2016–17 Connacht Rugby season

Connacht
2016–17 season
Head coachPat Lam
Chief executiveWillie Ruane
CaptainJohn Muldoon
Pro128th
Champions CupPool stage (3rd)
Top try scorerAll: Niyi Adeolokun (8)
Top points scorerAll: Craig Ronaldson (100)
Highest home attendance8,091 v Toulouse
15 October 2016
Lowest home attendance4,091 v Zebre
3 March 2017
Average home attendance6,386
Home colours
Away colours
← 2015–16 2017–18 →

The 2016–17 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's sixteenth season competing in the Pro12, and the team's twenty-first season as a professional side. It was Pat Lam's fourth and final season in charge of the side.

Connacht finished the season in eight place in the league. As well as playing in the Pro12, Connacht competed in the Champions Cup in Europe, finishing third in their pool, level on points with Toulouse, who advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best runners-up. The second-tier side the Connacht Eagles competed in the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup, finishing bottom of their pool.

Background

Connacht started the season with a new coaching team. Backs and kicking coach Andre Bell left his role to return to his family in New Zealand.[1] Head performance analyst and assistant attack coach Conor McPhillips took over coaching of the backs, while the team's former head coach Eric Elwood took over coaching kicking.[2] The close season also saw the departure of the side's all-time record try-scorer Fionn Carr who scored 42 tries over two spells with the province.[3] During the off-season, the team's homeground, The Sportsground underwent renovations with the addition of a seated stand increasing its capacity to 8,100.[4]

Coaching and management team

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

Role Name Union
Chief executive Willie Ruane[5] Ireland
Head coach Pat Lam[6] Samoa[a]
Team manager Tim Allnut[7] New Zealand
Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy[8] Ireland
Backs Coach Conor McPhillips[9] Ireland
Skills Coach Dave Ellis
Mossy Lawler[10] 		Ireland
Kicking Coach Eric Elwood[9] Ireland
Head Performance Analyst Simon Kavanagh[9] Ireland
Head of Fitness Paul Bunce[11] New Zealand
Academy manager Nigel Carolan[12] Ireland
Connacht Eagles Coach Mossy Lawler[10] Ireland
Consultant Coach Nathan White[10] Ireland

Players

Senior playing squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Shane Delahunt Hooker Ireland
Dave Heffernan Hooker Ireland
Tom McCartney Hooker New Zealand
John Andress Prop Ireland
Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland
Denis Buckley Prop Ireland
Conor Carey Prop Ireland
JP Cooney Prop Ireland
Ronan Loughney Prop Ireland
Peter McCabe Prop Ireland
Dominic Robertson-McCoy* Prop New Zealand
Ivan Soroka Prop Ireland
Andrew Browne Lock Ireland
James Cannon* Lock England
Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland
Ben Marshall Lock Ireland
Danny Qualter Lock Ireland
Quinn Roux Lock Ireland
Lewis Stevenson Lock Ireland
James Connolly Flanker Ireland
Naulia Dawai Flanker Fiji
Nepia Fox-Matamua Flanker New Zealand
Jake Heenan* Flanker New Zealand
Rory Moloney Flanker Ireland
Seán O'Brien Flanker Ireland
Eoghan Masterson Number 8 Ireland
Eoin McKeon Number 8 Ireland
John Muldoon (c) Number 8 Ireland
Player Position Union
Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland
John Cooney Scrum-half Ireland
Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland
Marnitz Boshoff Fly-half South Africa
Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland
Steve Crosbie Fly-half Ireland
Shane O'Leary* Fly-half Canada
Bundee Aki Centre New Zealand
Tom Farrell Centre Ireland
Eoin Griffin Centre Ireland
Rory Parata Centre Ireland
Peter Robb Centre Ireland
Craig Ronaldson Centre Ireland
Niyi Adeolokun Wing Ireland
Matt Healy Wing Ireland
Stacey Ili Wing New Zealand
Cian Kelleher Wing Ireland
Danie Poolman* Wing South Africa
Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland
Tiernan O'Halloran Fullback Ireland
Josh Rowland Fullback Ireland
  • Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*
  • Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold
  • Irish Provinces were limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player"). Connacht Rugby is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement

