Connacht Rugby

Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby
Connacht badge.png
Founded 1885
Location Galway, Ireland
Ground(s) Galway Sportsgrounds (Capacity: 7,000)
Chairman Stephen Cunningham
Coach(es) Director of Coaching: Eric Elwood
Team Manager: Tim Allnutt
Assistant Coach: Dan McFarland
Backs Coach: Brian Melrose
Defence Coach: Mike Forshaw
Video Analyst: Conor McPhillips[1]
Captain(s) Gavin Duffy
League(s) Celtic League
2010–11 9th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.connachtrugby.ie
IrelandRugbyProvinces.png

Connacht Rugby (more commonly known as Connacht) is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup. However, in the upcoming 2011–12 season Connacht will instead compete in the top-tier Heineken Cup. The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union's (IRFU) Connacht Branch, one of four primary branches of the IRFU. As such, it is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Connacht.

The team plays its home games at the Galway Sportsgrounds, which can normally hold 5,000 spectators though is expandable to 7,000 for important games. Connacht play in a predominantly green jersey with some black, black shorts and green and black socks. The Connacht Rugby crest is a modified version of the provincial flag of Connacht and consists of a dimidiated eagle and an arm wielding a sword.

Connacht has a much smaller base of rugby union players to choose from than the other three provinces, due in part to its small population and the relative popularity of Gaelic Athletic Association sports such as hurling and Gaelic football. Connacht has only 7% of the total number of Irish rugby union players currently; however the rugby union in Connacht has expanded in recent years, with a growing number of players involved and an increasing number of schools now playing the game.

Through the work of the Connacht Branch and the support of the IRFU, the province over the last five years has had the largest growth in underage and schools participation in Ireland.

Contents

History

The Connacht Branch of the IRFU was founded in 1885 and is currently made up of 19 clubs. Connacht was the first ever Irish provincial team to win in France and England in 1997. Connacht were quarter finalists in the European Challenge Cup in 1997/98. In 2001/02 Connacht made it to the semi -finals of the Celtic League, but only reached the quarters in 2002/03.

The 2003/04 season was the most successful in the province's history. Their efforts in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup took them to within touching distance of the final. Only a try from Harlequins' Will Greenwood 12 minutes from time in the second leg of the semi-final denied them a place in the final. Harlequins went on to win the final at Reading's Madejski Stadium. They also got to the semi-final of the Celtic Cup. The 2004/05 season saw Connacht continue their form in the European Challenge cup, reaching the semi-finals where they were knocked out again over two legs by the eventual winners, Sale Sharks.

Until the 2005/06 season, the IRFU automatically entered Connacht in the European Challenge Cup each year rather than the Heineken Cup, regardless of its result in the Celtic League. Starting with the 2004/05 season, the IRFU agreed to use the Celtic League table as its sole criterion for determining which Irish teams would enter the next season's Heineken Cup. In that season, Connacht finished last among the competition's four Irish sides, which placed them in the 2005/06 European Challenge Cup. They have played in the European Challenge Cup every season since.

Connacht will make their first-ever Heineken Cup appearance in 2011–12, thanks to Leinster winning the 2011 Heineken Cup Final. By competition rules, the winner of the Heineken Cup receives an automatic berth in the following year's competition, which passes to another team from that country if the winner is already qualified by domestic performance (with exceptions that do not apply to Ireland). As Leinster were qualified through the Celtic League, Connacht claimed the extra berth.[2]

Current Standings

Celtic League Table watch · edit · discuss
Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1 Wales Ospreys 8 6 1 1 186 134 +52 13 9 0 0 26
2 Ireland Leinster 8 6 0 2 184 144 +40 12 14 1 1 26
3 Ireland Munster 8 5 0 3 160 125 +35 11 4 1 2 23
4 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 8 5 0 3 166 140 +26 9 10 1 1 22
5 Wales Cardiff Blues 7 4 0 3 163 151 +12 17 12 3 1 20
6 Italy Benetton Treviso 8 4 0 4 173 157 +16 14 15 1 2 19
7 Ireland Ulster 8 4 0 4 147 140 +7 16 9 0 1 17
8 Wales Scarlets 8 3 1 4 141 135 +6 11 10 1 2 17
9 Ireland Connacht 8 3 0 5 119 156 -37 11 12 0 3 15
10 Scotland Edinburgh 8 3 0 5 168 197 -29 12 18 0 2 14
11 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons 7 2 0 5 123 165 -42 9 15 0 2 10
12 Italy Aironi 8 1 0 7 112 198 -86 10 17 1 1 6

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

  1. number of matches won;
  2. the difference between points for and points against;
  3. the number of tries scored;
  4. the most points scored;
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
  6. the fewest number of red cards received;
  7. the fewest number of yellow cards received.
Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places. Qualification for Heineken Cup is based on each country's allocation, i.e. three highest-ranked Irish teams, three highest-ranked Welsh teams, two highest-ranked Italian teams and two highest-ranked Scottish teams.

