Connacht Rugby Partnership

Best of luck to Connacht Rugby

In 2013 NUI Galway joined in partnership with Connacht Rugby to promote and support sporting and academic excellence. This High Performance Education Partnership was established to allow players from the Connacht Rugby Academy and age-grade teams to avail of education at NUI Galway, in addition to a mentoring and development programme.

Speaking at the launch President Jim Browne at NUI Galway spoke of how in providing professional players with the opportunity to combine third-level study with a professional rugby career, the partnership would also “provide a powerful incentive for talented young players to come to Connacht and NUI Galway, and in providing professional players with the opportunity to combine third-level study with a professional rugby career, it is also provide a powerful incentive for talented young players to come to Connacht and NUI Galway”.

Currently five senior players, 11 Academy and six Sub-Academy players are currently students at NUI Galway and over the course of the partnership NUI Galway has worked very closely with IRUPA and Connacht rugby to put together individual plans for every player to help them manage the commitment to excellence on the field along with their academic performance.

In wishing the team the very best in the Pro12 Final, John Gaffney from NUI Galway has said “NUI Galway is delighted with the association with Connacht Rugby, and the partnership has been very successful over the last three years. The Academy develops players for the Connacht senior squad and underpins their growth by focusing on developing skills, discipline and teamwork. In the same vein a solid educational foundation underpins the players’ successes right through their careers. NUI Galway looks forward to seeing more Academy players graduating to play for Connacht and Ireland.”

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