighted that the club have been able to secure a player of his calibre. He will be a big asset in the years ahead and, personally, I am really excited about working with him again.\u201d<\/p>\n Frawley added: \u201cI\u2019m really excited to have the opportunity to represent Connacht on and off the field from next season. On my visits to the province with Leinster, I have always been struck by the passion of the supporters there, and the positive brand of rugby the team play.<\/p>\n Who\u2019s hot and who\u2019s not: Toulouse\u2019s \u2018unstoppable magician\u2019, Saints\u2019 \u2018supposed second-string\u2019 and \u2018shambolic\u2019 Harlequins<\/a><\/p>\n