Antipodean sevens star Paul Warwick is the latest new signing to arrive in Connacht ahead of the coming season.

The 23-year-old outside half spent last season captaining the Australian sevens side at the various events in the World Series. He is looking forward to the new season and although the west of Ireland and the Celtic League will be a new experience for him, he has been keeping in touch with Connacht's progress from a far.

"I have been checking the Connacht web site every now and then in recent months and keeping up to date with all the news. They were very successful last season reaching two semi finals and I'm really looking forward to the new season."

Although this is a major change in environment for Warwick, it won't be his first experience of the oval ball game in Ireland.

"I have toured Ireland before with an Australian schools team. We played Munster Leinster and Ireland. I know Andrew (Farley) and he is showing me around and introducing to the players, that's a great help. This is a second coming for me and I am really looking forward to settling in."

The former Manly out half received the Ricoh Australian Sevens Best and Fairest Award at the end of last season for his performances as captain of the Australian team at all eight IRB Sevens Series tournaments in the 2003/04 series. He finished the season as the third highest try scorer across all teams.

"Playing on the sevens circuit was fantastic, touring and seeing a lot of the world. We didn't have a great side but we were relatively competitive. It was good fun, we were travelling every six weeks it started in December and finished in June."