2018–19 Connacht Rugby season

The 2018–19 season was 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 was Andy Friend's first season in charge of the side.

Connacht
2018–19 season
Head coachAndy Friend
Chief executiveWillie Ruane
CaptainJarrad Butler
Pro143rd, Conf. A (play-off quarter-finals)
Challenge CupQuarter-finals
Highest home attendance8,129 v Leinster
29 September 2018
8,129 v Ulster
28 December 2018
8,129 v Munster
5 January 2019
Lowest home attendance4,056 v Zebre
8 September 2018
Average home attendance5,876
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2017–18 2019–20 →

In the regular season, Connacht were in Conference A of the Pro14. The team finished third in their conference, qualifying for the play-offs for the first time since the 2015–16 season where they were beaten by Ulster in the quarter-final. As well as playing in the Pro14, the team competed in the Challenge Cup in Europe. They qualified as one of the best runners up from a pool including Bordeaux, Perpignan and Sale Sharks to reach the quarter-finals, where they again met Sale. A 20–10 defeat saw the team eliminated in the last eight.

In addition to the league and European competitions, the Connacht Eagles development side competed in two new competitions. The first was the Celtic Cup, which saw them play against other Irish provinces' development teams and sides from Wales. The Eagles finished bottom of the Irish conference the inaugural edition of this tournament. The second competition was the Cara Cup, which involved the Irish provinces and the New England Free Jacks, a newly established Major League Rugby side. The Eagles won both of their games, beating Ulster and the Free Jacks.

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 was:[14][lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]

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
Dave Heffernan Hooker Ireland
Tom McCartney* Hooker New Zealand
Jonny Murphy Hooker Ireland
Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland
Denis Buckley Prop Ireland
Conor Carey Prop Ireland
Peter McCabe Prop Ireland
Conán O'Donnell Prop Ireland
Dominic Robertson-McCoy* Prop New Zealand
James Cannon* Lock England
Peter Claffey Lock Ireland
Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland
Joe Maksymiw* Lock England
Quinn Roux Lock Ireland
Gavin Thornbury Lock Ireland
Jarrad Butler (captain) Back row Australia
James Connolly Back row Ireland
Robin Copeland Back row Ireland
Colby Fainga'a Back row Australia
Cillian Gallagher Back row Ireland
Eoghan Masterson Back row Ireland
Eoin McKeon Back row Ireland
Seán O'Brien Back row Ireland
Player Position Union
Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland
Angus Lloyd Scrum-half Ireland
Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland
Conor McKeon Scrum-half Ireland
James Mitchell* Scrum-half England
Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland
David Horwitz Fly-half Australia
Craig Ronaldson Fly-half Ireland
Bundee Aki Centre Ireland
Tom Daly[lower-alpha 1] Centre Ireland
Tom Farrell Centre Ireland
Kyle Godwin Centre Australia
Eoin Griffin Centre Ireland
Peter Robb Centre Ireland
Niyi Adeolokun Wing Ireland
Stephen Fitzgerald[lower-alpha 2] Wing Ireland
Matt Healy Wing Ireland
Cian Kelleher Wing Ireland
Rory Scholes Wing Ireland
Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland
Tiernan O'Halloran Fullback 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").[18] Connacht is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement.[19]
  • Notes:
  1. Tom Daly joined Connacht on loan from Leinster in December 2018 for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.[15]
  2. Stephen Fitzgerald joined Connacht on a three-month loan from Munster in December 2018,[16] which was later extended to last until the end of the season.[17]

Academy squad

The Connacht academy squad for 2018–19 was:[20]

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

Senior team transfers
For player movement in the Pro14 leading up to and during the 2018–19 season, see List of 2018–19 Pro14 transfers.
  • Player's name in italics indicates a transfer that took place during the course of the season

Results

Pro14
Main article: 2018–19 Pro14
2018–19 Pro14 Table
Conference A
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1 Glasgow Warriors (RU) 211605621380+241834815281
2 Munster (SF) 211605612348+264824411277
3 Connacht (QF) 211209475394+8160557661
4 Ospreys (PO) 211209445404+4153476458
5 Cardiff Blues 2110011497451+4660587754
6 Cheetahs 218112541606−6580809346
7 Zebre 213018260640−38035855219
Conference B
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1 Leinster (CH) 211515672385+287954912276
2 Ulster (SF) 211326441424+1758546163
3 Benetton (QF) 211128474431+4362556357
4 Scarlets 2110011510470+4068547552
5 Edinburgh 2110011431436−552596551
6 Dragons 215115339599−26037841326
7 Southern Kings 212118385735−350541075722
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[43]
  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 loser of the play-off between the two fourth-ranked European teams in each conference, that earned a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge 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.

