Connacht have taken the first clear steps towards reshaping their squad for the 2026/27 season, confirming the arrivals of Francois van Wyk from Bath, along with Leinster pair Ciarán Frawley and Will Connors.
The three signings point towards a more experienced, URC-ready recruitment strategy, while a sizeable list of current players are expected to move on as part of what looks like a genuine squad reset.
Confirmed signings
- Francois van Wyk (Bath) – A powerful loosehead prop bringing Premiership experience and much-needed physicality to the Connacht pack.
- Ciarán Frawley (Leinster) – The headline signing. 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 signings say about Connacht’s direction
This recruitment drive feels like a move away from long-term projects and towards players who can make an immediate impact. Van Wyk strengthens a front row that has struggled for consistency, Connors adds bite and accuracy around the ruck, and Frawley brings versatility in key decision-making positions.
There is a clear emphasis on rugby intelligence and experience — a welcome shift for a squad that has often been stretched thin in critical moments.
Confirmed departure
- Joe Joyce – Set to leave Connacht for Gloucester at the end of the season.
Likely departures
Several other players are widely expected to move on as part of the clear-out, although none have been confirmed by the province at this stage:
- Jack Carty
- David O’Connor
- Dave Heffernan
- Matthew Devine (linked with Ulster)
- Byron Ralston
- Chat Mullins
- James Nicholson
Possible departures – big decisions ahead
A number of senior players also fall into a grey area, with final decisions likely to shape how deep and how fast this rebuild goes:
- Dennis Buckley
- Eoin De Buitlear
- Oisin McCormack
- Peter Dooley
- Bundee Aki
- Ben Murphy
The bigger picture
This feels like Connacht finally accepting that a reset was unavoidable. Key positions had grown old together, depth was stretched, and too much pressure sat on too few players.
The arrival of Frawley and Connors, in particular, suggests a shift towards control, physical edge and consistency. However, this can’t be the end of the recruitment. Connacht will still need further URC-level reinforcements — especially in the front row and along the spine of the team — if this reset is to translate into real progress.
