2015–16 Connacht Rugby season

2014–15 Connacht Rugby season

Ground(s)	Galway Sportsgrounds (Capacity: 7,800)
Coach(es)	Pat Lam
Captain(s)	John Muldoon
Most appearances	Finlay Bealham (31)
Top scorer	Jack Carty (99)
Most tries	Matt Healy (13)
Pro12 Challenge Cup	2nd (Champions) Quarter-finals
1st kit 2nd kit
← 2014–15

The 2015–16 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's fifteenth season competing in the Pro12, and the team's twentieth season as a professional side. It was Pat Lam's third season in charge of the side. Connacht finished the season as league champions after defeating Leinster in the 2016 Pro12 Grand Final, the team's first trophy in its 131-year history.

As well as playing in the Pro12, Connacht competed in the Challenge Cup in Europe, having lost a play-off to enter the Champions Cup. The second tier side the Connacht Eagles competed in the 2015–16 British and Irish Cup.

Background

Competition schedule

Having finished seventh in the 2014–15 Pro12 Connacht were entered into a play-off to qualify for the 2015–16 Champions Cup, but were beaten by Gloucester after extra time.^[1] Following this defeat, Connacht were entered into the Challenge Cup. On 17 June 2015, Connacht were drawn into Pool 1 of the tournament along with French Top 14 side Brive, Newcastle Falcons from the English Premiership and Russian side Enisey-STM, who had entered the tournament through a qualifying competition.^[2]

The early stages of the season were interrupted by the 2015 Rugby World Cup leading to a congested fixture list after the tournament ended. Due to this fixture pile up, Connacht were scheduled to play a game each week for 16 straight weeks after the tournament ended.^[3]

Personnel changes

The team came into the season without their long-serving forwards coach Dan McFarland, following his move to Glasgow Warriors. McFarland had joined Connacht as a player in 2000, where he retired and moved into coaching with the side.^[4] He was replaced in the role by Jimmy Duffy, who had previously worked for the province's academy.^[5]

On the playing front, the close season saw the retirement of Michael Swift, the team's former captain who had made a record 269 appearances for the province, 184 of these coming in the league, a competition record.^[6] The close season also saw the departure of New Zealand centurion Mils Muliaina to Zebre one season after joining Connacht, and the previous season's loan transfers of John Cooney and Quinn Roux made permanent,^[7][8] while lock Mick Kearney re-joined his home province of Leinster with Ben Marshall going in the opposite direction.^[9][10]

Season

Pre-season

Connacht players returned to training for pre-season on 29 June 2015.^[11] Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion were not involved, having returned to training with the Ireland squad earlier in the month, ahead of the World Cup in September.^[12] Nathan White was later called into the squad, following an injury to Marty Moore.^[13] Marmion did not make the final squad for the tournament.^[14]

Connacht played three friendlies in the run up to the season. On 7 August they faced French Top 14 side FC Grenoble, coached by former Connacht player Bernard Jackman, and were beaten 19–52 at home.^[15] The following week saw another friendly against Top 14 side, with the team travelling to France to face Castres. Connacht were beaten again, this time by a score of 19–5.^[16] The side's final pre-season game came on 21 August, when they faced Irish rivals Munster in Thomond Park. Putting out a near full strength side, Connacht won their final warm up game 12–28.^[17]

September

The opening game of the season was a home game Pro12 game against the Newport Gwent Dragons, with Connacht winning 29–23.^[18] The following week saw the team travel to Scotland to face reigning champions Glasgow Warriors. After being down 23–6 at half-time, Connacht battled back in the second half but were ultimately to 33–32, earning two bonus points for the performance.^[19]

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
Head Coach	Pat Lam[20]	Samoa[lower-alpha 1]
Team Manager	Tim Allnut[20]	New Zealand
Chief Executive	Willie Ruane[21]	Ireland
Forwards Coach	Jimmy Duffy[5]	Ireland
Backs/Kicking Coach	Andre Bell[22]	New Zealand
Skills Coach	Dave Ellis[20]	New Zealand
Assistant Attack Coach/ Head Performance Analyst	Conor McPhillips[20]	Ireland
Head of Fitness	Paul Bunce[23]	New Zealand
Academy Manager	Nigel Carolan[20]	Ireland