    Regular season
    1 September 2018
    15:00
    (1 BP) Connacht 26–27 Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
    Try: Kelleher 14' c
    Bealham 21' c
    Con: J. Carty (2/2) 16', 22'
    Pen: J. Carty (4/5) 11', 34', 40', 42'
    		 Report[44] Try: Seymour 1' m
    Turner 17' c
    Wilson 31' m
    Ashe 64' c
    Con: P. Horne (1/3) 18'
    Hogg (1/1) 65'
    Drop: Hogg (1/1) 73'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,329
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    8 September 2018
    17:15
    (1 BP) Connacht 32–13 Zebre
    Try: Boyle (2) 8' c, 20' c
    Blade 47' m
    Griffin 59' m
    Adeolokun 69' m
    Con: J. Carty (2/5) 8', 21'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/2) 2'
    		 Report[45] Try: Bisegni 78' c
    Con: Brummer (1/1) 78'
    Pen: Canna (2/2) 25', 52'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,056
    Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)
    14 September 2018
    19:35
    Edinburgh 17–10 Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Van der Merwe 25' c
    Schoeman 55' c
    Con: Van der Walt (2/2) 26', 55'
    Pen: Van der Walt (1/1) 41'
    		 Report[46] Try: Adeolokun 61' c
    Con: J. Carty (1/1) 62'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 75'
    Murrayfield Stadium
    Attendance: 5,239
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    22 September 2018
    17:15
    Connacht 33–20 Scarlets
    Try: Farrell 4' c
    Kelleher 25' c
    Adeolokun 74' c
    Con: J. Carty (3/3) 5', 26', 76'
    Pen: J. Carty (4/4) 16', 40', 62', 69'
    		 Report[47] Try: McNicholl 28' c
    Prydie 71' c
    Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 8'
    Patchell (1/1) 71'
    Pen: Halfpenny (2/2) 8', 20'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,839
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    29 September 2018
    17:15
    Connacht 3–20 Leinster
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 2'
    		 Report[48] Try: Ringrose 40' c
    Cronin 55' c
    Con: Sexton (2/2) 41', 56'
    Pen: Sexton (2/2) 34', 40'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,129
    Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
    5 October 2018
    19:35
    (1 BP) Ulster 15–22 Connacht
    Try: Stockdale 23' m
    Timoney 79' c
    Con: Cooney (1/2) 79'
    Pen: Cooney (1/2) 52'
    		 Report[49] Try: O'Halloran 5' c
    Aki 72' m
    Con: J. Carty (1/2) 6'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 67'
    Kingspan Stadium
    Attendance: 13,109
    Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
    26 October 2018
    20:05
    (1 BP) Ospreys 22–17 Connacht (1BP)
    Try: Giles (2) 1' m, 8' m
    H. Morgan 51' c
    D. Evans 79' m
    Con: S. Davies (1/4) 52'
    		 Report[50] Try: Aki 64' c
    Butler 69' c
    Con: J. Carty (2/2) 66', 71'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 12'
    Brewery Field, Bridgend
    Attendance: 5,122
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
    3 November 2018
    17:15
    (1 BP) Connacht 33–12 Dragons
    Try: Cannon 23' c
    Leader 26' m
    Fainga'a 29' c
    McCartney 39' c
    Farrell 69' c
    Con: Horwitz (3/4) 24', 30', 40'
    J. Carty (1/1) 70'
    		 Report[51] Try: Amos 56' m
    Basham 80' c
    Con: Tovey (1/2) 80'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,146
    Referee: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
    25 November 2018
    15:00
    Southern Kings 14–31 Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Banda 27' c
    Dukisa 50' c
    Con: Banda (2/2)
    		 Report[52] Try: Kelleher 10' c
    Penalty try 35'
    Healy 39' c
    Boyle 61' c
    Con: Carty (2/2) 11', 40'
    Horwitz 61'
    Pen: Carty (1/1) 4'
    NMU Stadium
    Attendance: 3,207
    Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
    1 December 2018
    17:00
    (1 BP) Cheetahs 17–21 Connacht
    Try: Jaer 30' m
    Dweba 35' m
    S. Venter 71' c
    Con: Schoeman (1/1) 72'
    		 Report[53] Try: Farrell 5' c
    Thornbury 27' m
    Con: J. Carty (1/2) 7'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 21'
    Horwitz (2/2) 57', 64'
    Toyota Stadium
    Attendance: 3,270
    Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
    22 December 2018
    19:45
