Connacht bolster squad as they hand senior contracts to academy trio

Connacht have swooped to secure the signings of three of their talented youngsters, open side James Connolly, hooker Shane Delahunt and centre Rory Parata.

The trio have been promoted from the Connacht Academy and handed their first senior contracts for next season ahead of tomorrow’s European Challenge Cup fixture with Newcastle.

Making his Pro12 debut against Munster, James Connolly has made an immediate impression since stepping into the boots of the injured Nepia Fox-Matamua and Jake Heenan, and what better result than a victory over Munster in Thomond Park.

“I got an opportunity against Munster with Nepia’s injury, a massive game in Thomond Park, and I loved it, absolutely loved it. It was an amazing experience, and when that final whistle went and we beat Munster, it was just so surreal.

“I was sitting beside John Muldoon in the changing rooms, and he said he’d been trying his whole career to beat Munster in Thomond Park, and it was my first Pro12 start, and I felt so unbelievably lucky to be a part of it. To keep that jersey is so special — it will be up on the wall.”

The 22-year-old from Naas was handed three caps last year, all in the European competition. But as the 24th man on numerous occasions, the step into the professional environment has been made easier.

“I was the 24th man a lot last year and at the start of this year, so it gave me experience of being around the lads, and the opportunity to bond with the team.”

A former Newbridge College student, Connolly came through the Connacht U19 and U20 programme, and will make his Sportsground debut against Newcastle tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, Newport Gwent Dragons chief executive Stuart Davies has described Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau’s move to Bath as a “worst possible outcome” for the Welsh region.

Faletau’s Dragons contract expires at the end of this season, but hopes of the Dragons securing a six-figure transfer fee from Bath were dashed when the Welsh Rugby Union and Wales head coach Warren Gatland blocked any immediate post-World Cup switch to the west country in October.

Under terms of the Rugby Services Agreement between the WRU and Wales’ four professional regions, the Dragons needed formal approval from Gatland to let Faletau join a non-Welsh team.

In a statement released after Bath announced their Faletau swoop, the Dragons said: “Newport Gwent Dragons are able to confirm that they have today been notified by the player’s agent that he is to sign for Bath Rugby next season.

“This is the worst possible outcome for us, given all that has gone before, and it leaves us feeling extremely disappointed as well as significantly worse off financially.

“The way Bath approach the game suits my style of play, which was a big factor in me wanting to join,” Faletau told Bath’s official website.

Bath head coach Mike Ford said: “When we talk about this club being ambitious, we are not just paying lip service. Signing a player of Toby’s calibre is evidence of that.

“He is a world-class player who never takes a backwards step, and he will add competition to an equally fantastic back-row. We are continuing to build a formidable squad that will challenge for silverware for years to come.”