Players

Senior Playing Squad

^[24] Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Harris-Wright, JasonJason Harris-Wright Hooker Ireland Heffernan, DaveDave Heffernan Hooker Ireland McCartney, TomTom McCartney Hooker New Zealand Ah You, RodneyRodney Ah You Prop Ireland Bealham, FinlayFinlay Bealham Prop Ireland Buckley, DenisDenis Buckley Prop Ireland Cooney, JPJP Cooney Prop Ireland Loughney, RonanRonan Loughney Prop Ireland White, NathanNathan White Prop Ireland Browne, AndrewAndrew Browne Lock Ireland Dillane, UltanUltan Dillane Lock Ireland Marshall, BenBen Marshall Lock Ireland Muldowney, AlyAly Muldowney* Lock England Qualter, DannyDanny Qualter Lock Ireland Roux, QuinnQuinn Roux* Lock South Africa Fox-Matamua, NepiaNepia Fox-Matamua Flanker New Zealand Heenan, JakeJake Heenan Flanker New Zealand Masterson, EoghanEoghan Masterson Flanker Ireland Muldoon, JohnJohn Muldoon (c) Flanker Ireland McKeon, EoinEoin McKeon Number 8 Ireland Naoupu, GeorgeGeorge Naoupu Number 8 New Zealand

Player Position Union Blade, CaolinCaolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland Cooney, JohnJohn Cooney Scrum-half Ireland Marmion, KieranKieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Porter, IanIan Porter Scrum-half Ireland Carty, JackJack Carty Fly-half Ireland MacGinty, AJAJ MacGinty Fly-half United States Ronaldson, CraigCraig Ronaldson Fly-half Ireland Aki, BundeeBundee Aki Centre New Zealand Finn, ConorConor Finn Centre Ireland Henshaw, RobbieRobbie Henshaw Centre Ireland McSharry, DaveDave McSharry Centre Ireland O'Leary, ShaneShane O'Leary* Centre Canada Pewhairangi, ApiApi Pewhairangi* Centre New Zealand Adeolokun, NiyiNiyi Adeolokun* Wing Nigeria Carr, FionnFionn Carr Wing Ireland Healy, MattMatt Healy Wing Ireland Poolman, DanieDanie Poolman* Wing South Africa Leader, DarraghDarragh Leader Fullback Ireland O'Halloran, TiernanTiernan O'Halloran Fullback Ireland

• Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*.
• Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold.
• Irish Provinces are currently limited to 4 non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and 1 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 as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Shane Delahunt Hooker Ireland year 2 Jack Dineen Hooker Ireland year 2 Pat O'Toole Hooker Ireland year 1 Jamie Dever Prop Ireland year 3 Conor Kyne Prop Ireland year 1 Saba Meunargia Prop Ireland year 3 Conan O'Donnell Prop Ireland year 1 Jacob Walshe Prop Ireland year 3 Seán O'Brien Lock Ireland year 3 Cian Romaine Lock Ireland year 1 James Connolly Flanker Ireland year 3 Marc Kelly Flanker Ireland year 2 Stephen McVeigh Flanker Ireland year 1 Rory Moloney Flanker Ireland year 3

Player Position Union Conor Lowndes Scrum-half Ireland year 1 Conor McKeon Fly-half Ireland year 2 Rory Parata Centre Ireland year 3 Peter Robb Centre Ireland year 2 Ciarán Gaffney Wing Ireland year 2 Ed O'Keefe Wing Ireland year 1 Cormac Brennan Fullback Ireland year 1

Preseason Transfers

Players In LK Ultan Dillane promoted from academy[8] LK Quinn Roux from Leinster[8] LK Ben Marshall from Leinster[10] FL Nepia Fox-Matamua from Auckland[25] FL Eoghan Masterson promoted from academy[26] SH Caolin Blade promoted from academy[7] SH John Cooney from Leinster[7] FH AJ MacGinty from Life Running Eagles[27] CE Api Pewhairangi from New Zealand Warriors[28]

