It has been a decent first season for Connacht under Pat Lam. There was the super-high of beating Toulouse in the Heineken Cup at the Stade Ernst Wallon and they've got six wins so far in the Pro12.
The feat of beating Toulouse may have been topped though with the province announcing today that they have signed a 100-cap All Black on a one-year deal.
Yeah, World Cup winner Mils Muliaina will be playing at the Sportsground next season.
Muliaina, who has worked with Lam previously at Auckland, has been signed as a player-mentor according to the province.
And the fullback sounds pretty positive about the move:
I have a good understanding about my role and what is expected of me at Connacht. I’ve heard a lot about the talented young backs at the club – guys like Robbie Henshaw – and I’m keen to help anywhere I can, both on and off the field. Being able to play some competitive football while also sharing my knowledge and helping Connacht to achieve their vision played a big part in my decision to move. I expect to learn a good bit from these young guys too and that’s exciting.
Moving to the other side of the world is a challenge but one that I’m really looking forward to. My experiences of playing in Ireland have been memorable and the one thing that stands out to me is the people. They are passionate people who really love their rugby. I’ve been to Dublin and Limerick with the All Blacks and from what I hear about Galway, it’s one of the best cities in Ireland. I can’t wait to get over there.
The move also means that Irish commentators will be required to learn how to pronounce his name.
Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
