Mayo natives in Connacht Rugby Academy squad for 2024/25 season

Connacht Rugby Academy manager Eric Elwood has named a 13-man squad for the 2024/25 season, and included in it are Mayo natives Fiachna Barrett and Harry West.

Both men are former Ballina RFC players and have represented Ireland at Under 20 level.

West, who can operate at out-half or full-back, is one of four Year 3 players in the squad. The others are centres John Devine and Daniel Hawkshaw, and back three player Shane Mallon.

Barrett, a prop forward, is moving up to Year 2 along with hooker Matthew Victory, out-half Seán Naughton, centre Finn Treacy and back three James Nicholson.

There here are four new players in the Year 1 intake. Tomás Farthing, scrum-half from Corinthians RFC, is included having won the Connacht Under 19 Player of the Year award in May. Also named is fellow Corinthians man Max Flynn (back row) fresh off his inclusion in the Ireland squad for the Under 20 World Championships.

The other two Year 1 players are loosehead prop Billy Bohan (Newbridge College) and back rower Éanna McCarthy (UCC).

The Connacht Rugby Academy 2024/25 squad in full is: Year 1 – Billy Bohan (loosehead prop), Tomás Farthing (scrum-half), Max Flynn (back row), Eanna McCarthy (back row); Year 2 – Fiachna Barrett (tighthead prop), Seán Naughton (out-half), James Nicholson (back three), Finn Treacy (centre/wing), Matthew Victory (hooker); Year 3 - John Devine (centre), Daniel Hawkshaw (centre), Shane Mallon (centre/wing), Harry West (out-half/full-back).