Nigel Carolan and Jimmy Duffy have been appointed to Kieran Keane’s Connacht coaching team ahead of the start of next season.

Nigel Carolan has held the role of Connacht Rugby Academy Manager since 2004 and has played a pivotal role in identifying and developing young talent across the province in that time.

The former Connacht back played with his home province from 1996 to 2000 before taking up a role as a Development Officer with Connacht and the IRFU. He went on to become the provinces first Academy Manager and has run the highly-regarded programme for the past 13 years.

Carolan’s former teammate and fellow Galway man Jimmy Duffy has also been confirmed as a member of Keane’s backroom team for next season.

Duffy, who had previously held the role of Elite Player Development Officer with the Academy, was first appointed Forwards Coach ahead of the 2015/16 season and was part of the successful coaching team that led the province to the Guinness PRO12 title last summer.