2018–19 Connacht Rugby season

Connacht
2018–19 season
Head coach Andy Friend
Chief executive Willie Ruane
Captain Jarrad Butler
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2017–18

The 2018–19 season is Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's eighteenth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-third season as a professional side. It is Andy Friend's first season in charge of the side.

As well as playing in the Pro14, the team is competing in the Challenge Cup in Europe. Their pool also includes Bordeaux, Perpignan and Sale Sharks. A Connacht development side competes in the Celtic Cup against other Irish provinces' development teams and sides from Wales.

Background

Following the removal of head coach Kieran Keane one year into a three-year deal, Andy Friend was hired as his replacement.[1] The team also have a new captain for the season, following the retirement of John Muldoon, the province's most-capped player.[2] In August 2018, Jarrad Butler was named as his replacement.[3]

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[4]  Ireland
Team Manager Tim Allnutt[5]  New Zealand
Head Coach Andy Friend[1]  Australia
Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy[6]  Ireland
Backs Coach Nigel Carolan[7]  Ireland
Defence Coach Peter Wilkins[8]  England
Head Performance Analyst Simon Kavanagh[9]  Ireland
Head of Strength and Conditiong David Howarth[10]  Australia
Strength and Conditioning Coach Johnny O'Connor[11]  Ireland
Academy Manager Eric Elwood[12]  Ireland
Connacht Eagles Coach Mossy Lawler[13]  Ireland

Players

Senior playing squad

The Connacht senior squad for 2018–19 is:[14]

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
Jonny Murphy Hooker Ireland Ireland
Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland Ireland
Denis Buckley Prop Ireland Ireland
Conor Carey Prop Ireland Ireland
Peter McCabe Prop Ireland Ireland
Conán O'Donnell Prop Ireland Ireland
Dominic Robertson-McCoy* Prop New Zealand New Zealand
James Cannon* Lock England England
Peter Claffey Lock Ireland Ireland
Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland Ireland
Joe Maksymiw* Lock England England
Quinn Roux Lock Ireland Ireland
Gavin Thornbury Lock Ireland Ireland
Paul Boyle Back row Ireland Ireland
Jarrad Butler (captain) Back row Australia Australia
James Connolly Back row Ireland Ireland
Robin Copeland Back row Ireland Ireland
Colby Fainga'a Back row Australia Australia
Cillian Gallagher Back row Ireland Ireland
Eoghan Masterson Back row Ireland Ireland
Eoin McKeon Back row Ireland Ireland
Seán O'Brien Back row Ireland Ireland
Player Position Union
Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Conor McKeon Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
James Mitchell* Scrum-half England England
Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland Ireland
David Horwitz Fly-half Australia Australia
Craig Ronaldson Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Bundee Aki Centre Ireland Ireland
Tom Farrell Centre Ireland Ireland
Kyle Godwin Centre Australia Australia
Eoin Griffin Centre Ireland Ireland
Peter Robb Centre Ireland Ireland
Niyi Adeolokun Wing Ireland Ireland
Matt Healy Wing Ireland Ireland
Cian Kelleher Wing Ireland Ireland
Rory Scholes Wing Ireland Ireland
Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland Ireland
Tiernan O'Halloran Fullback Ireland Ireland
  • Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold
  • Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*
  • Irish Provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").[15] Connacht is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement.[16]

Academy squad

The Connacht academy squad for 2018–19 is:[17]

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
Dylan Tierney (year 1) Hooker Ireland Ireland
Matthew Burke (year 2) Prop Ireland Ireland
Conor Kenny (year 3) Prop Ireland Ireland
Niall Murray (year 1) Lock Ireland Ireland
Paul Boyle (year 2) Back row Ireland Ireland
Joshua Dunne (year 1) Back row Ireland Ireland
Cian Huxford (year 1) Back row Ireland Ireland
Sean Masterson (year 2) Back row Ireland Ireland
Mikey Wilson (year 1) Back row Ireland Ireland
Player Position Union
Stephen Kerins (year 3) Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Colm Reilly (year 1) Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Luke Carty (year 2) Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Conor Dean (year 1) Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Conor Fitzgerald (year 1) Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Kieran Joyce (year 2) Centre Ireland Ireland
Sean O'Brien (year 1) Centre Ireland Ireland
Mark Balaski (year 1) Wing Ireland Ireland
Conor Hayes (year 1) Wing Ireland Ireland
Oran McNulty (year 1) Wing Ireland Ireland
Colm de Buitléar (year 2) Fullback Ireland Ireland