Academy squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Jack Dineen Hooker Ireland year 3
Pat O'Toole Hooker Ireland year 2
Jamie Dever Prop Ireland year 3
Conor Kenny Prop Ireland year 1
Conor Kyne Prop Ireland year 2
Saba Meunargia Prop Ireland year 3
Conán O'Donnell Prop Ireland year 2
Peter Claffey Lock Ireland year 1
Cillian Gallagher Lock Ireland year 1
Cian Romaine Lock Ireland year 2
Marc Kelly Flanker Ireland year 3
Stephen McVeigh Flanker Ireland year 3
Player Position Union
Stephen Kerins Scrum-half Ireland year 1
Conor Lowndes Scrum-half Ireland year 2
Conor McKeon Scrum-half Ireland year 3
Matthew Byrne Wing Ireland year 1
Ciaran Gaffney Wing Ireland year 3
Adam Leavy Wing Ireland year 1
Ed O'Keefe Wing Ireland year 2
Cormac Brennan Fullback Ireland year 2

Senior Team Transfers

For player movement in the Pro12 leading up to the 2016–17 season, see List of 2016–17 Pro12 transfers.

Results

Pro12

Main article: 2016–17 Pro12
2016–17 Pro12
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1 Munster (RU) 22 19 0 3 602 316 +286 77 34 9 1 86
2 Leinster (SF) 22 18 0 4 674 390 +284 91 47 12 1 85
3 Scarlets (CH) 22 17 0 5 537 359 +178 66 40 9 0 77
4 Ospreys (SF) 22 14 0 8 556 360 +196 74 42 10 3 69
5 Ulster 22 14 1 7 521 371 +150 68 47 6 4 68
6 Glasgow Warriors 22 11 0 11 540 464 +76 72 53 9 5 58
7 Cardiff Blues 22 11 1 10 508 498 +10 59 60 3 4 53
8 Connacht 22 9 0 13 413 498 −85 47 61 5 3 44
9 Edinburgh 22 6 0 16 400 491 −91 46 59 1 6 31
10 Benetton Treviso 22 5 0 17 316 664 −348 35 92 1 2 23
11 Newport Gwent Dragons 22 4 0 18 368 569 −201 38 71 1 6 23
12 Zebre 22 3 0 19 318 773 −455 38 105 1 6 19
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[39]
  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 red cards received;
  7. the fewest yellow cards received.
Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places and earn a place in the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Yellow background advances to a play-off for a chance to compete in the Champions Cup.[40]
(Q) indicates team has qualified for the play-offs and has qualified for the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup.
3 September 2016
17:15
Connacht 5–41 Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Adeolokun 32' mReportTry: Seymour (2) 10' m, 36' m
Hogg 45' c
Swinson 52' c
Puafisi 58' c
Lamont 70' c
Con: Pyrgos (3/5)
Clegg (1/1)
Pen: Pyrgos (1/1) 24'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 6,063
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
10 September 2016
19:35
Connacht 11–32 Ospreys (1 BP)
Try: McKeon 57' m
Pen: Carty (2/2) 20', 46'		ReportTry: Webb (2) 29' c, 74' c
Ardron 71' m
Hassler 77' c
Con: S. Davies (3/4) 29', 74', 77'
Pen: S. Davies (2/2) 5', 63'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 5,749
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
17 September 2016
18:05
Zebre Postponed Connacht
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

After 40 minutes of play, the match was "abandoned due to adverse weather conditions causing considerable risk to both the players and spectators". Zebre were leading 22–10 (3 tries to 1) when the match was abandoned. A rescheduled fixture was played on 1 April 2017.[41][42]

