2016–17 Connacht Rugby season

Connacht
2016–17 season
Head coach Pat Lam
Chief executive Willie Ruane
Captain John Muldoon
Pro12 8th
Champions Cup Pool stages
Top try scorer All: Niyi Adeolokun (8)
Top points scorer All: Craig Ronaldson (100)
Highest home attendance 8,091 v Toulouse
15 October 2016
Lowest home attendance 4,091 v Zebre
3 March 2017
Average home attendance 6,386
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 Galway Sportsground underwent renovations during the summer 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[lower-alpha 1]
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 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
Dave Heffernan Hooker Ireland Ireland
Tom McCartney Hooker New Zealand New Zealand
John Andress Prop Ireland Ireland
Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland Ireland
Denis Buckley Prop Ireland Ireland
Conor Carey Prop Ireland Ireland
JP Cooney Prop Ireland Ireland
Ronan Loughney Prop Ireland Ireland
Peter McCabe Prop Ireland Ireland
Dominic Robertson-McCoy* Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Ivan Soroka Prop Ireland Ireland
Andrew Browne Lock Ireland Ireland
James Cannon* Lock England England
Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland Ireland
Ben Marshall Lock Ireland Ireland
Danny Qualter Lock Ireland Ireland
Quinn Roux Lock Ireland Ireland
Lewis Stevenson Lock Ireland Ireland
James Connolly Flanker Ireland Ireland
Naulia Dawai Flanker Fiji Fiji
Nepia Fox-Matamua Flanker New Zealand New Zealand
Jake Heenan* Flanker New Zealand New Zealand
Rory Moloney Flanker Ireland Ireland
Seán O'Brien Flanker Ireland Ireland
Eoghan Masterson Number 8 Ireland Ireland
Eoin McKeon Number 8 Ireland Ireland
John Muldoon (c) Number 8 Ireland Ireland
Player Position Union
Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
John Cooney Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Marnitz Boshoff Fly-half South Africa South Africa
Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Steve Crosbie Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Shane O'Leary* Fly-half Canada Canada
Bundee Aki Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Tom Farrell Centre Ireland Ireland
Eoin Griffin Centre Ireland Ireland
Rory Parata Centre Ireland Ireland
Peter Robb Centre Ireland Ireland
Craig Ronaldson Centre Ireland Ireland
Niyi Adeolokun Wing Ireland Ireland
Matt Healy Wing Ireland Ireland
Stacey Ili Wing New Zealand New Zealand
Cian Kelleher Wing Ireland Ireland
Danie Poolman* Wing South Africa South Africa
Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland Ireland
Tiernan O'Halloran Fullback Ireland Ireland
Josh Rowland 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 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 as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