Players Out HK Seán Henry retired[29] LK Mick Kearney to Leinster[9] LK Michael Swift retired[30] FL Willie Faloon to Ulster[31] FL Mata Fifita to Galway Tribesmen[32][33] FH Miah Nikora to Petrarca[34] FB Shane Layden to Ireland Sevens[35] FB Mils Muliaina to Zebre[36]

Playing Kit

Connacht's official kit supplier for the season was Australian manufacturer BLK sport, in the third year of a four-year agreement to supply apparel for all of Connacht Rugby’s representative teams and support staff in 2013.^[37] Connacht's main shirt sponsors were Irish sporting retailer Lifestyle Sports. Lifestyle Sports signed a four season deal with the province, to see their logo feature on the jersey until the end of the 2017–18 season.^[38]

Notes

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

References

1. "Champions Cup play-off: Gloucester 40-32 Connacht". BBC Sport. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
2. "European heavyweights to clash following 2015/16 Pool Draws". EPCRugby. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
3. "Like Ireland, our squad will be put to the test". Irish Independent. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016. We know that during this 16-week run of games and later in the season, we are going to be hit with injuries.
4. "Dan McFarland". Glasgow Warriors. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
5. "Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach". RTÉ Sport. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
6. "The Connacht veteran with the Celtic League / Pro12 appearance record is retiring". The42. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
7. "Trio of Connacht half-backs sign new deals with the province". Irish Independent. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
8. "Connacht have secured the futures of two promising young second rows". The42. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
9. "Mick Kearney to join Leinster as 31 players put pen to paper". Leinster Rugby. 9 April 2015.
10. "Leinster second/back rower Ben Marshall to join Connacht next season". The42.ie. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
11. "PRE SEASON PREP BEGINS FOR 2015/16". Connacht Rugby. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
12. "45 Players Named In Ireland Training Squad". Irish Rugby. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
13. "Prop Nathan White feared Ireland ship had sailed". Irish Independent. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
14. "Ireland Squad Named For Rugby World Cup". Irish Rugby. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
15. "Connacht 19 - 52 Grenoble". Connacht Rugby. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
16. "Castres 19 - 5 Connacht". Connacht Rugby. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
17. "Rugby – Connacht defeat Munster at Thomond Park". Limerick Post. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
18. "Connacht open Pro12 account with win over Newport Gwent Dragons". Irish Times. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
19. "Pro12: Glasgow 33-32 Connacht". BBC Sport. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
20. "Management Team". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
21. "Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
22. "Connacht sign New Zealander Andre Bell as backs and kicking coach". RTÉ Sport. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
23. "New Head Of Fitness And Increased Funding For Connacht". Irish Rugby. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
24. http://www.connachtrugby.ie/#team
25. "Connacht sign Auckland openside flanker Nepia Fox-Matamua". Irish Times. 25 March 2015.
26. "Connacht have handed new contracts to three of their best back rows". The42. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
27. "Connacht sign USA fly-half AJ MacGinty for next season". Irish Times. 19 October 2015.
28. "Connacht have announced the signing of Ireland-qualified Api Pewhairangi from league-code NZ Warriors". Planet Rugby. 19 June 2015.
29. "'Being part of Connacht is amazing at the moment' – Kerins looking up". The42. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016. local man Sean Henry played for Munster and Connacht before being forced into an early retirement due to injury.
30. "The Connacht veteran with the Celtic League / Pro12 appearance record Michael Swift is retiring". The42. 19 February 2015.
31. "Connacht openside flanker Willie Faloon heading back to Ulster". Planet Rugby. 10 February 2015.
32. "There were emotional scenes as some Connacht legends said goodbye". The42. 16 May 2015.
33. "The Galway Tribesmen continue their winning streak". Galway Bay FM. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
34. "Connnacht utility back Miah Nikora joins Italian club Petrarca Rugby next season". Rugby1823.it. 10 June 2015.
35. "Versatile back Shane Layden takes up offer to join Ireland Sevens squad from Connacht". Irish Independent. 21 May 2015.
36. "Former All-Black fullback Mils Muliaina leaves Connacht for Zebre". Irish Times. 1 April 2015.
37. "Connacht strike new deal with Australian kit suppliers". Galway Advertiser. 20 June 2013.
38. "New title sponsor announced for Connacht Rugby". Galway Advertiser. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.