Johnny O'Connor returns to Connacht

Connacht Rugby and the IRFU have announced that Johnny O'Connor will return to the Sportsground as the province’s Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach.

 
Working with new Head of Athletic Performance David Howarth, O’Connor will be responsible for the senior squad’s strength and conditioning training and begins work at the Sportsground in the coming days.
 
O’Connor joins Connacht after a spell as Galway United’s Strength & Conditioning Coach having previously spent three years at the Academy of Premier League club Arsenal as their Strength & Conditioning Coach.
 
An inspirational leader during his playing days, the Galway native spent 10 years at Connacht Rugby along with a trophy-laden three-year spell at Wasps.
 
 
The dynamic flanker won two Heineken Cups, two Premiership titles and a Powergen Cup with the English club before returning to Connacht in 2007 where he made a huge impact over a seven-year period.
 
On the international scene, O’Connor made his Ireland debut in 2004 and went on to earn 12 caps, helping the national side to Triple Crown success in 2006.
 
Having retired from professional rugby in 2013, O'Connor took up his first Strength & Conditioning role at Arsenal before returning home to Ireland with Galway United last year.
 

Connacht Rugby have also confirmed that Barry O’Brien will join the senior Strength & Conditioning team on a full-time basis following a year’s intern experience at the club.