New Connacht manager Eric Elwood has announced that John Muldoon will continue to captain the Connacht rugby team this season.
The back row forward had a magnificent season for Connacht last season and was instrumental in the Westerners’ march to the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final, where they lost to French side Toulon at the Sportsground.
Muldoon was rewarded for his form by being selected on the Ireland squad that toured the southern hemisphere, but his tour ended prematurely after he broke his arm during the disastrous opening defeat to New Zealand.
The 28-year old is back in training and expects to be back in action by October and he spoke of his delight that Elwood decided to keep faith with him as captain.
‘I was very disappointed coming off the field against New Zealand as I knew I had done serious damage and would be out for a bit but I was delighted when Eric showed his faith in me by appointing me as the captain again,†said Muldoon.
“It is a great honour to lead your province out onto the field and we are all looking forward the start of the season, hopefully we can take the momentum from the end of last season and bring that forward into this year,†he added.
Elwood’s squad has been boosted with the arrivals of Cillian Willis and Ezra Taylor and the promotion of youngsters Darragh Fanning and Shane Monahan to the senior squad, while Kieran Campbell and George Naopu have left the province.
Elwood, who took over from Michael Bradley at the end of last season, is happy with the squad at his disposal.
“I am very happy with the continuity of the squad from last year and we will try and build on that. Ezra is coming from the Queensland Reds and has played at a high level and we will give him every opportunity to prove himself here,†he said.
“We’ve also brought in young, hungry players such as Darragh and Shane and this is their opportunity to show and develop their skills in the Magners’ League and in Europe.â€
