Connacht have signed of Sam Gilbert from the Highlanders ahead of the 2025/26 season, while Conor Oliver and Santiago Cordero are among those leaving the club.
The 26-year old New Zealander arrives with a wealth of experience at the highest level of southern hemisphere rugby.
He has made 56 Super Rugby appearances for the Dunedin-based outfit, scoring over 320 points including 13 tries.
Gilbert has primarily played as a full-back with kicking responsibilities this season, but can play at inside centre, the wing or out-half.
He began his provincial career with Canterbury where he played mainly as an out-half.
He made his Super Rugby debut with the Highlanders in 2020, starting on the wing in the first round of Super Rugby Aotearora.
Since then he has been an ever-present feature in the Highlanders matchday squad, making 45 starts.
In 2024 he made two appearances for the All Blacks XV representative side, coming off the bench against Japan in both games.
From 2020-2024 he also featured regularly for Otago in the National Provincial Championship, with 6 tries across 27 starts.
Sam's @SuperRugby stats this season 🏉🇳🇿#OneConnacht pic.twitter.com/AP1zXDlI4L
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) May 9, 2025
Gilbert said: "I'm delighted to be joining Connacht Rugby and take on a new challenge.
"I’ve loved my time with the Highlanders and will always be grateful for what the club has done for me.
"After speaking with Connacht I believe this is the perfect club for me moving forward in my career.
"They play a brand of rugby that is entertaining and exactly how I want to play the game, and I know there’s the new HPC and stadium which looks incredibly exciting too.
"I can’t wait to make the move, get settled in the province and meet my new team-mates and wider staff and supporters in the months ahead."
Connacht sit 14th in the URC table with two games remaining. They host Edinburgh at the Dexcom Stadium tomorrow at 7.35pm.
The province has confirmed the list of players who depart at the end of the season.
As previously announced, JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Smith will move to Munster, while Adam McBurney and John Porch were granted early releases from their contracts during the season to take up playing opportunities elsewhere.
Cordero, Oliver and Piers O'Conor will also leave the club.
Cordero arrived in the summer of 2023 and recovered from a serious knee injury during pre-season training to play 20 times since his return 12 months ago.
Oliver joined the club in 2020 and has gone on to make 95 appearances for the province, scoring 10 tries.
O'Conor has accepted a playing opportunity elsewhere after 17 caps and 3 tries since his signing from Bristol last year.
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