Stuart Lancaster appointed Connacht Rugby head coach on two-year deal

Connacht Rugby has appointed Stuart Lancaster as their new head coach on a two-year deal, succeeding Pete Wilkins who stepped down earlier this year. Lancaster, who has a rich coaching background including four years as England's head coach and a successful seven-year tenure at Leinster where he helped secure multiple PRO14 titles and a Champions Cup victory, brings extensive experience at both club and international levels. Most recently, he was head coach of Racing 92 in France before parting ways with the club. Lancaster expressed excitement about joining Connacht and emphasized his commitment to creating an environment where players can thrive while playing rugby that inspires the community. Connacht CEO Willie Ruane praised Lancaster as one of the most respected coaches in world rugby, highlighting his proven track record in talent development and building high-performance teams. The appointment also completes Connacht's coaching team for the upcoming season, with Lancaster taking responsibility for defence alongside new coaching staff members.