Connacht’s Griffin heading into exile

CONNACHT’S squad-building preparations for next season have been dealt a blow with confirmation that first-choice centre, Eoin Griffin, has signed for London Irish.

The 23-year-old Galway native’s contract with the province expires this summer and he has penned a two-year deal with the Aviva Premiership Club.

The move to the Exiles, which was revealed in Sentinel Sport on Tuesday, has been greeted with disappointment among fans out west, who fear further defections.

However, there were some crumbs of comfort in the announcement later on Tuesday that three other Irish-qualified backs, including two home-grown players, have been awarded new contracts.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing in England where the Aviva Premiership is very competitive with world class players,” said Griffin.

“London Irish’s new owners have an exciting vision for the future of the club and I’m very much looking forward to playing a part in turning that into reality. Connacht Rugby is all I have known and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities the province has given to me. I am committed to ensuring we finish the season in the best possible fashion before moving to London Irish.”

The talented centre, a former Coláiste Iognáid ‘Jes’ student from the Barna Road, just a couple of months ago, was linked with a move to Munster. But Connacht coach Pat Lam, at the time, knocked those rumours on the head claiming contract negotiations to keep him at the Sportsground were ongoing.

The province gave just a one-line confirmation statement on Tuesday. “Connacht Rugby can also confirm the departure of centre Eoin Griffin at the end of the current season to English Premiership side London Irish,” it said.

Griffin was lured to London Irish by the Exiles’ new owners, a consortium led by Irish Businessman Mick Crossan, who has embarked upon a recruitment drive of players in Ireland in order to re-establish the club’s Irish roots and heritage.

Former Ireland and Munster scrum-half Tomás O’Leary is already on the club’s books and ex London Irish players include Conor O’Shea, Jim Staples, Simon Geoghegan, David Humphreys, Malcolm O’Kelly, and Mike Gibson.

The club, which plays its home games in the Madejski Stadium in Reading – which is also Brentford FC’s stadium – currently lies in ninth place of 12 teams in the Premiership.

“Eoin is an exciting, young Irish talent,” said London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith. “He is a big, physical centre with great feet and distribution skills, so he will fit in well with the style of rugby we play.