2015–16 Connacht Rugby season

2015–16 Connacht Rugby season
Ground(s) Galway Sportsgrounds
(Capacity: 7,800)
CEO Willie Ruane
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
3rd kit
← 2014–15 2016–17 →

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] Following the second round, the league took a two-week break.

October

The competition resumed in October, with Connacht facing Cardiff Blues in Galway, earning a try bonus point with a 36–31 victory.[20] The following week saw the team face Zebre, which yielded another bonus point win.[21] On 26 October, Connacht traveled to the Liberty Stadium to face the Ospreys who had been champions four times in the past. A 16–21 victory saw Connacht win away to the Welsh side for the first time since 2004.[22] On Halloween night, the team hosted Edinburgh at the Sportsgrounds, with a 14–9 victory the result.[23]

November

On 6 November, Connacht faced Benetton Treviso in Galway, winning 33–19 without collecting a try bonus.[24] The league then took a hiatus to allow European competitions, which had been delayed by the World Cup, to take place. Connacht's opening game in the Challenge Cup saw them face Russian side Enisei-STM in Krasnoyarsk. This meant a near 6,000 kilometre trip to the Siberian city, taking nine hours across two flights for the 24 man squad that traveled.[25] The game was played in temperatures below –20 °C, but Connacht ultimately emerged as 14–31 victors, taking all five points in the process.[26] However, after the game Connacht's return home was delayed. A fault was found with the charter plane before take off. This meant alternate plans had to be made, and the travelling party was split into three, with the groups arriving back in Ireland via Amsterdam, London and Paris. Having planned to leave on the night of the game, the latest returning players had been delayed by three days, arriving on Tuesday night with a game against French side Brive to come on Saturday.[27] Despite the travel chaos and delayed return, Connacht defeated Brive 21–17 to go top of their pool.[28]

Connacht returned to Pro12 action on 28 November in their first inter-provincial derby of the season, facing Munster in Thomond Park. Having not won at the venue for 29 years, Connacht pulled off a 12–18 upset, their seventh win from the eight league games played. This left the team top of both the league and their European pool going into December.[29]

December

Connacht's first game in December was away to Cardiff Blues, which ended in a 20–16 defeat.[30] On 11 December, Connacht faced the Newcastle Falcons in Galway in the Challenge Cup, winning 25–10.[31] A week later saw the return fixture take place in Kingston Park, with Connacht losing 29–5. This left Connacht top of the pool on 13 points, with Newcastle two points behind.[32] In the final game of 2015 Connacht faced Ulster in Galway on St. Stephen's Day, losing 3–10.[33]

January

Connacht's first game of 2016 took place on New Year's Day, when they traveled to the RDS Arena to take on Leinster, a game which ended in a 13–0 defeat.[34] On 10 January, the team faced Scarlets in Wales, and were beaten 21–19, taking their Pro12 losing streak to four games.[35] The following week saw a return to European competition, with Connacht travelling to France to face Brive in a game they lost 21–18.[36] The following week, they faced Enisei-STM in Galway, winning 47–5 to top the group.[37] The losses to Brive and Newcastle meant that the team qualified for the quarter-finals with the lowest points tally of the group winners, meaning they would be the away team in their quarter-final, being drawn to face Grenoble, the fourth-highest finishing group winner.[38] On 30 January, Connacht faced Scarlets in the Sportsgrounds and won 30–17, their first Pro12 victory since November.[39]

February

There was no game in the first week of February due to the beginning of the Six Nations Championship. On 11 February, Connacht faced Newport Gwent Dragons in Rodney Parade, beating them 21–26 and earning a try bonus point to go back to the top of the table.[40] The following week saw the team play Zebre in Italy, a game they won 34–51.[41] In their final game of the month, Connacht faced the Ospreys in the Sportsground, winning 30–22 to extend their lead at the top of the league table.[42]

