Murphy, De Buitlear & Hawkshaw sign new deals for Connacht

Connacht confirm that Josh Murphy, Eoin de Buitlear and David Hawkshaw have extended their stay at the provence 

Murphy joined from Leinster in 2022 and made 18 appearances in the 2022/23 season, helping the club reach the BKT URC semi-finals. Following a 12-month leave to complete his medical qualifications, Murphy rejoined Connacht last summer and has played a further 13 times, scoring two tries.

Equally adept at playing in the second row or blindside flanker, Murphy has signed a two-year deal.

Eoin de Buitlear is a product of the Connacht pathway system, having played his rugby at An Ghaeltacht Rugbai and Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin before coming through the Connacht Academy. He made his senior debut away to Zebre in February 2023, scoring a try in the process, and in total has earned 13 caps since then.

He is also capped at Ireland U20 level, playing in all five of the U20 Six Nations games in 2021.

David Hawkshaw meanwhile is in his third season at the club since joining from Leinster in 2022. He’s made 41 appearances in that time, with 24 starts and 8 tries, and can cover 10, 12 or 13, providing Pete Wilkins and the coaching team with versatility across the back-line.

He is also a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s from 2019, where he played alongside his now-teammates Dylan Tierney-Martin and Niall Murray.

De Buitlear and Hawkshaw have both signed contracts for the 2025/26 season, and further contract announcements will follow in due course.