Talented Connacht Rugby player Robbie Henshaw has agreed to stay at the province for another two years.
The 20-years-old, who became the province’s latest player to be capped for Ireland, has agreed a new contract to stay at the Sportsground despite considerable interest from other clubs.
Henshaw has enjoyed a meteoric rise since captaining Marist College Athlone to Connacht Senior Schools Cup victory 18 months ago. Brought into the Connacht Academy, Henshaw was swiftly promoted to the senior ranks under Eric Elwood who earmarked him as a “special talent”. He made his debut for Connacht in last season’s Pro 12 opener and became a regular player when captain Gavin Duffy was sidelined with injury.
The dynamic u-19 fullback featured in all Connacht's Heineken Cup matches last season before making his Ireland u-20 debut against England in the Six Nations. Within months he lined out for Ireland against the United States in June 2013 and, as part of the Summer Tour of North America, he also played against Canada and won the IRFU's Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year Award.
Henshaw says he is delighted to have signed a new contract with Connacht.
“Playing for Ireland recently was a huge honour and I was so proud to be representing my home province as well as my country. It's been an unbelievable 15 months and I'm so happy that I was given my first chance here at Connacht and can now continue to improve under Pat and the coaching team."
Connacht coach Pat Lam says Henshaw has proven to be one of the best young players in the country.
"It's fantastic that Robbie has committed his future to Connacht Rugby. He is an extremely talented young man and is constantly improving as a player. I'm pleased that he sees Connacht as the place for him to continue that progress, playing week in week out in big games.”
Henshaw, who can play both fullback and centre, joins teammates Kieran Marmion, Willie Faloon, Craig Ronaldson and Matt Healy who all recently penned a new two-year deal to keep them at the Sportsground until 2016.
