Sam Prendergast has been the hottest prospect in Ireland over the last couple of years. His heroics at the U20 level has had people believing that Ireland has found their next star out-half.
He's gotten more people talking again as he was instrumental in Leinster's 33-7 over Connacht on Friday night. He looked a player way beyond his years and didn't look out of place playing alongside internationals such as Ciarán Frawley and Jimmy O'Brien.
The performance came during the week where speculation of him joining Connacht was at its peak. Talk of Prendergast joining his brother Cian in Connacht on loan next season has been gathering some momentum as Sam is reportedly looking for more regular first team minutes and Connacht are looking for depth at out-half as JJ Hanrahan's injury looks to keep him out for a decent chunk of next season.
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It's a move that reportedly in the works between Connacht, Leinster and the IRFU, but has seemingly come as news to Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins who said that he is unaware of any move taking place to bring Sam Prendergast to Galway.
Look, if he is coming, I certainly don’t know about it at this point and that’s not trying to straight-bat it. That’s where we are at.
We have obviously lost JJ for the best part of next season, certainly until the new year anyway. I think it’s important we get another 10 in, partly as backup to Jack Carty but also as competition. I think JJ and Jack have stepped up this year in terms of having that competition with each other, so I think it is important [to sign an out-half].
Wilkins then said that the Westerners are looking at their options currently at home and abroad and that even if such a move was to take place to bring Sam Prendergast in, everyone from Sam to the IRFU has to approve it.
Who that is going to be, I honestly don’t know. We are at the stage of compiling a shortlist. That can be people outside of Ireland. We have scope to do that for something like this.
I think it will be a short-term agreement or a medium-term loan, but you also look in Ireland and that means for something like that to come to fruition, you need the IRFU aligned with whatever the chats are.
You need any of the parent clubs, the other provinces to be aligned as well, so it’s not a straightforward process. But we definitely want to bring someone in and we will see where we go over the next couple of weeks.
The move does make sense for all parties as it allows Prendergast to get regular minutes while also helping Connacht out during an injury crisis. If Leinster are to keep the much hyped talent you would have to think they have plans for him. Even at just 21-years old he's already looking too good to keep on the reserves.
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