Naoupu left Highlanders in 2009, moving to Irish provincial side Connacht. Joining ahead of the 2009–10 season, Naoupu made his debut for the side in a 2009–10 European Challenge Cup game with Worcester Warriors on 12 December 2009. He made his league debut in the province's 2009–10 Celtic League game against Irish rivals Munster on 26 December that year, starting the game and playing the full 80 minutes. Naoupu played another seven league games for the side, starting in all of them and scoring a try. In Europe, Naoupu played six of Connacht's eight games as they reached the last four, and scored two tries against Olympus Madrid. He started for Connacht in the semi-final on 29 April 2010, where they were narrowly beaten by a Jonny Wilkinson-inspired Toulon side.