O’Connor joins Pirates on loan

Exeter Chiefs lock Eoin O’Connor has joined Cornish Pirates on loan ahead of the start of the 2024/25 RFU Championship season.

The Irishman was a new face amongst the Chiefs ranks for the 2023/24 season, though he is yet to make an appearance in the Gallagher Premiership or Investec Champions Cup. And so, this loan period will give him vital game-time to best represent to Chiefs coaches what he can bring to the pitch.

A product of Munster Rugby’s esteemed Academy set-up, the 6ft 7ins lock had learned from the likes of Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Beirne, but a trip across the Irish Sea to Devon allowed him to test himself in a new environment.

O’Connor will join up with Pirates effective immediately in order to be ready for the start of the Championship season this month.

He joins fellow Chiefs Billy Keast, Charlie McCaig, Iwan Jenkins, Sol Moody and Hallam Chapman who are all currently training at Mennaye Field.