Connacht welcome record points-scorer Parks

Dan Parks will become only the second former Scottish international to sign for Connacht when he completes a move to the Sportsground this week.

The record points scorer in the RaboDirect Pro12 will move to Connacht on a two-year deal as Eric Elwood strengthens his squad for next season.

Australian-born Parks, who has amassed 1,322 points in nine seasons in the league with Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff Blues, recently retired from international rugby following the Six Nations loss to England, after winning 67 caps for his adopted country.

The only other former Scottish international to play for Connacht was number eight Eric Peters, who moved there 10 years ago.

Parks (33), who has spent the past two seasons with Cardiff, is the second major signing for Connacht in the past week with Kiwi prop Nathan White joining from Leinster for three years from the coming summer.

Meanwhile, one of the players Parks will be competing with for a starting place next season, Niall O’Connor, has been ruled out of next Friday’s trip to Scarlets after suffering a knock in the 26-13 win over Edinburgh at the weekend.

“He has had a scan and we will be keeping a close eye on him during the week but he is out of Friday’s game,” said Elwood. Brett Wilkinson and Mike McCarthy also look set to miss the trip to Llanelli.