Connacht have announced the signing of lock Aly Muldowney on a three-year contract from Aviva Premiership club Exeter.
Muldowney, 29, is currently in his second season with the Chiefs after starting his professional rugby career at Glasgow.
The Stafford-born second row has racked up 35 caps in the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup competitions. This season, he featured in five out of six of Exeter’s Heineken Cup games in a difficult group with quarter finalists ASM Clermont Auvergne, winning praise for an outstanding display in the Chiefs win over the Scarlets.
Muldowney is Irish qualified by virtue of his father being born in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
"Aly is a player we have looked at for some time; our coaching staff have watched him a lot and identified him as one of our key recruitment targets," Connacht Chief Executive Tom Sears said.
"Pat Lam has also been kept in the loop and is delighted he will have Aly in his squad for next season."