Connacht Rugby are delighted to confirm Andrew Smith will join the Professional team from the Ireland Sevens squad ahead of next season.
Smith joined the Sevens programme in 2021, having come through the Leinster Academy. In his 69 matches with the team, Smith has scored 21 tries and was part of the squad that competed at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.
In XVs rugby, the back three player featured for Emerging Ireland, starting against the Pumas in Bloemfontein in October 2022, and won an Energia All-Ireland League medal with Clontarf last season.
The 22-year-old has also been capped at Ireland U20 level, featuring in the 2020 U20 Six Nations squad and scoring two tries in three appearances.
Commenting on the signing, Head Coach Pete Wilkins says:
“Andrew is exactly the type of player that will excite the Connacht supporters, and he’ll complement the style of rugby that the province is known for. He’s still young but has a lot of experience under his belt on the Sevens circuit, and we’ve seen his XVs potential with Leinster and Ireland U20s. I’m sure he’ll be a great addition for us.”
Andrew Smith says:
“It has been an incredible experience being a part of the Irish Sevens team. I am proud of our achievements together and the opportunity to be a part of a special group of players. I would like to thank all my family, teammates and staff who have supported me on my journey so far, from school, club, Leinster and most recently Sevens.
After speaking with Pete Wilkins and Tim Alnutt, the opportunity of joining Connacht was something incredibly exciting. I am looking forward to this next chapter in my career and continuing to learn and grow as a player and an individual.”
