Connacht have announced the signing of USA outhalf AJ MacGinty for the 2015/16 season.
25-year-old MacGinty started three of the Eagles’ Rugby World Cup Pool B fixtures, scoring 25 points across defeats to Samoa, Scotland and Japan.
Born and raised in Dublin, the former Blackrock College pupil moved to New York in 2012 and began playing with the New York Athletic Club, before moving to Atlanta to play and study for Life University.
MacGinty gained eligibility to play for the USA in February and picked up his first cap against Samoa in this year’s Pacific Nation’s Cup.
He joins a Connacht side who currently sit fourth in the Pro 12 table and have won three of their four games so far this season, the one defeat coming by a point to defending champions Glasgow.
On his move to the Sportsground, MacGinty said: “I am very happy to join Connacht for the season ahead. This is a great opportunity for me to develop as a player under the tutelage of Pat (Lam) and his impressive coaching team. I can’t wait to get started.”
Connacht boss Lam was pleased to land the signing of a young Irish talent, he said: “As a young Irish player playing abroad, AJ has been on our radar for quite some time now and we have been watching his games closely since he first played in the PNC during the summer.
“His performances in the Rugby World Cup were impressive and we’re very pleased that he’s now joining Connacht Rugby.
“AJ adds to our options at outhalf and we expect him to bring with him his experience of playing at the highest level. His skillset compliments our game and he has shown that he can execute the basics of kicking and passing in high pressure situations.”
