Ex-England prospect heads to ‘proper rugby city’ after Connacht exit
Piers O'Conor looking forward to moving to 'a proper rugby city with a strong identity' as he moves on from Connaught
Former England U20s player Piers O’Conor has signed a two-year deal with Edinburgh Rugby following a short stint in Ireland with Connacht.
The Sydney-born centre has featured in 17 matches for Connacht since arriving in Galway last year, scoring three tries. He has been a standout player for the Irish side, topping the club charts for the most carries (159), metres gained (710), defenders beaten (32), and clean breaks.
Despite an impressive start, the utility back has expressed his desire to move on to a “new environment” with a “strong squad” ahead of the 2025/26 URC season.
Piers O’Conor heads to Scotland in the summer
Many English fans will recognise O’Conor from his time at Bristol Bears, where he scored 36 tries in 137 matches over a six-year period.
During his time in the English West Country, he helped Bristol to European Rugby Challenge Cup victory in 2020 and enjoyed a first-place finish in the Gallagher Premiership – sadly losing out to Harlequins in the playoff semi-final that year.
In a post shared on the club’s website, the 29-year-old has said that he is looking forward to the move, stating: “I’m really excited to get started. Joining a club like Edinburgh is a big opportunity: it’s a new environment and a strong squad. It’s a great challenge and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in, meeting the group, and doing my bit to help the team push on and win some silverware.
“It’s a fresh start and a move I’m looking forward to. Moving to a new city brings new opportunities, on and off the pitch. I can’t wait to get up there, get settled and get to work. Edinburgh’s a proper rugby city with a strong identity and I’m keen to make it home.”
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O’Conor exactly what Edinburgh are looking for
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt added: “Piers is exactly the type of quality operator we look for in a non-Scottish qualified signing. He’s an excellent player with the ability to cover multiple positions across the backline, which is hugely valuable for us in managing the demands of a long season.
“His arrival complements the recent re-signing/signing of exciting young Scottish backs like Harry Paterson, Jack Brown and Malelili Satala, and his experience and leadership will be invaluable in helping to get the very best out of other younger players coming through our academy system such as Lewis Wells, Findlay Thomson and Finlay Doyle. Piers isn’t here to block anyone’s progress; instead, we see him as a catalyst who will further improve those around him.
“His consistent performances and impressive statistics speak for themselves, and his experience and leadership qualities will be a significant asset to our squad both on and off the field. We can’t wait to welcome him to the club this summer.”
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