Connacht's Gavin hoping to build on great Castlebar experience

Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen have been helpful to Gavin as he finds his feet at this level and after a couple of campaigns with the Irish U20s and Galwegians where he performed on the wing or at inside centre, he’s adjusting to the demands of playing at outside centre.

Fri, 04 Apr, 2025 - 07:16

John Fallon

Promising young Connacht centre Hugh Gavin is hopeful that the feelgood factor developed from a full house at the home of Mayo GAA in Castlebar can propel them to glory in the European Challenge Cup.

Connacht take on Cardiff — who they have beaten twice in the past eleven weeks in the league and Europe — back at Dexcon Stadium in Galway this Saturday night knowing that they will be at home for the quarter-final and semi-final of the competition if they can advance.

And while Connacht didn’t get across the line in front of a capacity crowd of over 27,000 at MacHale Park on Saturday, the former Irish U20 is hopeful they can push on from that.

“It was really special. We knew how important it was going to be to get a win and stuff, but yeah, it was a real special occasion. Unfortunately, we couldn't get over the line, but for me and my family especially, seeing 27,000 fans show up to a game that just gave us a big lift.

“Obviously, we couldn't get over the line, but after the game, we just spoke about there's an opportunity to build and win a trophy. That was the most important thing, so everyone getting on their laptops over the weekend, ready for Monday morning, didn't have too much time to be sulking.

“We knew we had a big game against Cardiff this weekend, so that was kind of the main thing around it,” said the 21-year old who is set for his seventh Connacht appearance on Saturday night, having made his senior debut earlier this season against Leinster.

He didn’t play in the 28-19 win over Cardiff in Wales in the Challenge Cup in January but was on board when they defeated them 24-19 at Dexcom Stadium in February when he partnered another former Colaiste Iognaid student Cathal Forde in the centre.

“It was a tough game, alright. It was kind of my first game of 13, so obviously Fordey helped me a lot there. But yeah, you kind of know what they're going to bring, they're very good around the breakdown.

“They've got a lot of very good poachers and then a good bit of gas in the back three in the wing. They obviously have a few of their Welsh internationals back, so that'll give them a lift. But we have some class coming back into our side as well with Bundee and Mack.”

Aki and Hansen have been helpful to Gavin as he finds his feet at this level and after a couple of campaigns with the Irish U20s and Galwegians where he performed on the wing or at inside centre, he’s adjusting to the demands of playing at outside centre.

“I'm definitely building on my performances every week,” added Gavin, whose dad Barry is a former Connacht captain.

“Even in training, I'm finding it more and more comfortable reading different pictures. The lads have helped me loads, even Mack and Bundee coming back from Irish camp, getting their insights from defending there at the top level. And then obviously when I was with Fordey, he has so much experience at URC level.

“I think from my days on the wing, I kind of know how much space you have to cover. And knowing that you have to watch inside, but also that you're quite vulnerable outside. But yeah, I played there a small bit in the U20s World Cup as well, but it is quite different. But I kind of built a bit of a skill set at playing wing, so it hasn't been too uncomfortable for me that, to be fair.”