Connacht Rugby have announced that Irish International star Finlay Bealham will be staying with the province for another two years.
The versatile forward has committed to a contract extension that will see him stay with Connacht until the end of the 2023/24 season.
Bealham has had a 10-year association with the province, first moving to the West in 2011 to join the Connacht Sub-Academy.
He made his senior debut in February 2014 and signed his first professional contract in the summer of that year.
In those years he has been incredibly prolific with the province, making a total of 167 appearances for Connacht.
Commenting on the announcement, Finlay Bealham said that he is “buzzing” to be staying with Connacht for two more years.
He said that Galway quickly became his home after moving here as a teenager, and that the club have given him incredible opportunities.
“Connacht have given me every opportunity to play at the highest level and we are continuing to evolve and grow in the West.”
Bealham has also made an impact on the international scene with 18 caps for the Irish international side.
He has scored two tries and played in Ireland’s wins over New Zealand both in Chicago in 2016, and more recently at the Aviva Stadium last month.
His extension is a further boost for the club, with new contracts for Jack Carty, Oisín Dowling and Jack Aungier already confirmed and more to be announced in the weeks ahead.
Connacht Head Coach Andy Friend added “Your tighthead prop is the foundation of your scrum and one of the heartbeats of your team, so to have a top shelf bloke”.
“An International prop like Finlay agreeing to stay with us for another two seasons is really really pleasing.”
“He knows Connacht inside out having worked his way through our ranks from our Academy, and he epitomises what hard work and self-belief can achieve.”
“He’s also a huge personality and is very popular with the players, staff and supporters alike. We’re all looking forward to seeing him wear the green of Connacht and hopefully Ireland for many years ahead.”