March

On 4 March, Connacht faced Edinburgh in Murrayfield and won with a bonus point to maintain their position as league leaders.[43] A break for the end of the Six Nations meant that only two games were played in March. In the second game, Connacht faced second-placed Leinster at home in an inter-provincial derby on 26 March, with a 7–6 victory seeing them extend their lead.[44]

April

On 1 April, Connacht faced Ulster in Kingspan Stadium with an 18–10 defeat ending their six-game winning streak in the league.[45] The following week saw a return to European action, with the Challenge Cup quarter-final against Grenoble taking place. Despite scoring four tries, Connacht were on the wrong side of a 33–32 scoreline.[46] The team returned to league action on 16 April with another inter-provincial game, this time against Munster. A bonus point win left the team in second place ahead of Glasgow with two rounds to go.[47] Connacht then traveled to Italy to face bottom side Treviso, but in a shocking upset, the Italians won by a score of 22–21 thanks to a last gasp penalty from Jayden Hayward. However, the losing bonus point was enough to guarantee Connacht a top four finish and a first ever spot in the end-of-year playoffs.[48]

May

On 7 May, Connacht faced Glasgow Warriors in a game that would decide home advantage for the playoff round. Connacht won 14–7 thanks to tries from Bundee Aki and Tiernan O'Halloran, to set up a home semi-final against the same opposition.[49] That semi-final took place on 21 May, with Connacht finishing 16–11 victors to set up a final against Leinster, the province's first final in the professional era.[50]

The final took place on 28 May in Murrayfield. Connacht won the game 20–10, with tries from O'Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy. Captain and man-of-the-match on the day John Muldoon lifted the trophy, the team's first title in its 131-year history.[51]

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[52]  Samoa[lower-alpha 1]
Team Manager Tim Allnut[52]  New Zealand
Chief Executive Willie Ruane[53]  Ireland
Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy[5]  Ireland
Backs/Kicking Coach Andre Bell[54]  New Zealand
Skills Coach Dave Ellis[52]  New Zealand
Assistant Attack Coach/
Head Performance Analyst		 Conor McPhillips[52]  Ireland
Head of Fitness Paul Bunce[55]  New Zealand
Academy Manager Nigel Carolan[52]  Ireland

Players

Senior Playing Squad

[56] 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
Jason Harris-Wright Hooker Ireland Ireland
Dave Heffernan Hooker Ireland Ireland
Tom McCartney Hooker New Zealand New Zealand
Rodney Ah You Prop Ireland Ireland
Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland Ireland
Denis Buckley Prop Ireland Ireland
JP Cooney Prop Ireland Ireland
Ronan Loughney Prop Ireland Ireland
Nathan White Prop Ireland Ireland
Andrew Browne Lock Ireland Ireland
Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland Ireland
Ben Marshall Lock Ireland Ireland
Aly Muldowney* Lock England England
Danny Qualter Lock Ireland Ireland
Quinn Roux* Lock South Africa South Africa
Nepia Fox-Matamua Flanker New Zealand New Zealand
Jake Heenan Flanker New Zealand New Zealand
Eoghan Masterson Flanker Ireland Ireland
John Muldoon (c) Flanker Ireland Ireland
Eoin McKeon Number 8 Ireland Ireland
George Naoupu Number 8 New Zealand New Zealand
Player Position Union
Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
John Cooney Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Ian Porter Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland Ireland
AJ MacGinty Fly-half United States United States
Shane O'Leary* Fly-half Canada Canada
Bundee Aki Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Conor Finn Centre Ireland Ireland
Robbie Henshaw Centre Ireland Ireland
Dave McSharry Centre Ireland Ireland
Api Pewhairangi* Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Craig Ronaldson Centre Ireland Ireland
Niyi Adeolokun* Wing Nigeria Nigeria
Fionn Carr Wing Ireland Ireland
Matt Healy Wing Ireland Ireland
Danie Poolman* Wing South Africa South Africa
Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland Ireland
Tiernan O'Halloran Fullback Ireland 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 4 non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and 1 non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player"). Connacht Rugby was 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 Ireland year 2
Jack Dineen Hooker Ireland Ireland year 2
Pat O'Toole Hooker Ireland Ireland year 1
Jamie Dever Prop Ireland Ireland year 3
Conor Kyne Prop Ireland Ireland year 1
Saba Meunargia Prop Ireland Ireland year 3
Conán O'Donnell Prop Ireland Ireland year 1
Jacob Walshe Prop Ireland Ireland year 3
Seán O'Brien Lock Ireland Ireland year 3
Cian Romaine Lock Ireland Ireland year 1
James Connolly Flanker Ireland Ireland year 3
Marc Kelly Flanker Ireland Ireland year 2
Stephen McVeigh Flanker Ireland Ireland year 1
Rory Moloney Flanker Ireland Ireland year 3
Player Position Union
Conor Lowndes Scrum-half Ireland Ireland year 1
Conor McKeon Fly-half Ireland Ireland year 2
Rory Parata Centre Ireland Ireland year 3
Peter Robb Centre Ireland Ireland year 2
Ciaran Gaffney Wing Ireland Ireland year 2
Ed O'Keefe Wing Ireland Ireland year 1
Cormac Brennan Fullback Ireland Ireland year 1