24 September 2016
19:35
Scarlets 17–8 Connacht
Try: Li. Williams (2) 36' c, 66' c
Con: Patchell (2/2) 36', 66'
Pen: Patchell (1/1) 71'		ReportTry: Adeolokun 22' m
Pen: Carty (1/1) 40'
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 5,630
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
30 September 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht 28–15 Edinburgh
Try: Adeolokun 9' c
Roux 36' m
Kelleher 45' m
Robb 73' m
Con: Carty (1/4)
Pen: Carty (2/2) 17', 23'		ReportTry: Gilchrist 19' c
Allen 70' m
Con: Tovey (1/2)
Pen: Tovey (1/1) 5'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 5,771
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
7 October 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht 30–25 Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Carty 2' c
Kelleher (2) 23' m, 52' m
Connolly 25' c
Con: Carty (2/4)
Pen: Carty (2/2) 37', 59'		ReportTry: Gilroy 33' m
Best 41' c
Payne 44' c
Con: Jackson (2/3)
Pen: Jackson (2/2) 5', 65'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 6,194
Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU)
29 October 2016
17:15
Leinster 24–13 Connacht
Try: Byrne 49'
Daly 75' c
Con: Nacewa (1/2) 76'
Pen: Nacewa (4/4) 23', 32', 38', 58'		ReportTry: Delahunt 80' c
Con: Carty (1/1) 80'
Pen: Ronaldson (2/2) 4', 13'
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,200
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
4 November 2016
19:15
Newport Gwent Dragons 21–16 Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Hewitt (2) 14' c, 46' c
Con: O'Brien (2/2) 14', 46'
Pen: O'Brien (1/1) 21'
Drop: O'Brien (2/2) 36', 52'		ReportTry: Adeolokun 69' c
Con: Carty (1/1) 69'
Pen: Carty (3/3) 25', 39', 59'
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,522
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
25 November 2016
19:35
Connacht 18–7 Cardiff Blues
Try: Cooney 15' c
Aki 56' m
Con: Cooney (1/2) 16'
Pen: Cooney (2/2) 40', 49'		ReportTry: James 17' c
Con: Shingler (1/1) 18'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 6,190
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
3 December 2016
15:00
(1 BP) Connacht 47–8 Benetton Treviso
Try: McCartney (2) 14' c, 32' c
Poolman 26' c
Buckley 38' c
Cooney 50' c
Heffernan 55' m
Carty 74' c
Con: Cooney (4/4) 14', 26', 32', 38'
Boshoff (1/1) 50'
Carty (1/2) 74'		ReportTry: Flammini 67' c
Con: McKinley (1/1) 5'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 5,903
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
23 December 2016
19:35
Ulster 23–7 Connacht
Try: McCloskey 26' c
Ross 52' c
Con: Jackson (2/2) 28', 53'
Pen: Jackson (3/3) 20', 36', 67'		ReportTry: Carty 55'
Con: Carty (1/1) 56'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 17,613
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
31 December 2016
17:30
(1 BP) Connacht 9–16 Munster
Pen: Carty (3/4) 30', 50', 76'ReportTry: Marshall 56' c
Con: Keatley (1/1) 57'
Pen: Keatley (2/3) 2', 39'
Drop: Keatley (1/2) 68'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 8,090
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
7 January 2017
13:30
(1 BP) Ospreys 29–7 Connacht
Try: Baker 11' c
Cracknell 13' c
Smith 56' c
Beck 79' m
Con: S. Davies (3/3) 12', 14', 57'
Pen: S. Davies (1/1) 44'		ReportTry: O'Brien 75' c
Con: Cooney (1/1) 77'
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 6,669
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
12 February 2017
17:05
(1 BP) Cardiff Blues 13–19 Connacht
Try: N. Williams 28' c
Con: Anscombe (1/1) 28'
Pen: Anscombe (2/2) 12', 20'		ReportTry: Healy 39' c
Con: Cooney (1/1) 39'