    (1 BP) Leinster 33–29 Connacht (2 BP)
    Try: O'Brien 11' c
    M. Kearney 43' m
    Cronin 69' c
    Leavy 71' c
    Porter 80' c
    Con: Byrne (4/5) 11', 69', 72', 80'
    		 Report[54] Try: Kelleher 5' m
    Leader 22' c
    J. Carty 33' c
    Blade 47' c
    Con: J. Carty (3/4) 23', 34', 48'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 63'
    RDS Arena
    Attendance: 16,790
    Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
    28 December 2018
    19:35
    Connacht 21–12 Ulster
    Try: Delahunt 12' c
    Aki 19' c
    Blade 42' c
    Con: J. Carty (3/3) 13', 21', 44'
    		 Report[55] Try: Kernohan 32' c
    Murphy 67' m
    Con: Cooney (1/2) 33'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,129
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    5 January 2019
    19:35
    (1 BP) Connacht 24–31 Munster (1 BP)
    Try: Farrell 9' c
    Kelleher 41' c
    J. Carty 72' c
    Con: J. Carty (3/3) 11', 42', 72'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 40'
    		 Report Try: P. O'Mahony 16' c
    Goggin (2) 24' c, 48' c
    Carbery 63' c
    Con: Carbery (4/4) 17', 25', 49', 64'
    Pen: Carbery (1/1) 56'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,129
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
    26 January 2019
    17:15
    Cardiff Blues 8–7 Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Lane 24' m
    Pen: Shingler (1/2) 11'
    		 Report Try: Boyle 74' c
    Con: C. Fitzgerald 75'
    Cardiff Arms Park
    Attendance: 5,673
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
    16 February 2019
    17:30
    Connacht 25–17 Cheetahs
    Try: Farrell 24' c
    McCartney 45' c
    Butler 78' m
    Con: J. Carty (2/3) 26', 47'
    Pen: J. Carty (2/2) 16', 72'
    		 Report Try: Maxwane 10' c
    Fouché 20' m
    S. Venter 59' m
    Con: Schoeman (1/3) 12'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,933
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
    22 February 2019
    19:35
    (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors 43–17 Connacht
    Try: G. Horne 0' c
    Swinson 30' c
    Stewart (2) 38' c, 44' c
    Nairn (2) 66' c, 72' m
    Con: Thomson (5/6) 1', 31', 38', 45', 67'
    Pen: Thomson (1/1) 16'
    		 Report Try: S. Fitzgerald 21' m
    Boyle 61' m
    Daly 69' c
    Con: Godwin (1/2) 70'
    Scotstoun Stadium
    Attendance: 7,246
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    2 March 2019
    14:45
    (1 BP) Connacht 46–5 Ospreys
    Try: Farrell 1' c
    Healy 24' c
    Marmion (2) 29' c, 50' c
    McCartney 69' c
    Con: Godwin (4/4) 1', 25', 31', 52'
    Pen: Godwin (2/2) 12', 15'
    		 Report Try: Aubrey 15' m
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,117
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    22 March 2019
    19:35
    (1 BP) Connacht 29–14 Benetton
    Try: Blade ' c
    Healy (2) 29' c, 68' m
    J. Carty ' c
    Con: Godwin (2/2) 17', 30'
    J. Carty (1/2) 80'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 63'
    		 Report Try: Rizzi 37' c
    Duvenage 55' c
    Con: Rizzi (2/2) 38', 56'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,106
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
    6 April 2019
    17:30
    (1 BP) Zebre 5–6 Connacht
    Try: Bellini 41'm
    		 Report Pen: J. Carty (2/2) 5', 21'
    13 April 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Connacht 29–22 Cardiff Blues (1 BP)
    Try: Blade 11' c
    Thornbury 26' c
    J. Carty 49' c
    Healy 72' m
    Con: J. Carty (3/4) 11', 27', 50'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/3) 46'
    		 Report Try: Lane 19' c
    Turnbull 70' c
    Harries 79' m
    Con: Anscombe (2/3) 20', 71'
    Pen: Anscombe (1/1) 52'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 6,229
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
    27 April 2019
    19:35
    Munster 27–14 Connacht
    Try: Beirne 30' c
    Haley 36' c
    Hanrahan 74' c
    Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) 31', 37'
    Hanrahan (1/1) 75'
    Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 20', 56'
    		 Report Try: Bealham 23'
    McKeon 70' c
    Con: Dean (2/2) 24', 70'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 19,999
    Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