Preseason Transfers

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.[69] 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.[70]

Results

Pro12

2015–16 Pro12
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Diff Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1Ireland Leinster (RU)221606458290+16851276373
2Ireland Connacht (CH)221507507406+10160468573
3Scotland Glasgow Warriors (SF)221417557380+17768378672
4Ireland Ulster (SF)221408488307+18161298569
5Wales Scarlets221408477458+1945542563
6Ireland Munster221309459417+4256366563
7Wales Cardiff Blues2211011542461+8162535756
8Wales Ospreys2211110490455+3555496355
9Scotland Edinburgh2211011405366+3941362854
10Wales Newport Gwent Dragons224018353492−139335701026
11Italy Zebre225017308718−41035993124
12Italy Benetton Treviso223019320614−29435790820
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[71]
  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) were play-off places, and earned places in the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earned places in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
To facilitate the 2015 Rugby World Cup, there were no play-offs for the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup; the 20th place went to the winner of the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup if not already qualified. Because Challenge Cup winner Montpellier qualified via the Top 14, its place passed to the top team from that league not already qualified.
Plain background indicates teams that earned a place in the 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

    Regular season

    4 September 2015
    19:30
    Connacht Ireland 29–23 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons (1 BP)
    Try: Fox-Matamua 25' m
    Poolman 49' m
    Carr 77' c
    Con: Carty (1/3)
    Pen: Carty (4/4) 7', 8', 21', 68'
    		 Report Try: Pretorius 41' c
    J. Thomas 75' c
    Con: Tovey (2/2)
    Pen: Tovey (2/2) 28', 56'
    Prydie (1/1) 80'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 3,624
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    11 September 2015
    19:35
    Glasgow Warriors Scotland 33–32 Ireland Connacht (2 BP)
    Try: G. Bryce 30' c
    Cummings 35' c
    Harley 41' c
    Con: Clegg (3/3)
    Pen: Clegg (4/4) 10', 22', 27', 68'
    		 Report Try: Jo. Cooney 46' c
    penalty try 56' c
    Poolman 59' m
    Fox-Matamua 75' c
    Con: Carty (3/4)
    Pen: Carty (2/2) 7', 39'
    Scotstoun Stadium
    Attendance: 6,267
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    3 October 2015
    17:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 36–31 Wales Cardiff Blues (2 BP)
    Try: Marmion 10' c
    Fox-Matamua 22' c
    Poolman 26' m
    O'Halloran 57' c
    Muldowney 64' c
    Con: Carty (4/5)
    Pen: Carty (1/2) 79'
    		 Report Try: Summerhill 7' c
    Turnbull 33' c
    Fish 48' c
    Hobbs 80' c
    Con: Patchell (3/3)
    G. Davies (1/1)
    Pen: Patchell (1/2) 40'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 3,274
    Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU)
    16 October 2015
    19:30
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 34–15 Italy Zebre
    Try: Healy 7' c
    Marmion 21' c
    E. McKeon 27' m
    Ronaldson 39' c
    Buckley 48' m
    Con: Ronaldson (3/5)
    Pen: Ronaldson (1/1) 3'
    		 Report Try: Berryman 35' c
    Meyer 78' m
    Con: Padovani (1/1)
    Pen: Padovani (1/1) 10'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 3,994
