Openside flanker Faloon has been capped at Irish Wolfhound level © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Players/Officials: Willie Faloon | Luke Fitzgerald

Tournaments/Tours: RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Connacht | Ireland | Leinster | Ulster

Connacht have confirmed the signing of Ulster flanker Willie Faloon.

Faloon, who earned his first Ireland Wolfhound cap against Scotland last year, will join Connacht next season on a two-year contract. The 25-yer-old has made 14 Heineken Cup and 33 RaboDirect Pro12 appearances for Ulster.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood said: "Signing Willie is a big step for us, he will join an already strong pack here at Connacht and his experience and work-rate will add an extra dimension to our play. He's an athletic, aggressive ball-carrier in the mould of a traditional No.7 and alongside his phenomenal work at the breakdown I know he will be a major asset to the club."

Faloon, who joins Dan Parks and Nathan White in signing for the club, said: "I'm really looking forward to the move to Connacht next season to challenge for regular game time. After speaking with Eric I was in no doubt as to the direction he wants to take Connacht Rugby and I'm happy to be part of that plan."

Meanwhile the Luke Fitzgerald's future with Leinster remains in doubt after contract talks between the 24-year-old and the Irish Rugby Football Union broke down. Fitzgerald missed out on Ireland's Rugby World Cup and Six Nations campaigns and could be set for a move abroad.

However Leinster team manager Guy Easterby is optimistic a deal can be done. He said: "Everyone is working hard to get it over the line. Luke wants to stay and the IRFU want him to stay so sometimes going through these negotiations take a little bit longer. It is just one of the ones that is taking its time.

"You would obviously be worried because you want Luke to be here, put his name in the succession planning for the next couple of years and pencil him in. Again, that is the way the business is. That is going to happen from time to time with certain contracts. Keep working hard on it and hope it comes down in our favour."