Rugby

Farrell, Daly and Butler among 11 players set to leave Connacht

Province confirms list of departing players includes former captain Butler alongside long-term players such as Daly, Farrell and Thornbury

Tom Daly (left) and Tom Farrell will leave Connacht at the end of the season. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Tom Daly (left) and Tom Farrell will leave Connacht at the end of the season. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Nathan Johns
Thu May 16 2024 - 12:27

Tom Farrell, Tom Daly and Jarrad Butler are among the players set to leave Connacht at the end of the season.

Alongside Tiernan O’Halloran, who had previously announced his retirement, and Diarmuid Kilgallen, whose move to Munster was already announced, the province has confirmed a list 11 departures from the club.

Farrell, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, is expected to join Munster as a replacement for Antoine Frisch, who looks set to join Toulon. Australian-born backrow Butler, who qualifies for Ireland, departs the province after a seven-year stint which saw him accumulate 128 appearances. He previously captained the province from 2018-2022.

Daly, who moved to Connacht from Leinster, also departs alongside long-serving secondrow Thornbury. The former earned a call-up to the Ireland squad in 2021 without being capped, while Thornbury featured for Ireland A against an All Blacks XV in 2022.

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Tighthead prop Dominic Robertson-McCoy, loosehead Matthew Burke, young fullback Oran McNulty and hooker Tadgh McElroy will also leave the province. Michael McDonald, the Australian-born scrumhalf, returns to Ulster next year after completing his season-long loan move.

In terms of new signings, Connacht will see Temi Lasisi and Ben Murphy join from Leinster. David O’Connor comes in from Ealing Trailfinders alongside Bristol centre Piers O’Connor and Edinburgh hooker Adam McBurney.

Matthew Devine, Hugh Gavin and Chay Mullins all progress from academy to senior contracts while backrow Josh Murphy rejoins the province after taking a year off to complete his medical studies.

Nathan Johns

Nathan Johns

Nathan Johns is an Irish Times journalist

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