Browne Poised For 100th Connacht Appearance
Connacht’s Andrew Browne looks set to win his 100th cap for the province this weekend as Connacht welcome reigning RaboDirect PRO12 champions Leinster to the Sportsground on Saturday evening.
Andrew Browne made his senior debut for Connacht against Cardiff in April 2007, the same year he represented Ireland Under-20s during their Six Nations Grand Slam success. Browne went on to earn an Ireland Wolfhounds cap against Scotland ‘A’ in 2011.
The Galway native, a younger brother of former Connacht, Leinster and current Oyonnax second row Damian Browne, came through the Connacht Academy system in 2007 and has enjoyed regular game-time since then, winning 75 PRO12 caps and playing in both the Amlin Challenge Cup and Heineken Cup.
The 26-year-old has played at blindside flanker this season but is equally adept in the second row.
His power and athleticism have made him something of a lineout specialist and he has been an integral part of the Connacht pack featuring in 10 games so far this season.
Browne will join an elite group of Connacht centurions – Michael Swift, John Muldoon, Brett Wilkinson, Gavin Duffy, Ronan Loughney and Frank Murphy – who have all represented Connacht over 100 times and are still playing for the province.
The versatile forward last year signed a new two-year contract to remain at the Sportsground until at least the summer of 2015.
Commenting on the impending milestone, Browne said: “It’s a huge, huge honour for me and something you dream of as a young, local lad.
“It would be fantastic to win my 100th cap against Leinster at the weekend and to mark it with a win over the league champions.”