Updated 6 November 2011. Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Notes:

Development Team Status

With a smaller playing population than the other provinces, a larger proportion of its players are recruited from within the rest of Ireland usually as promising former Under-21 or Youth Internationals. In recent years however a growing number of young Connacht born players are progressing from the province's under-age rugby sides via development contracts into the senior squad. However funding inequalities from the IRFU compared to that of the other three Irish provinces means that Connacht players who develop are often prone to being recruited by the other provinces and clubs outside Ireland.

The Irish Rugby Football Union IRFU has designated Connacht as a development team, which means that it receives only half the budget of the other Irish Provincial teams. In recent years the IRFU discussed whether they should be closed down as a means of cost saving by the IRFU, as has happened to the Scottish super district Caledonia Reds and the Welsh region Celtic Warriors, and more recently Border Reivers. This attitude towards rugby in Connacht have provided much aggravation to the teams supporters who consider Connacht Rugbys underfunding and lack of resources debilitating and wholly unfair.

However, despite the threat of closure in the past and the lack of equality of funding, the province has acquitted itself well in all competition and has excelled in the European Challenge Cup in which it has reached two semi-finals and a quarter-final in the last three seasons. This season has seen a change for the better in regards to squad strengthening, with prominent players for the first time returning to the club to fight for Ireland selection and a promotion to the Heineken Cup for the Connacht Rugby team.

Galway Sportsground

The historical home of Connacht Rugby since the late 1920s, the Galway Sportsground (or "the Sportsground" as it's known locally) is also well known as a charmingly spartan and inhospitable venue for many visiting teams especially in the depth of and Irish winter. In an age of gleaming Cathedrals of Sport and despite some modst development the Sportsground harks back to a era before professional Rugby. As the ground itself is actually owned by a third party "The Galway Agricultural & Sports Society Ltd." and leased to both Connacht Rugby & the Irish Greyhound Bord. Due primarily to this issue the development of the ground has over the years lagged some way behind the home grounds of the other Irish provinces, who with the IRFU's benevolence have forged ahead in implementing modern facilities for both visiting teams, corporate guests and Supporters alike and benefitting financially from the increased revenue streams. This extra revenue has allowed them to recruit blue chip players from abroad further boosting attendances and widening the gap between the other provinces and Connacht...

2011-2012

Connacht Rugby will participate in European Rugby's blue riband competition the Heineken Cup in season 2011-2012. This has spurred a new phase of development[3] at the Sportsground to extend formal capacity to 7,500 supporters.

With the existing Clubhouse terrace being knocked down to be replaced by a covered Terrace which will be called "the Clan Terrace". This terrace will primarily house season ticket holders/Supporters Club members. This is the first stage of development on the Clubhouse side of the ground as the Clan Terrace is scheduled to be repalced itself by a stand when funds to do so are in place.

There is also ancillary work being undertaken behind the terrace which will see the construction of a new marquee bar, food outlets and restroom facilities on the Clubhouse side of the ground.

The second part of the development will be the erection of a covered, seated "West Stand", adjacent to the existing main stand. This stand will cater for over 300 supporters in a structure that will be similar to that which was in place for Connacht’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi final against Toulon in 2010. The new West Stand, along with the developments on the new Clan side are anticipated to greatly improve overall facilities within the Sportsground and help make the home of Connacht Rugby a fun, safe and enjoyable venue for years to come.

Bath Rugby v Connacht Rugby – 28th October 2006

The eagle and sword arm crest used by Connacht are said to have been granted to Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair King of Connacht by the Schottenkloster or Irish monastery founded in Regensburg, Bavaria in the 11th century.

The current kit consists of a green shirt with black trimming, black shorts and black socks with green trimming. The away kit is all black.

Strangely the traditional colours of the Connacht province and flag are blue, black and white with no green present, the reasons for its presence on the Connacht Rugby kit are unknown as it not used on underage teams who wear a blue and white/black kit matching the flag.