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    24 October 2015
    13:30
    (1 BP) Ospreys Wales 16–21 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Baker 14' m
    Tipuric 68' m
    Pen: S. Davies (2/5) 2', 56'
    		 Report Try: Healy 27' m
    Aki 43' c
    Con: Ronaldson (1/1)
    Pen: Carty (2/4) 10', 19'
    Ronaldson (1/1) 77'
    Liberty Stadium
    Attendance: 7,893
    Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
    31 October 2015
    18:45
    Connacht Ireland 14–9 Scotland Edinburgh (1 BP)
    Try: O'Halloran 9' m
    Pen: Carty (3/5) 7', 44', 55'
    		 Report Pen: Hidalgo-Clyne (2/2) 15', 53'
    Kinghorn (1/1) 37'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 3,834
    Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
    6 November 2015
    19:30
    Connacht Ireland 33–19 Italy Benetton Treviso
    Try: Henshaw 42' c
    McCartney 52' c
    Healy 75' c
    Con: Ronaldson (3/3)
    Pen: Ronaldson (4/5) 3', 20', 36', 72'
    		 Report Try: Hayward (2) 26' m, 47' c
    Gori 80' c
    Con: Hayward (2/3)
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 3,443
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    28 November 2015
    17:15
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland 12–18 Ireland Connacht
    Try: N. Scannell 20' m
    penalty try 65' c
    Con: Keatley (1/2)
    		 Report Try: O'Halloran 17' c
    Aki 77' m
    Con: Ronaldson (1/2)
    Pen: Ronaldson (2/3) 11', 58'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 15,143
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    4 December 2015
    19:05
    Cardiff Blues Wales 20–16 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Vosawai 5' c
    James 54' c
    Con: Patchell (2/2)
    Pen: Patchell (2/3) 25', 63'
    		 Report Try: Porter 12' m
    E. McKeon 21' m
    Pen: Porter (1/1) 26'
    Carty (1/1) 66'
    Cardiff Arms Park
    Attendance: 5,824
    Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
    26 December 2015
    18:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 3–10 Ireland Ulster
    Pen: MacGinty (1/1) 63'
    		 Report Try: Williams 76' c
    Con: Pad. Jackson (1/1)
    Pen: Pad. Jackson (1/1) 32'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,876
    Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)
    1 January 2016
    17:00
    Leinster Ireland 13–0 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Van der Flier 60' c
    Con: Sexton (1/1)
    Pen: Sexton (1/1) 14'
    Madigan (1/1) 74'
    		 Report
    RDS Arena
    Attendance: 14,297
    Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
    10 January 2016
    14:30
    Scarlets Wales 21–19 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: S. Evans 45' c
    Collins 60' m
    Con: Thomas (1/2)
    Pen: Thomas (2/2) 36', 43'
    S. Shingler (1/1) 78'
    		 Report Try: Healy 25' c
    Con: Ronaldson (1/1)
    Pen: Ronaldson (2/2) 23', 48'
    Carty (2/2) 67', 77'
    Parc y Scarlets
    Attendance: 5,888
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    30 January 2016
    15:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 30–17 Wales Scarlets
    Try: Heenan (2) 21' m, 36' m
    Buckley 51' c
    Ah You 63' c
    Con: Carty (2/4)
    Pen: Carty (2/3) 8', 47'
    		 Report Try: Van der Merwe 44' c
    G. Owen 73' c
    Con: Thomas (2/2)
    Pen: Thomas (1/1) 43'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,292
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    11 February 2016
    19:30
