Irish Rugby Provinces Lock In Promising Players On Long-Term Deals
Irish Rugby Provinces Lock In Promising Players On Long-Term Deals
Irish rugby provinces strengthen squads with key player signings ahead of the Investec Champions Cup and BKT URC. Watch live action on FloRugby!
There is big news for Irish rugby, as Munster and Connacht follow Leinster and the Irish Rugby Football Union in securing pivotal players heading into 2025.
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Munster put out positive news Tuesday following a challenging few months by announcing a two-year contract extension for versatile forward Tom Ahern, keeping the 24-year-old with the squad through 2027.
Hailing from Waterford, Ahern has been a force for Munster since his senior debut against the Dragons in November 2020.
Ahern broke out during the 2021-2022 season, featuring in Champions Cup knockout games against Exeter Chiefs and Toulouse.
His stellar 2023-2024 campaign, which saw him notch 23 appearances and 14 starts, further solidified his role as a key squad member.
Ahern’s ability to play both lock and back row adds crucial versatility, though injury kept him from making his Six Nations debut last year.
With 12 tries in 53 games, Ahern’s extension is a massive win for Munster.
Over in Connacht, the club confirmed new deals for back-row dynamo Paul Boyle and rising star scrum-half Ben Murphy.
Boyle, a seasoned veteran, celebrated his 100th Connacht appearance against Zebre in the Challenge Cup late last year.
Since making his debut in January 2018, Boyle has become Connacht’s all-time leading try-scoring forward, with 25 tries in 102 appearances. The 26-year-old, who’s also worn the captain’s armband, inked a two-year extension to remain a cornerstone of the squad.
Murphy, meanwhile, has made an instant impact since joining Connacht from Leinster last summer.
In just nine appearances, the young scrum half has scored four tries and started the first five games of the season. His dynamic play earned him a deal through the 2025-2026 campaign, giving Connacht another weapon in its halfback arsenal.
These signings come on the heels of December’s blockbuster news that Leinster stalwarts Robbie Henshaw, Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter and James Ryan signed central contracts with the IRFU.
Connacht’s Bundee Aki also committed to the union, reaffirming the provinces’ focus on retaining elite talent.
As Round 3 of the Champions Cup, and the home stretch of the United Rugby Championship, draw near, more Irish stars are expected to sign provincial and central contracts in the coming months.
New performance director David Humphreys is focused on solidifying Ireland’s playing stocks as the team looks to build toward a strong showing at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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