Pen: Cooney (2/2) 44', 64'
Ronaldson (1/1) 80'
Drop: O'Halloran (1/1) 78'
BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 4,300
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
18 February 2017
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht 14–9 Newport Gwent Dragons (1 BP)
Try: O'Halloran 5' c
Blade 13' c
Con: Ronaldson (2/2) 5', 13'		ReportPen: O'Brien (3/3) 18', 42', 53'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 6,190
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
26 February 2017
13:30
Benetton Treviso 19–34 Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Buondonno 37' m
Sperandio 70' c
Odiete 75' c
Con: Tebaldi (1/1) 37'
Buondonno (1/1) 75' c		ReportTry: Blade 27' c
Bealham 31' c
Ronaldson 47' c
O'Halloran 60' c
Con: Ronaldson (3/3) 27', 31', 47'
Carty (1/1) 60'
Pen: Ronaldson (2/2) 15', 21'
Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
3 March 2017
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht 33–3 Zebre
Try: Adeolokun 8' c
Dawai 26' m
Muldoon 61' c
Penalty try 66' c
Stevenson 75' c
Con: Cooney (1/2) 8'
O'Halloran (1/1) 61'
Ronaldson (1/1) 75'		ReportPen: Palazzani (1/1) 45'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 4,091
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
25 March 2017
17:15
(1 BP) Glasgow Warriors 35–24 Connacht
Try: Flynn 11' c
Russell 49' c
Price 54' c
Lamont 77' m
Con: Russell (3/3) 12', 50', 54'
Pen: Russell (2/2) 7', 36'
P. Horne (1/1) 74'		ReportTry: Adeolokun 4' m
Muldoon 29' c
Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 30'
Pen: Ronaldson (3/4) 19', 48', 66'
J. Cooney (1/1) 76'
Scotstoun Stadium
Attendance: 7,351
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
1 April 2017
15:30
Zebre 25–22 Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Minnie 24' c
Boni 41' m
Padovani 66' c
Con: Canna (2/3) 26', 67'
Pen: Canna (2/3) 7', 31'		ReportTry: Ili 1' m
Ronaldson 13' c
Rowland 78' c
Con: J. Cooney (1/2) 14'
Ronaldson (1/1) 79'
Pen: J. Cooney (1/2) 47'
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
  • Game rescheduled from 17 September 2016.
7 April 2017
19:35
(1 BP) Edinburgh 19–22 Connacht
Try: Penalty try 63' c
Watson 66' c
G. Bryce 73' m
Con: Weir (2/3) 63', 67'		ReportTry: E. McKeon 29' c
Con: Crosbie (1/1) 30'
Pen: Crosbie (5/5) 8', 26', 36', 49', 60'
New Myreside
Attendance: 3,189
Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
15 April 2017
19:35
Connacht 24–37 Leinster (1 BP)
Try: Poolman 18' c
Heffernan 49' m
Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 18'
Pen: Ronaldson (4/4) 1', 12', 28', 40'		ReportTry: Kirchner 6' m
A. Byrne 10' c
O'Loughlin 34' m
Ruddock 52' c
B. Daly 68'c
Con: R. Byrne (3/5) 10', 53', 68'
Pen: R. Byrne (2/2) 20', 76'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 8,090
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
29 April 2017
20:00
Connacht 8–30 Scarlets (1 BP)
Try: Ronaldson 58' m
Pen: Boshoff (1/1) 11'		Try: McNicholl 4' c
S. Evans (2) 14' m, 26' m
L. Williams 31' m
van der Merwe 78' m
Con: Patchell (1/5) 5'
Pen: Patchell (1/1) 66'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 5,290
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
6 May 2017
17:15
(1 BP) Munster 50–14 Connacht
Try: Earls 8' c
O'Donoghue 27' c
Conway (2) 33' c, 54' c
Cronin 43' c
Saili 70' c
Oliver 80' m
Con: Keatley (6/7) 8', 28', 34', 44', 54', 70'
Pen: Keatley (1/1) 25'		Try: Kelleher 51' c
Dawai 64' c
Con: Ronaldson (2/2) 52', 65'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 18,567
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