    (1 BP) Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 21–26 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Hughes 15' m
    Hewitt 26' c
    Con: O'Brien (1/1)
    Pen: Tovey (1/1) 9'
    O'Brien (2/2) 44', 56'
    		 Report Try: Healy 13' c
    O'Halloran 21' c
    Masterson 65' m
    Aki 68' c
    Con: Ronaldson (3/4)
    Rodney Parade
    Attendance: 4,128
    Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
    20 February 2016
    17:30
    (1 BP) Zebre Italy 34–51 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Meyer 37' c
    Haimona 45' c
    Van Schalkwyk 53' c
    Ruzza 69' c
    Con: Haimona (4/4)
    Pen: Haimona (2/2) 13', 19'
    		 Report Try: Healy (3) 16' c, 43' c, 47' c
    Marmion 21' c
    Adeolokun (2) 57' c, 66' c
    Con: Ronaldson (3/3)
    MacGinty (3/3)
    Pen: Ronaldson (1/2) 4'
    MacGinty (2/2) 64', 72'
    Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
    Attendance: 1,850
    Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU)
    27 February 2016
    19:35
    Connacht Ireland 30–22 Wales Ospreys
    Try: Aki 1' c
    MacGinty 11' c
    Healy 51' c
    Con: Ronaldson (3/3)
    Pen: Ronaldson (3/4) 28', 58', 67'
    		 Report Try: John 13' m
    Baker 25' c
    Webb 55' c
    Con: S. Davies (2/3)
    Pen: S. Davies (1/1) 4'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,279
    Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
    4 March 2016
    19:35
    (1 BP) Edinburgh Scotland 23–28 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Dean 43' m
    Hoyland 51' c
    Du Preez 59' m
    Con: Hidalgo-Clyne (1/3)
    Pen: Hidalgo-Clyne (2/3) 68', 80'
    		 Report Try: MacGinty 20' c
    Heenan 32' c
    Aki 45' c
    E. McKeon 72' c
    Con: Ronaldson (3/3)
    MacGinty (1/1)
    Murrayfield Stadium
    Attendance: 3,584
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    26 March 2016
    17:15
    Connacht Ireland 7–6 Ireland Leinster (1 BP)
    Try: Marmion 13' c
    Con: MacGinty (1/1)
    		 Report Pen: Madigan (2/2) 41', 62'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 7,300
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
    1 April 2016
    19:35
    Ulster Ireland 18–10 Ireland Connacht
    Try: R. Best 27' m
    Gilroy 43' c
    Con: Pad. Jackson (1/2)
    Pen: Pad. Jackson (2/2) 5', 12'
    		 Report Try: Blade 54' c
    Con: O'Leary (1/1)
    Pen: O'Leary (1/2) 40'
    Kingspan Stadium
    Attendance: 16,224
    Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
    16 April 2016
    19:15
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 35–14 Ireland Munster
    Try: Adeolokun (2) 36' c, 54' m
    penalty try 40' c
    Bealham 65' c
    Con: O'Leary (3/4)
    Pen: O'Leary (3/3) 8', 18', 80'
    		 Report Try: Zebo 10' c
    Sherry 23' c
    Con: J. Holland (2/2)
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 7,786
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    29 April 2016
    19:30
    Benetton Treviso Italy 22–21 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Morisi 19' m
    Steyn 22' c
    penalty try 45' c
    Con: Hayward (2/3)
    Pen: Hayward (1/1) 80'
    		 Report Try: Parata 11' c
    Carr 14' c
    Robb 52' c
    Con: Jo. Cooney (3/3)
    7 May 2016
    15:00
    Connacht Ireland 14–7 Scotland Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
    Try: Aki 18' c
    O'Halloran 59' c
    Con: MacGinty (1/1)
    O'Leary (1/1)
    		 Report Try: Reid 46' c
    Con: Russell (1/1)
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 7,786
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