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

Senior Team Transfers

Results

Pro12

2016–17 Pro12
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1Ireland Munster (RU) 221903602316+28677349186
2Ireland Leinster (SF) 221804674390+284914712185
3Wales Scarlets (CH) 221705537359+17866409077
4Wales Ospreys (SF)221408556360+196744210369
5Ireland Ulster221417521371+15068476468
6Scotland Glasgow Warriors2211011540464+7672539558
7Wales Cardiff Blues2211110508498+1059603453
8Ireland Connacht229013413498−8547615344
9Scotland Edinburgh226016400491−9146591631
10Italy Benetton Treviso225017316664−34835921223
11Wales Newport Gwent Dragons224018368569−20138711623
12Italy Zebre223019318773−455381051619
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 Ireland 5–41 Scotland Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
    Try: Adeolokun 32' m
    		 Report Try: 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'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 6,063
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    10 September 2016
    19:35
    Connacht Ireland 11–32 Wales Ospreys (1 BP)
    Try: McKeon 57' m
    Pen: Carty (2/2) 20', 46'
    		 Report Try: 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'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,749
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    17 September 2016
    18:05
    Zebre Italy Postponed Ireland 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 Wales 17–8 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Li. Williams (2) 36' c, 66' c
    Con: Patchell (2/2) 36', 66'
    Pen: Patchell (1/1) 71'
    		 Report Try: 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 Ireland 28–15 Scotland Edinburgh
    Try: Adeolokun 9' c
    Roux 36' m
    Kelleher 45' m
    Robb 73' m
    Con: Carty (1/4)
    Pen: Carty (2/2) 17', 23'
    		 Report Try: Gilchrist 19' c
    Allen 70' m
    Con: Tovey (1/2)
    Pen: Tovey (1/1) 5'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,771
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
    7 October 2016
    19:35
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 30–25 Ireland 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'
    		 Report Try: Gilroy 33' m
    Best 41' c
    Payne 44' c
    Con: Jackson (2/3)
    Pen: Jackson (2/2) 5', 65'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 6,194
    Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU)
    29 October 2016
    17:15
    Leinster Ireland 24–13 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Byrne 49'
    Daly 75' c
    Con: Nacewa (1/2) 76'
    Pen: Nacewa (4/4) 23', 32', 38', 58'
    		 Report Try: 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 Wales 21–16 Ireland 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'
    		 Report Try: 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 Ireland 18–7 Wales Cardiff Blues
    Try: Cooney 15' c
    Aki 56' m
    Con: Cooney (1/2) 16'
    Pen: Cooney (2/2) 40', 49'
    		 Report Try: James 17' c
    Con: Shingler (1/1) 18'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 6,190
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
    3 December 2016
    15:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 47–8 Italy 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'
    		 Report Try: Flammini 67' c
    Con: McKinley (1/1) 5'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,903
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    23 December 2016
    19:35
    Ulster Ireland 23–7 Ireland Connacht
    Try: McCloskey 26' c
    Ross 52' c
    Con: Jackson (2/2) 28', 53'
    Pen: Jackson (3/3) 20', 36', 67'
    		 Report Try: Carty 55'
    Con: Carty (1/1) 56'
    Kingspan Stadium
    Attendance: 17,613
    Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
    31 December 2016
    17:30
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 9–16 Ireland Munster
    Pen: Carty (3/4) 30', 50', 76'
    		 Report Try: Marshall 56' c
    Con: Keatley (1/1) 57'
    Pen: Keatley (2/3) 2', 39'
    Drop: Keatley (1/2) 68'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,090
    Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
    7 January 2017
    13:30
    (1 BP) Ospreys Wales 29–7 Ireland 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'
    		 Report Try: 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 Wales 13–19 Ireland Connacht
    Try: N. Williams 28' c
    Con: Anscombe (1/1) 28'
    Pen: Anscombe (2/2) 12', 20'
    		 Report Try: 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 Ireland 14–9 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons (1 BP)
    Try: O'Halloran 5' c
    Blade 13' c
    Con: Ronaldson (2/2) 5', 13'
    		 Report Pen: O'Brien (3/3) 18', 42', 53'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 6,190
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
    26 February 2017
    13:30
    Benetton Treviso Italy 19–34 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Buondonno 37' m
    Sperandio 70' c
    Odiete 75' c
    Con: Tebaldi (1/1) 37'
    Buondonno (1/1) 75' c
    		 Report Try: 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 Ireland 33–3 Italy 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 (2/2) 61', 66'
    Ronaldson (1/1) 75'
    		 Report Pen: Palazzani (1/1) 45'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,091
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    25 March 2017
    17:15
    (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland 35–24 Ireland 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'
    		 Report Try: 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 Italy 25–22 Ireland 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'
    		 Report Try: 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 Scotland 19–22 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Penalty try 63' c
    Watson 66' c
    G. Bryce 73' m
    Con: Weir (2/3) 63', 67'
    		 Report Try: 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 Ireland 24–37 Ireland Leinster (1 BP)
    Try: Poolman 18' c
    Heffernan 49' m
    Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 18'
    Pen: Ronaldson (4/4) 1', 12', 28', 40'
    		 Report Try: 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'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,090
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    29 April 2017
    20:00
    Connacht Ireland 8–30 Wales 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'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,290
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
    6 May 2017
    17:15
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland 50–14 Ireland 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

    Pool 1

    Team
    		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
    England Wasps (5) 6411210112+9828133122
    France Toulouse (7) 631216491+7322102218
    Ireland Connacht 6402188118+7026152018
    Italy Zebre 600690331−2411149000
    15 October 2016
    17:30
    Connacht Ireland 23–21 France 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'
    		 Report Try: David 34' m
    Doussain 37' c
    Con: Bézy (1/2) 37'
    Pen: Bézy (2/4) 7', 11'
    Fritz (1/1) 13'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,091
    Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
    23 October 2016
    16:15
    Zebre Italy 7–52 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: D'Apice 61' c
    Con: Padovani (1/1) 61'
    		 Report Try: 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 England 32–17 Ireland 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'
    		 Report Try: 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 Ireland 20–18 England Wasps
    Try: Poolman 39' c
    Dawai 80' c
    Con: Carty (2/2) 40', 80'
    Pen: Carty (2/3) 8', 31'
    		 Report Try: Simpson 13' c
    Bassett 72' m
    Con: Gopperth (1/2) 13'
    Pen: Gopperth (2/3) 53', 67'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    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 Ireland 66–21 Italy 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'
    		 Report Try: Meyer 6' c
    Ruzza 11' c
    Bellini 62' c
    Con: Canna (3/3) 7', 12', 62'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,607
    Referee: Tom Foley (RFU)
    22 January 2017
    16:15
    Toulouse France 19–10 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Fickou 5' c
    Bonneval 17' c
    Tekori 46' m
    Con: Doussain (2/3) 6', 18'
    		 Report Try: 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

