Two Connacht youngsters who have taken centre stage this season, Eoin Griffin and David McSharry, have re-signed two-year contracts this week.
Griffin, a product of Galway's Colaiste Iognaid, and McSharry, who came to Connacht from UCD as a development player this season, have both extended their contracts that will take them through to 2014.
It is positive news for Connacht ahead of another big weekend in Heineken Cup rugby, and Elwood says the two players represent the type of player the province needs.
"It is people like these guys we want to build our team around," he says. "Eoin and David have committed for two years - they understand what Connacht is about, they have brought into everything we have asked of them, they have put their shoulders to the wheel, and they are the type of people we want here in Connacht.
“They have committed for two years and that is a great positive for us, and they will have an influence on other players we want to bring here."
Griffin, who is out of action this week due to a hamstring injury, says he never hesitated when asked to re-sign.
“I am really enjoying my starting role here and am delighted to be staying here for another two years. As soon as the offer was put on the table, I said yes. It’s what you want to do - play for your home province. I am here and I am getting my shot playing for my province, why would I want to go anywhere else?”
Griffin says there is a stream of “good young talent” bursting through the ranks now as evidenced by Connacht’s u-20 Grand Slam Interprovincial title win this season.
“There are an awful lot of young players coming through, and hopefully Tiernan O’Halloran, Dave McSharry and I will give young kids cause to play rugby as well. I know when I was a youngster I wanted to be a Gavin Duffy, and hopefully in 10 years’ time some youngsters will have taken up rugby because they saw Tiernan score a try in the corner.”