    Play-offs

    21 May 2016
    18:30
    Connacht Ireland 16–11 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
    Try: Adeolokun 36' c
    Con: MacGinty (1/1)
    Pen: MacGinty (3/3) 24', 52', 64'
    		 Report Try: Nakarawa 48' m
    Pen: Weir (2/2) 26', 56'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 7,800
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    28 May 2016
    17:30
    Connacht Ireland 20–10 Ireland Leinster
    Try: O'Halloran 12' c
    Adeolokun 21' m
    Healy 56' m
    Con: MacGinty (1/3)
    Pen: MacGinty (1/2) 27'
    		 Report Try: Cronin 66' c
    Con: Sexton (1/1)
    Pen: Sexton (1/1) 43'
    Murrayfield Stadium
    Attendance: 34,550
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
    Connacht
    Leinster
    FB15Ireland Tiernan O'Halloran 68' 71'
    RW14Nigeria Niyi Adeolokun
    OC13Ireland Robbie Henshaw 71'
    IC12New Zealand Bundee Aki
    LW11Ireland Matt Healy
    FH10United States AJ MacGinty
    SH9Ireland Kieran Marmion 60'
    N88Ireland John Muldoon (c)
    OF7New Zealand Jake Heenan
    BF6Ireland Eoin McKeon 41'
    RL5England Aly Muldowney
    LL4Ireland Ultan Dillane 61'
    TP3Ireland Finlay Bealham
    HK2New Zealand Tom McCartney 71'
    LP1Ireland Ronan Loughney 68'
    Substitutions:
    HK16Ireland Dave Heffernan 71'
    PR17Ireland JP Cooney
    PR18Ireland Rodney Ah You 68'
    LK19Ireland Andrew Browne 61'
    FL20Ireland Sean O'Brien 41'
    SH21Ireland John Cooney 60' 65'
    CE22Canada Shane O'Leary 68'
    CE23Ireland Peter Robb 65'
    Coach:
    Samoa Pat Lam
    FB15Ireland Rob Kearney 60'
    RW14Ireland Dave Kearney 75'
    OC13Ireland Garry Ringrose
    IC12New Zealand Ben Te'o
    LW11Ireland Luke Fitzgerald
    FH10Ireland Jonathan Sexton
    SH9Ireland Eoin Reddan 57'
    N88Ireland Jamie Heaslip (c)
    OF7Ireland Jordi Murphy
    BF6Ireland Rhys Ruddock
    RL5Ireland Mick Kearney 16'
    LL4Ireland Ross Molony 62'
    TP3Ireland Mike Ross 41'
    HK2Ireland Richardt Strauss 41'
    LP1Ireland Jack McGrath 71'
    Substitutions:
    HK16Ireland Sean Cronin 41'
    PR17Ireland Peter Dooley 71'
    PR18Ireland Tadhg Furlong 41'
    LK19New Zealand Hayden Triggs 16'
    N820Ireland Jack Conan 62'
    SH21Ireland Luke McGrath 57'
    FH22Ireland Ian Madigan 75'
    FB23South Africa Zane Kirchner 60'
    Coach:
    Ireland Leo Cullen

    Man of the Match:
    Ireland John Muldoon

    Touch judges:
    Ian Davies (WRU)
    Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    Television Match Official:
    Jon Mason (WRU)

