John Fogarty has been appointed Connacht captain for the new season, reports John O'Sullivan.

The 28-year-old Ireland A international, who is now in his fourth season with Connacht, enthused: "I have really enjoyed my three seasons to date with Connacht and to be asked to captain the side is a great honour."

Fogarty earned his first A cap, against France, this year and played in the Churchill Cup in the US and Canada.

He admitted: "It has been a brilliant year, on and off the pitch (he recently wed Sinéad Garrett from Newbridge). I cannot wait for the new season to start . . . we've had a good pre-season and are looking to hit the ground running."

Born in Cork, Fogarty won a schoolboys Triple Crown in 1996 and played for Cork Con and Munster. His brother Denis won a Heineken European Cup medal with Munster this year.