    Play-offs
    4 May 2019
    17:35
    Ulster 21–13 Connacht
    Try: Timoney 14' m
    Coetzee 77' c
    Con: Burns (1/1) 78'
    Pen: Cooney (3/3) 4', 40', 61'
    		 Report Try: Aki 54' c
    Con: J. Carty (1/1) 55'
    Pen: J. Carty (2/3) 29', 67'
    Kingspan Stadium
    Attendance: 15,215
    Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

    Challenge Cup
    Main article: 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup

    Pool 3
    Team
    		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
    Sale Sharks (3) 64021961088827124222
    Connacht (6) 65011461202619142022
    Bordeaux Bègles 6213137171–3417231112
    Perpignan 6015117197–801327013
    13 October 2018
    15:00
    Connacht 22–10 Bordeaux Bègles
    Try: Godwin (2) 13' c, 45' c
    Bealham 66' m
    Con: J. Carty (2/3) 14', 46'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 23'
    		 Report[56] Try: Amosa 52' c
    Con: Meret (1/1) 53'
    Pen: Meret (1/1) 40'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,878
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
    20 October 2018
    15:00
    (1 BP) Sale Sharks 34–14 Connacht
    Try: Ashton (3) 36' c, 56' c, 63' c
    Beaumont 53' c
    Con: De Klerk (4/4) 38', 54', 57', 65'
    Pen: De Klerk (2/2) 19', 27'
    		 Report[57] Try: Delahunt 30' c
    Con: C. Fitzgerald (1/1) 32'
    Pen: C. Fitzgerald (2/2) 1', 16'
    AJ Bell Stadium
    Attendance: 4,249
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    8 December 2018
    15:00
    Connacht 22–10 Perpignan
    Try: Leader 9' c
    Aki 19' c
    Godwin 77' m
    Con: Horwitz (2/2) 10', 20'
    C. Fitzgerald (0/1)
    Pen: Horwitz (1/2) 44'
    		 Report[58] Try: Leiataua 65' c
    Con: Bousquet (1/1) 66'
    Pen: Bousquet (1/1) 47'
    Galway Sportsground
    Attendance: 5,011
    Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
    14 December 2018
    19:00
    Perpignan 21–36 Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Farnoux 7' m
    Leiataua 41' m
    Fainga'anuku 46' m
    Con: Jackson (0/3)
    Pen: Jackson (1/1) 12'
    Ecochard (1/1) 59'
    		 Report[59] Try: O'Brien (2) 19' c, 34' m
    Heffernan 25' c
    Healy 67' c
    Kelleher 68' c
    Con: C. Fitzgerald (2/3) 20', 25'
    J. Carty (2/2) 68', 70'
    Pen: C. Fitzgerald (1/2) 40'
    Stade Aimé Giral
    Attendance: 5,166
    Referee: Ian Tempest (RFU)
    12 January 2019
    15:00
    Connacht 20–18 Sale Sharks (1 BP)
    Try: Godwin 19' c
    Mitchell 21' c
    Con: J. Carty (2/2) 20', 22'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 12'
    Horwitz (1/1) 71'
    		 Report[60] Try: Ashton 39' c
    De Klerk 49' m
    Con: De Klerk (1/2) 40'
    Pen: De Klerk (2/2) 61', 64'
    Galway Sportsground
    Attendance: 6,229
    Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
    19 January 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Bordeaux Bègles 27–33 Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Amosa 23' c
    Poirot 38' c
    Serin 48' c
    Con: Meret (3/3) 24', 40', 49'
    Pen: Meret (2/2) 15', 26'
    		 Report[61] Try: Healy (2) 9' m, 70' c
    Roux 18' c
    O'Halloran 34' c
    J. Carty 77' c
    Con: Horwitz (2/3) 19', 35'
    J. Carty (2/2) 71', 78'
    Stade Chaban-Delmas
    Attendance: 11,899
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

    Pool winners and runners-up rankings
    Rank Pool Leaders Pts Diff TF
    1 Clermont3018744
    2 La Rochelle2413432
    3 Sale Sharks228827
    4 Worcester Warriors222519
    5 Harlequins216623
    Rank Pool Runners–up Pts Diff TF
    6 Connacht222619
    7 Bristol Bears2115942
    8 Northampton Saints2115542
    9 Benetton206523
    10 Ospreys133618

    Quarter-finals
    29 March 2019
    19:45 GMT UTC+0
    Sale Sharks (3) 20–10 (6) Connacht
    Try: McGuigan 9' c
    Solomona 14' c
    Con: MacGinty (2/2) 10', 16'
    Pen: MacGinty (2/2) 28', 33'
    		 Report[62] Try: Godwin 67' c
    Con: Leader (1/1) 68'
    Pen: J. Carty (1/2) 7'
    AJ Bell Stadium
    Attendance: 4,649
    Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

    References
    1. "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. "Connacht bolster backline options with loan signing of Leinster's Daly". The42. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
    16. "Roux and O'Brien return to Connacht starting team to face Ulster". Connacht Rugby. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
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