    Rugby Challenge Cup

    Pool 1

    Team
    		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
    Ireland Connacht (5) 640214796+5120122119
    England Newcastle Falcons 630313797+402093116
    France Brive 630311488+2612111316
    Russia Enisey-STM 620463180–117828008
    14 November 2015
    15:00
    Enisey-STM Russia 14–31 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Polivalov (2) 72' c, 80' c
    Con: Kushnarev (2/2) 73', 80'
    		 Report Try: Adeolokun 49' m
    Muldoon 51' m
    Leader 62' m
    Parata 76' c
    Con: Leader (1/1) 76'
    Pen: MacGinty (3/4) 7', 36', 43'
    Central Stadium, Krasnoyarsk
    Attendance: 2,500
    Referee: Thomas Charabas (FFR)
    21 November 2015
    17:00
    Connacht Ireland 21–17 France Brive (1 BP)
    Try: Parata 35' m
    Marshall 45' m
    Marmion 50' m
    Pen: Carty (2/2) 33', 40'
    		 Report Try: Acquier 28' m
    Masilevu 47' m
    Galala 73' c
    Con: Iribaren (1/1) 74'
    Pen: Sola (0/2)
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,357
    Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU)
    11 December 2015
    19:45
    Connacht Ireland 25–10 England Newcastle Falcons
    Try: Poolman 74' c
    Con: Carty (1/1) 76'
    Pen: Carty (6/7) 6', 16', 38', 47', 52', 69'
    		 Report Try: Mayhew 56' c
    Con: Willis (1/1) 57'
    Pen: Willis (1/2) 33'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,346
    Referee: Thomas Charabas (FFR)
    20 December 2015
    15:00
    (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons England 29–5 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Watson (2) 24' m, 57' m
    Penalty try (2) 41' c, 56' c
    Agulla 46' c
    Con: Willis (2/5) 42', 56'
    		 Report Try: Poolman 33' m
    Kingston Park
    Attendance: 4,067
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    16 January 2016
    20:45
    Brive France 21–18 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Pen: Laranjeira (7/8) 6', 17', 26', 47', 58', 62', 80'
    		 Report Try: Parata 1' m
    Muldoon (2) 53' m, 78' m
    Pen: MacGinty (1/2) 42'
    Stade Amédée-Domenech
    Attendance: 3,000
    Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU)
    23 January 2016
    15:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 47–5 Russia Enisey-STM
    Try: O'Halloran 16' m
    Healy (2) 20' c, 60' m
    Buckley 27' m
    Poolman 38' m
    Henshaw 41' m
    McCartney 52' m
    Blade 79' c
    Con: MacGinty (1/5) 21'
    Carty (1/3) 79'
    Pen: MacGinty (1/1) 11'
    		 Report Try: Orlov 46' m
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,261
    Referee: Tom Foley (RFU)

    Pool winners and runners-up rankings

    Rank Pool Winners Pts TF +/−
    1England Harlequins2531+102
    2England Gloucester2516+65
    3England Sale Sharks2320+76
    4France Grenoble2222+33
    5Ireland Connacht1920+51
    Rank Pool Runners–up Pts TF +/−
    6France Montpellier2028+105
    7Wales Newport Gwent Dragons2017+34
    8England London Irish1725+64
    9England Newcastle Falcons1620+40
    10Italy Zebre1311+22

    Quarter-finals

    9 April 2016
    21:05
    Grenoble France (4) 33–32 (5) Ireland Connacht
    Try: Wiesniewski 32' c
    Dupont 61' c
    Diaby 69' c
    Con: Wiesniewski (3/3) 33', 62', 70'
    Pen: Wiesniewski (3/3) 20', 37', 40'
    Drop: Wiesniewski (1/1) 75'
    		 Report Try: Adeolokun (2) 11' c, 28' c
    Henshaw 22' m
    Healy 42' c
    Con: O'Leary (3/4) 12', 29', 43'
    Pen: O'Leary (1/1) 53'
    Cooney (1/1) 72'
    Stade des Alpes
    Attendance: 14,077
    Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

    Notes

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

    References

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