Second-row Dillane to depart Connacht after a decade at the Sportsground
ULTAN Dillane will end a near decade-long connection with Connacht Rugby when he leaves the province at the end of the season. having signed a contract with an overseas club, believed to be a French Top14 outfit.
Dillane (28), who was born in France to an Irish mother and African father, joined the Connacht Academy in the 2012/13 season before making his senior debut two years later. Last weekend’s game with Leicester Tigers was the 121st time he wore the senior jersey for the province, and he has won 19 caps for Ireland, though that international career is now on hold due to leaving the Irish provincial system.
“This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but ultimately I feel that the time has come for me to experience a new challenge in my career,” the popular lock forward said after dropping his departure bombshell at training on Tuesday morning.
“I am forever grateful to all the coaches and wider staff at Connacht I’ve worked with these past 10 years. You have all helped make my dream of becoming a professional and international rugby player a reality. I’ve also been fortunate to play alongside some incredible players both for Connacht and Ireland, and I have made some friends for life.
“I will be giving absolutely everything to finish my time in Connacht on a high, and help all of us to go on to have a really successful season. This is a team on the up and I’ll forever be a Connacht Rugby supporter,” he said.
Speaking to the press just minutes after Dillane’s announcement was made public, Connacht assistant coach Pete Wilkins paid tribute to the lock forward, saying the province was losing both a highly-experienced player, and a great person to be around off the pitch as well.
“He is a brilliant human being who is so respected and well-liked amongst the group, everyone will be very disappointed when the times comes to see him go. He is a senior player, he is an international, he adds immense value both in terms of his abrasiveness and attitude in attack and in defence.
“We are respectful to him for where he has got in his career, he says he has an opportunity he feels it is too good to turn down – if someone does have to leave, that is the scenario you would like,” said Wilkins in the media briefing ahead of Connacht’s trip to Belfast on Sunday for a St Stephen’s Day clash with Ulster (5.15pm). For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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