Connacht re-sign front row duo
Connacht have strengthened their front row options with the news that Ronan Loughney and Brett Wilkinson have both committed to the club until 2015.
Galway-born Ronan Loughney put pen to paper earlier this week and singed a two-year extended contract with his native province.
28-year-old Loughney earned his first cap for Connacht in 2005 and has played a part in some of the biggest games in the club’s history, including the 2010 Challenge Cup semifinal against Toulon and the historic first win in the European Cup this season against Harlequins.
Last March, Loughney became one of the youngest members in the club’s history to reach the milestone of 100 caps for Connacht.
As just reward for his consistently impressive performances for Connacht, he was called into the Ireland squad during the tour to New Zealand in June and earned his first international cap in the opening Test.
The tighthead prop has been a predominant fixture this season, appearing in six out of nine games and scoring a second half try in Connacht's 34-6 victory over Leinster last September.
Loughney said: "I'm thrilled to have officially committed to Connacht for another two years. There's nothing better than playing for your province and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
“As a club, we're achieving more and more each year and there's a real ambition amongst everyone to push on to the next level. I'm delighted to be a part of that upward curve."
Wilkinson has also signed a contract extension that will see the loosehead prop stay at The Sportsground until the end of the 2015 season. Wilkinson joined Connacht in 2006 from the University of Cape Town, after turning down the chance of Currie Cup rugby with Western Province.
Hailing from Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, Wilkinson began playing rugby from the age of eight. It was his performances for his school which led to him being singled out for a scholarship to the University of Cape Town.
Wilkinson has made a huge impact at the Sportsground since his arrival nearly six years ago with his powerful scrummaging and excellent ball-carrying skills. The Irish qualified prop has featured in six of Connacht's nine games this season and is set to earn his 150th cap for the province on his next outing.
Wilkinson said: "Connacht has been my home for the last six years and I'm delighted to have re-signed for another two. It's a very exciting time for Connacht Rugby with the province competing in the European Cup, Rabo and B&I Cup this season. There's huge work being done both on and off the field and I'm really looking forward to contributing to that for at least another two years."
Commenting on the contract extensions, CEO, Tom Sears, said: "Both Ronan and Brett contribute enormously to the Connacht squad and I'm very pleased that they will continue to do so.
"Their signings are a great boost to the club as we continue our endeavours to build the strongest squad possible to compete in the European Cup, Pro12 and British and Irish Cup"