    Semi-final

    20 May 2017
    16:00 BST
    Northampton Saints England 21–15 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Mallinder 1' c
    Groom 56' m
    Con: Mallinder (1/2) 2'
    Pen: Mallinder (3/3) 15', 23', 70'
    		 Report Try: Adeolokun 4' c
    Heffernan 61' m
    Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 4'
    Pen: Ronaldson (1/1) 28'
    FB15Samoa Ahsee Tuala 78'
    RW14England Ben Foden
    OC13Tonga Nafi Tuitavake
    IC12England Luther Burrell 23'
    LW11Wales George North
    FH10England Harry Mallinder
    SH9South Africa Nic Groom 67'
    N88France Louis Picamoles
    OF7England Teimana Harrison 58'
    BF6England Jamie Gibson 78' to 80'
    RL5England Christian Day 64'
    LL4England Courtney Lawes
    TP3England Kieran Brookes 62'
    HK2England Dylan Hartley (c) 59'
    LP1England Alex Waller 62'
    Replacements:
    HK16England Mike Haywood 78'
    PR17Fiji Campese Ma'afu 62'
    PR18England Gareth Denman 62'
    LK19Fiji Api Ratuniyarawa 64'
    FL20England Tom Wood 58'
    SH21England Lee Dickson 67'
    FH22England Sam Olver
    CE23Scotland Rory Hutchinson 23'
    Coach:
    England Jim Mallinder
    FB15Ireland Tiernan O'Halloran
    RW14Ireland Niyi Adeolokun
    OC13South Africa Danie Poolman
    IC12Ireland Craig Ronaldson
    LW11Ireland Cian Kelleher 3'
    FH10Ireland Jack Carty
    SH9Ireland Kieran Marmion 66'
    N88Ireland John Muldoon (c)
    OF7New Zealand Jake Heenan 56'
    BF6Ireland Seán O'Brien
    RL5England James Cannon 51'
    LL4Ireland Quinn Roux
    TP3Ireland Finlay Bealham 68'
    HK2Ireland Dave Heffernan
    LP1Ireland Denis Buckley
    Replacements:
    HK16Ireland Shane Delahunt
    PR17Ireland JP Cooney
    PR18Ireland Conor Carey 68'
    LK19Ireland Ultan Dillane 51'
    FL20Fiji Naulia Dawai 56'
    SH21Ireland Caolin Blade
    SH22Ireland John Cooney 66'
    WG23Ireland Matt Healy 3'
    Coach:
    Samoa 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. 1 2 3 "Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs' coach". Irish Times. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
    10. 1 2 3 "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. 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.
    15. 1 2 "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.
    26. ↑ "Connacht sign Ireland Sevens winger Josh Rowland". Sky Sports. 14 July 2016.
    27. ↑ "London Irish to sign Connacht hooker Jason Harris-Wright". Planet Rugby. 4 August 2016.
    28. ↑ "Connacht and Ireland tighthead prop Rodney Ah You to join Ulster". BBC Sport. 18 January 2016.
    29. ↑ "Ireland international White forced to retire from rugby after concussion injury". The42. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
    30. ↑ "Grenoble confirm signing of Connacht lock Aly Muldowney next season". Irish Times. 20 April 2016.
    31. ↑ "Harlequins to sign Connacht number eight George Naoupu". BBC Sport. 28 July 2016.
    32. ↑ "Connacht scrum-half returns to old hometown club Banbridge RFC". Banbridge Leader. 16 August 2016.
    33. ↑ "Sale Sharks sign USA fly-half AJ MacGinty from Connacht". Manchester Evening News. 31 March 2016.
    34. ↑ "16 September 2016". Connacht Rugby. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
    35. ↑ "Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw to join Leinster". BBC Sport. 16 February 2016.
    36. ↑ "Connacht centre Dave McSharry force to retire at 26 because of injuries". Planet Rugby. 17 August 2016.
    37. ↑ "Connacht utility back Api Pewhairangi switches codes to join league side London Broncos". Sky Sports. 23 May 2016.
    38. ↑ "The cream of Ireland's domestic rugby talent back in action this weekend". The42. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017. Murphy, who has recruited his old school friend Fionn Carr fresh from the professional ranks
    39. ↑ Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro12. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
    40. ↑ "Champions Cup Qualification". EPC Rugby. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
    41. ↑ "Statement on abandoned game between Zebre Rugby and Connacht Rugby". Pro 12. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
    42. ↑ "GUINNESS PRO12: IRISH PROVINCES' RESULTS AND FIXTURES". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
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