The kit is manufactured and supplied by Rugbytech (a division of Irish sports store chain Elverys), and the main shirt sponsors are Mazda.

Representative Senior Clubs

In the AIB League, Connacht is represented by Galwegians RFC and Buccaneers RFC in Division 1B. Connacht's other senior clubs are Galway Corinthians RFC in Division 2 and Connemara RFC who are playing in Division 3.

Provincial Honours

Competition Championships Best Result
Irish Inter-Provinical Championship 2 Champions:
Celtic League 0 9th: 2003–04
Heineken Cup 0 N/A — first appearance in 2011–12
European Challenge Cup 0 Semi-finalists: 2003–04, 2004–05 & 2009–10

Season records

Celtic League History

Celtic League results
Year Played Win Draw Loss PF PA Diff BP Points Place
2010/11 22 7 1 14 394 459 −65 9 39 9th
2009/10 18 5 1 12 254 459 – 205 4 26 10th
2008/09 18 4 0 14 224 460 – 236 4 20 10th
2007/08 18 5 1 12 214 396 – 182 2 24 10th
2006/07 20 4 2 14 326 474 – 148 6 26 10th
2005/06 22 6 0 14 325 466 – 141 5 37 10th
2004/05 20 7 1 12 317 407 – 90 7 37 10th
2003/04 22 8 2 12 479 550 −71 8 44 9th

Coaches in Professional Era

Coaches

Name Start Finish
Eric Elwood 2010 / 2011
Michael Bradley 2003 / 04 2009 / 10
Steph Nel 2000 / 01 2003 / 04
Warren Gatland 1996 / 97 1998 / 99

Current squad

2011-12 squad[4][5]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.

Player Position Union
Adrian Flavin Hooker Ireland Ireland
Dermot Murphy Hooker Ireland Ireland
Ethienne Reynecke Hooker South Africa South Africa
Rodney Ah You Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Ronan Loughney Prop Ireland Ireland
Stewart Maguire Prop Ireland Ireland
Dylan Rogers Prop South Africa South Africa
Jamie Stephens Prop Ireland Ireland
Brett Wilkinson Prop Ireland Ireland
Andrew Browne Lock Ireland Ireland
David Gannon Lock Ireland Ireland
Mike McCarthy Lock Ireland Ireland
David Nolan Lock Ireland Ireland
Michael Swift* Lock England England
TJ Anderson Flanker Ireland Ireland
Eoghan Grace Flanker Ireland Ireland
Eoin McKeon Flanker Ireland Ireland
John Muldoon (c) Flanker Ireland Ireland
Johnny O'Connor Flanker Ireland Ireland
Ray Ofisa Flanker Samoa Samoa
George Naoupu Number 8 New Zealand New Zealand
Player Position Union
David Moore Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Frank Murphy Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Paul O'Donohoe Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Matthew Jarvis* Outside-half Wales Wales
Miah Nikora Outside-half New Zealand New Zealand
Niall O'Connor Outside-half Ireland Ireland
Henry Fa'afili Centre Samoa Samoa
Eoin Griffin Centre Ireland Ireland
Keith Matthews Centre Ireland Ireland
Mark McCrea Centre Ireland Ireland
David McSharry Centre Ireland Ireland
James Loxton* Wing Wales Wales
Tiernan O'Halloran Wing Ireland Ireland
Brian Tuohy Wing Ireland Ireland
Fetu'u Vainikolo Wing Tonga Tonga
Gavin Duffy Fullback Ireland Ireland
  • Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*.
  • Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold.

Players In Season 2011/12

Players Out Season 2011/12

Notable players

See also Category:Connacht Rugby players

Ireland

The following Connacht players have represented Ireland at full international level.

British and Irish Lions

The following Connacht players have also represented the British and Irish Lions.[33]

Overseas Internationals

  • Australia Warwick Waugh[34]
  • England Robbie Morris
  • Samoa Gavin Williams
  • Scotland Eric Peters
  • Samoa Ofisa Treviranus
  • Samoa Ray Ofisa