Champions Cup

Main article: 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup

Pool 1

Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
Wasps (5) 6 4 1 1 210 112 +98 28 13 3 1 22
Toulouse (7) 6 3 1 2 164 91 +73 22 10 2 2 18
Connacht 6 4 0 2 188 118 +70 26 15 2 0 18
Zebre 6 0 0 6 90 331 −241 11 49 0 0 0
15 October 2016
17:30
Connacht 23–21 Toulouse (1 BP)
Try: Adeolokun 20' m
O'Halloran 58' m
Aki 66' c
Con: Ronaldson (1/1) 66'
Pen: Carty (2/3) 25', 29'		ReportTry: David 34' m
Doussain 37' c
Con: Bézy (1/2) 37'
Pen: Bézy (2/4) 7', 11'
Fritz (1/1) 13'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 8,091
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
23 October 2016
16:15
Zebre 7–52 Connacht (1 BP)
Try: D'Apice 61' c
Con: Padovani (1/1) 61'		ReportTry: Ili (3) 10' c, 41' c, 79' c
Carty 13' c
Penalty try 52' c
Kelleher (2) 53' c, 74' m
Carey 55' m
Con: Ronaldson (6/8) 10', 13', 41', 52', 53', 79'
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
11 December 2016
13:00
(1 BP) Wasps 32–17 Connacht
Try: Beale 6' c
Hughes 43' c
Launchbury 62' c
Bassett 72' m
Con: Gopperth (3/4) 7', 44', 63'
Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 22', 35'		ReportTry: Marmion 24' c
Parata 45' c
Con: Carty (2/2) 25', 46'
Pen: Carty (1/3) 18'
Ricoh Arena
Attendance: 13,364
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (FFR)
17 December 2016
17:30
Connacht 20–18 Wasps
Try: Poolman 39' c
Dawai 80' c
Con: Carty (2/2) 40', 80'
Pen: Carty (2/3) 8', 31'		ReportTry: Simpson 13' c
Bassett 72' m
Con: Gopperth (1/2) 13'
Pen: Gopperth (2/3) 53', 67'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 8,090
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
(for Jérôme Garcès (FFR))

Assistant referee Mathieu Raynal replaced the original referee Jérôme Garcès on the 73rd minute of the game after pulling a hamstring.

14 January 2017
13:00
(1 BP) Connacht 66–21 Zebre
Try: Healy (2) 1' c, 41' c
Cooney 18' c
O'Halloran (2) 23' c, 43' c
Bealham 27' c
Marmion (2) 36' m, 54' c
Ronaldson 39' c
Blade 66' m
Con: Cooney (8/10) 2', 19', 23', 29', 40', 42', 44', 55'		ReportTry: Meyer 6' c
Ruzza 11' c
Bellini 62' c
Con: Canna (3/3) 7', 12', 62'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 5,607
Referee: Tom Foley (RFU)
22 January 2017
16:15
Toulouse 19–10 Connacht
Try: Fickou 5' c
Bonneval 17' c
Tekori 46' m
Con: Doussain (2/3) 6', 18'		ReportTry: Muldoon 53' c
Con: Ronaldson (1/1) 54'
Pen: Ronaldson (1/2) 33'
Stadium Municipal
Attendance: 12,023
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

