Cathal Forde


Cathal Forde is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship side Connacht. He plays as a centre or fly-half.

Early career

Forde was educated at The Jes/Colaiste Iognaid, Galway, playing rugby for their Junior & Senior Rugby Teams. Post school, he continued to play for the local club Galway Corinthians RFC, in the AIL, where he was named AIL Division 2B player of the season for 2021/2022.

Connacht

Forde was named as a member of the Connacht academy for the 2021–22 season. He made his debut for Connacht in Round 11 of the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship against.
He scored his first 2 tries against Cell C Sharks in the Sportsground on January 7, 2023, and was named URC player of the match.

Ireland

Forde was selected as a development player in the 2025 Six Nations Ireland squad. He was selected alongside Ulster backrower James McNabney, Leinster scrum-half Hugh Cooney, and fellow Connacht player Ben Murphy. The four will not partake in any of the games in the 2025 Six Nations, however they will be a part of pre-tournament training camps.