Connacht’s reset for 2026/27 begins here with the arrival of Frawley and Connors

Connacht have taken the first clear steps towards overhauling their squad for the 2026/27 season, confirming the arrivals of François van Wyk from Bath, with the Leinster pair Ciaran Frawley And Will Connors.

The three signings hint at a more experienced and URC-ready recruiting strategy, while a significant roster of current players are expected to move on as part of what looks like a true team reset.

Signatures confirmed

• Fran Le’s vans (Etoile) – A powerful free-head prop bringing Premiership experience and much-needed physicality to the Connacht pack.
• Ciaran Frawley (Leinster) – The signature of the title. Comfortable at 10 or 12, Frawley offers flexibility, leadership and improved game management.
• Will Connors (Leinster) – A proven breakdown specialist and defensive workhorse when fit, adding edge and intelligence to the back row.

What the signatures say about Connacht’s leadership

This recruitment campaign gives the impression of moving away from long-term projects and turning towards actors capable of having an immediate impact. Van Wyk strengthens a front line that has struggled for consistency, Connors adds bite and precision around the ruck, and Frawley brings versatility to key decision-making positions.

There is a clear emphasis on intelligence and rugby experience – a welcome change for a team that has often been stretched to the limit at critical moments.

Confirmed departure

• Joe Joyce – Ready to leave Connacht for Gloucester at the end of the season.

Probable departures

Several other players are widely expected to leave as part of the elimination, although none have been confirmed by the province at this point:

• Jack Carty
• David O’Connor
• Dave Heffernan
• Matthew Devine (related to Ulster)
• Byron Ralston
• Discuss
• James Nicholson

Possible departures – big decisions to come

A number of senior players also fall into a gray area, with final decisions likely to determine the extent and speed of this rebuild:

• Dennis Buckley
• John De Butler
• Oisin McCormack
• Peter Dooley
• Bundee Aki
• Ben Murphy

The big picture

It feels like Connacht are finally accepting that a reset was inevitable. Key positions had aged together, depth was stretched and too much pressure was placed on too few players.

The arrival of Frawley and Connors, in particular, suggests a move towards control, physical advantage and consistency. However, this cannot be the end of recruiting. Connacht will still need further reinforcements at URC level – particularly in the front row and along the spine of the team – if this reset is to translate into real progress.

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