Champions Cup play-offs

Main article: 2017–18 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs

Semi-final

20 May 2017
16:00 BST
Northampton Saints 21–15 Connacht
Try: Mallinder 1' c
Groom 56' m
Con: Mallinder (1/2) 2'
Pen: Mallinder (3/3) 15', 23', 70'		ReportTry: Adeolokun 4' c
Heffernan 61' m
Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 4'
Pen: Ronaldson (1/1) 28'
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
FB 15 Ahsee Tuala  78'
RW 14 Ben Foden
OC 13 Nafi Tuitavake
IC 12 Luther Burrell  23'
LW 11 George North
FH 10 Harry Mallinder
SH 9 Nic Groom  67'
N8 8 Louis Picamoles
OF 7 Teimana Harrison  58'
BF 6 Jamie Gibson 78' to 80'
RL 5 Christian Day  64'
LL 4 Courtney Lawes
TP 3 Kieran Brookes  62'
HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c)  59'
LP 1 Alex Waller  62'
Replacements:
HK 16 Mike Haywood  78'
PR 17 Campese Ma'afu  62'
PR 18 Gareth Denman  62'
LK 19 Api Ratuniyarawa  64'
FL 20 Tom Wood  58'
SH 21 Lee Dickson  67'
FH 22 Sam Olver
CE 23 Rory Hutchinson  23'
Coach:
Jim Mallinder
FB 15 Tiernan O'Halloran
RW 14 Niyi Adeolokun
OC 13 Danie Poolman
IC 12 Craig Ronaldson
LW 11 Cian Kelleher  3'
FH 10 Jack Carty
SH 9 Kieran Marmion  66'
N8 8 John Muldoon (c)
OF 7 Jake Heenan  56'
BF 6 Seán O'Brien
RL 5 James Cannon  51'
LL 4 Quinn Roux
TP 3 Finlay Bealham  68'
HK 2 Dave Heffernan
LP 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements:
HK 16 Shane Delahunt
PR 17 JP Cooney
PR 18 Conor Carey  68'
LK 19 Ultan Dillane  51'
FL 20 Naulia Dawai  56'
SH 21 Caolin Blade
SH 22 John Cooney  66'
WG 23 Matt Healy  3'
Coach:
Pat Lam

Notes

  1. ^ New Zealand-born and qualified for Samoa, Lam has represented both countries, but last played rugby for Samoa.

References

  1. ^ "My job in Connacht: Andre Bell, Backs & kicking coach". Irish Independent. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Connacht suffer major blow as backs coach Bell opts to return to New Zealand". Irish Independent. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Carr and Muldowney among players leaving Connacht at end of season". The42. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  4. ^ "A new seated stand is in place at the Sportsground for Connacht's upcoming season". The42. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Connacht confirm new three-year contract for head coach Pat Lam". Sky Sports. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  7. ^ "'I just came over here to visit my brother and I never left'". Irish Independent. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach". RTÉ Sport. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs' coach". Irish Times. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  10. ^ a b c "Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season". The42. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  11. ^ "New Head Of Fitness And Increased Funding For Connacht". Irish Rugby. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Coach Profiles: Nigel Carolan". Irish Rugby. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Injury-ravaged Connacht make 4 changes ahead of meeting with table toppers Munster". The42. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017. New recruit John Andress is named on the bench after the prop agreed a short-term contract, as Lam trues to manage numerous injury setbacks to his squad.
  14. ^ "Connacht sign Nottingham prop Conor Carey". Nottingham Rugby. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Connacht add three to senior squad amidst injury crisis". Newstalk. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Pat Lam's Connacht sign Irish-qualified tighthead Robertson-McCoy". The42. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Connacht announce 4 contract extensions plus the addition of a Ukrainian-born prop". The42. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Connacht sign Wasps second-row James Cannon". Breaking News. 29 September 2016.
  19. ^ "Connacht to sign former Exeter Chiefs lock Lewis Stevenson". Planet Rugby. 8 August 2016.
  20. ^ "Connacht confirm signing of Fiji international back row Dawai". The42. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Connacht sign South Africa and Lions fly-half Marnitz Boshoff". RTÉ Sport. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  22. ^ "Connacht bring Irish centre Farrell home from England". The42. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  23. ^ "London Irish centre Eoin Griffin resigns with Connacht next season". RTÉ Sport. 14 December 2015.
  24. ^ "Connacht sign Auckland utility back Stace Ili". The42. 14 September 2016.
  25. ^ "Leinster fullback Cian Kelleher signs for Connacht next season". Sky Sports. 3 May 2016.
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