Senior team transfers

Results

Pro14

2018–19 Pro14 Table
Conference A
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1Scotland Glasgow Warriors 6501197119+7828145025
2Wales Ospreys 540112594+3114121017
3Ireland Munster 530217482+922593015
4Ireland Connacht 6303126112+1414131215
5Wales Cardiff Blues 5203142120+2215162313
6Italy Zebre 620492146−5412172010
7South Africa Cheetahs 6015119236−1171732215
Conference B
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1Ireland Leinster 540115775+822183120
2Scotland Edinburgh 6303134139−514192216
3Ireland Ulster 6312134174–4014211116
4Wales Scarlets 5302148112+3619122115
5Italy Benetton 5203117138−2116162111
6Wales Dragons 520383129−46920019
7South Africa Southern Kings 510497169−721322217
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[35]
  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 indicates teams that compete in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup
(excluding South African teams who are ineligible)
Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup
Yellow background indicates the fourth-ranked eligible teams in each conference that play-off against each other for the seventh place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (QF) Losing quarter-finalists. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners.

    Challenge Cup

    Pool 5

    Team
    		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
    England Sale Sharks 11004124+1762105
    Ireland Connacht 11002210+1231004
    France Bordeaux Bègles 10011022–1213000
    France Perpignan 10012441–1726000

    References

    1. 1 2 "Andy Friend confirmed as new Connacht head coach". Irish Independent. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
    2. ↑ "The end of an era: John Muldoon bids fond farewell to Connacht". Irish Times. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
    3. ↑ "Back row Jarrad Butler succeeds Muldoon as Connacht captain". The42. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
    4. ↑ "Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
    5. ↑ "'I just came over here to visit my brother and I never left'". Irish Independent. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
    6. ↑ "Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach". RTÉ Sport. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
    7. ↑ "Connacht confirm Carolan and Duffy as part of new coaching team". RTÉ Sport. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    8. ↑ "Connacht appoint former Queensland Reds and Edinburgh defence coach". The42. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    9. ↑ "Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs' coach". Irish Times. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
    10. ↑ "Aussie coach joins Connacht backroom team after three years with leading NBA side". The42. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
    11. ↑ "Connacht son Johnny O'Connor returns to join club's backroom team". The42. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
    12. ↑ "Connacht legend Eric Elwood succeeds Carolan as academy manager". The42. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    13. ↑ "Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season". The42. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
    14. ↑ "Connacht Rugby: Senior Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
    15. ↑ "Not all rules are made to be broken". Irish Independent. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2018. Ireland's set-up demands a maximum of five NIEs - one of whom is a project player
    16. ↑ "Foreign stars hit by new IRFU contract rules". The42. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2018. The changes will not apply to Connacht who recently agreed a separate programme of structural and performance development with the IRFU.
    17. ↑ "Academy Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
    18. ↑ "Connacht: Former Ulster hooker Jonny Murphy joins from Rotherham". BBC Sport. 16 May 2018.
    19. 1 2 3 "Three promising homegrown players sign pro contracts with Connacht". The42. 9 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
    20. ↑ "Connacht Rugby have signed second row Joe Maksymiw from Leicester Tigers ahead of next season". Irish Independent. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
    21. ↑ "Connacht capture Robin Copeland signature". Planet Rugby. 12 March 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018.
    22. ↑ "Connacht sign Colby Fainga'a". Planet Rugby. 11 July 2018.
    23. ↑ "Australian fly-half David Horwitz to join Connacht next season". Sky Sports. 23 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018.
    24. ↑ "Connacht to sign Brumbies centre Kyle Godwin". Planet Rugby. 20 March 2018. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018.
    25. ↑ "Ex-Connacht men Leader and O'Toole called into USA Men's Selects squad". The42. 13 September 2018.
    26. ↑ "JP Cooney - Solutions Advisor at SmartBear Software". LinkedIn. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
    27. 1 2 3 "Connacht Rugby confirm departing players". Connacht Rugby. 30 March 2018. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018.
    28. ↑ "Andrew Browne to leave Connacht". Planet Rugby. 18 April 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
    29. ↑ "Durban-born No 8 among Otago recruits". ODT.co.nz. 11 May 2018.
    30. ↑ "Bristol: John Afoa and Harry Thacker among nine signings for next season". BBC Sport. 20 January 2017.
    31. ↑ "Muldoon calls it a day". Planet Rugby. 24 January 2018. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018.
    32. ↑ "World Cup winning Springbok Jaque Fourie, Olympic gold medallist Masivesi Dakuwaqa join Western Force". The West Australian. 5 March 2018. Archived from the original on 5 March 2018.
    33. ↑ "Pita Ahki to join Toulouse next season". Planet Rugby. 3 March 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018.
    34. ↑ "2018 Magpies Squad Announced". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
    35. ↑ Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
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