Club & Schools Competitions

Club

Schools

See also

References

  1. ^ "Connacht appoint Defence Coach | Connacht Rugby Website". Connachtrugby.ie. 2010-06-22. http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2010062282238/connacht-appoint-defence-coach. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  2. ^ "Connacht handed Heineken Cup place". ESPNSCRUM. 22 May 2011. http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2010-11/rugby/story/140264.html. Retrieved 24 May 2011. 
  3. ^ Connacht Rugby (2011-07-13). "Connacht Catch-Up: Artist's Impression of the Sportsground Redevelopments". Officialconnachtrugby.blogspot.com. http://officialconnachtrugby.blogspot.com/2011/07/artists-impression-of-sportsground.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  4. ^ "Connacht Squad & Management 2011/12 | Connacht Rugby Website". Connachtrugby.ie. http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2011070582524/connacht-squad-a-management-201112. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  5. ^ a b "Connacht squad taking shape | Connacht Rugby Website". Connachtrugby.ie. 2011-05-17. http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2011051782491/connacht-squad-taking-shape. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  6. ^ "RTÉ Sport: Connacht sign Ulster duo as Naoupu returns". Rte.ie. 2011-01-07. http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2011/0107/connacht.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  7. ^ "Connacht make two signings from Wales - The Irish Times - Mon, Feb 14, 2011". The Irish Times. 2011-02-14. http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/0214/1224289817549.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  8. ^ "Connacht sign Anderson from Ulster - The Irish Times - Mon, Mar 07, 2011". The Irish Times. 2011-03-07. http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/0307/1224291571488.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  9. ^ "RTÉ Rugby - Magners League Connacht sign prop Maguire from Leinster". Rte.ie. 2011-03-28. http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/magnersleague/2011/0328/connacht.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  10. ^ "RTÉ Rugby - Magners League Reynecke signs for Connacht". Rte.ie. 2011-03-31. http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/magnersleague/2011/0331/connacht_reyneckee.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  11. ^ "Connacht sign winger Vainikolo - The Irish Times - Wed, Apr 06, 2011". The Irish Times. 2011-04-06. http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/0406/1224294076375.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  12. ^ Friday, April 15, 2011 - 06:06 PM (2011-04-15). "Connacht sign-up Quins scrumhalf | Irish Examiner". Examiner.ie. http://www.examiner.ie/breakingnews/sport/connacht-sign-up-quins-scrumhalf-501492.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  13. ^ "O'Donohoe signs for Connacht - The Irish Times - Wed, Apr 20, 2011". The Irish Times. 2011-04-20. http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/0420/1224295100062.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  14. ^ Sportsground side sign former rugby league centre (2011-06-17). "Fa'afili boost for Connacht | Sky Sports | Rugby Union | RaboDirect PRO12 | News". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15180_6994348,00.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  15. ^ "Dave Gannon returns to Connacht | Connacht Rugby Website". Connachtrugby.ie. 2011-09-13. http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2011091382598/dave-gannon-returns-to-connacht. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  16. ^ "Connacht's departing trio can sway issue - The Irish Times - Mon, Dec 27, 2010". The Irish Times. 2010-12-27. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/1227/1224286315997.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  17. ^ "BBC Sport - Rugby Union - Ireland hooker Sean Cronin to join Leinster". BBC News. 2011-01-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/leinster/9372037.stm. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  18. ^ "Hagan move disappoints Elwood". Setanta. http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2011/2/09/Hagan-move-disappoints-Elwood/gnid-87960/. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  19. ^ "RTÉ Sport: Connacht's O'Loughlin forced to retire". Rte.ie. 2011-04-13. http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2011/0413/oloughlinc.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  20. ^ "Rugby Union Tournaments | RaboDirect PRO12". Planet Rugby. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3825_6912748,00.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  21. ^ Advertiser.ie (2011-04-07). "Connacht sign high-profile wing Vainikolo". Advertiser.ie. http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/38452/connacht-sign-high-profile-wing-vainikolo-. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  22. ^ "Rugby Union Tournaments | RaboDirect PRO12". Planet Rugby. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3825_6911757,00.html. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  23. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?includeref=dynamic&filter=yes&searchname=dooley
  24. ^ http://www.galwegians.ie/page.asp?menu=89&page=228
  25. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?player=23920&includeref=dynamic
  26. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?player=24066&includeref=dynamic
  27. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?player=24090&includeref=dynamic
  28. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?player=4267&includeref=dynamic
  29. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?player=4044&includeref=dynamic
  30. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?player=24276&includeref=dynamic
  31. ^ http://www.galwayindependent.com/sport/sport/tony-o%92sullivan-%97-the-passing-of-connacht%92s-first-rugby-icon/
  32. ^ http://www.irishrugby.ie/227_7678.php?player=24361&includeref=dynamic
  33. ^ The Ireland Rugby Miscellany (2007): Ciaran Cronin
  34. ^ www.irishrugby.ie

External links

Sources


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