2019–20 Connacht Rugby season

The 2019–20 season is Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's nineteenth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-fourth season as a professional side. It is Andy Friend's second season in charge of the side.

Connacht
2019–20 season
Head coachAndy Friend
Chief executiveWillie Ruane
CaptainJarrad Butler
Pro14Conf. B
Champions CupPool stage (4th)
Home colours
Away colours
← 2018–19

In the regular season, Connacht are in Conference B of the Pro14, after spending the previous two seasons in Conference A. As well as playing in the Pro14, the team competed in the Champions Cup in Europe on the back of the previous season's league performance. They were drawn into pool 5 with Gloucester, Montpellier and Toulouse, and finished bottom of the table. In addition to the league and European competitions, the Connacht Eagles development side again competed in the Celtic Cup. The Eagles finished third in the regular season of the eight-team competition, just two points behind finalists Ulster A.

On 12 March 2020, with 13 of Connacht's 21 fixtures in the regular season of the Pro14 completed, the league was put on indefinite hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.[1]

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[2]  Ireland
Team Manager Tim Allnutt[3]  New Zealand
Head Coach Andy Friend[4]  Australia
Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy[5]  Ireland
Backs Coach Nigel Carolan[6]  Ireland
Defence Coach Peter Wilkins[7]  England
Senior Video Analyst Simon Kavanagh[8]  Ireland
Head of Strength and Conditiong David Howarth[9]  Australia
Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach Johnny O'Connor[10]  Ireland
Academy Manager Eric Elwood[11]  Ireland
Connacht Eagles Coach Mossy Lawler[12]  Ireland

Players

Senior playing squad
For player movements before or during the 2019–20 season, see List of 2019–20 Pro14 transfers § Connacht.
Connacht Rugby Pro14 squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[13]

    Academy squad
    Connacht Rugby Academy squad

    Props

    • Jordan Duggan (2)

    Hookers

    • Declan Adamson (1)
    • Dylan Tierney-Martin (2)

    Locks

    Back row

    • Joshua Dunne (2)
    • Seán Masterson (3)
    • Oisín McCormack (1)
    • Mikey Wilson (2)

    Scrum-halves

    • Colm Reilly (2)

    Fly-halves

    Centres

    • Shane Jennings (1)
    • Seán O'Brien (2)

    Wings

    • Conor Hayes (2)
    • Hugh Lane (1)
    • Oran McNulty (2)

    Fullbacks

    (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
    * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
    Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[14]

      Senior team transfers
      For player movement in the Pro14 leading up to and during the 2018–19 season, see List of 2019–20 Pro14 transfers.

      Results

      Pro14
      Main article: 2019–20 Pro14
      2019–20 Pro14 Table
      Conference A
      Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
      1 Leinster (Q) 131300476181+29568249061
      2 Ulster 13814355252+10347337243
      3 Glasgow Warriors 13706334296+3849395134
      4 Cheetahs 13607342280+6248325232
      5 Dragons 13508243354-11126411122
      6 Zebre 132110204370-16627534216
      7 Ospreys 132110165326-16117401415
      Conference B
      Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
      1 Edinburgh 131003358195+16344235247
      2 Munster 13904352216+13643217245
      3 Scarlets 13805281242+3935293237
      4 Connacht 13706264291-2735396135
      5 Benetton 13517280324-4432405431
      6 Cardiff Blues 13607242275-3326313229
      7 Southern Kings 131012204498-2942375037
      If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[31]
      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 2020–21 European Champions Cup

      Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2020–21 European Champions Cup
      Red background indicates teams ineligible for European cup tournaments
      Yellow background indicates the fourth-ranked eligible teams in each conference that play-off against each other for the seventh place in the 2020–21 European Champions Cup
      Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
      (CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (QF) Losing quarter-finalists. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners. (q) Qualified for Pro14 play-offs. (Q) Qualified for Pro14 play-off semi-finals. (e) Cannot reach play-offs.

        Champions Cup
        Main article: 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup

        Pool 5
        Team
        		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
        Toulouse (Q) 660016285771993027
        Gloucester 6204140140019143314
        Montpellier 6204118157-3912201110
        Connacht 6204120158-3815221110

        [32]

        17 November 2019
        13:00
        Connacht 23–20 Montpellier (1 BP)
        Try: Boyle 37' m
        McCartney 40'+4 m
        Blade 52' c
        Con: Carty (1/3) 53'
        Pen: Carty (1/1) 15'
        C. Fitzgerald 67' (1/1)
        		 Report[33] Try: Cruden 1' c
        Bouthier 62' c
        Con: Paillaugue (2/2) 1', 63'
        Pen: Paillaugue (2/2) 22', 46'
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Attendance: 6,229
        Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
        23 November 2019
        14:00
        (1 BP) Toulouse 32–17 Connacht
        Try: Bézy 12' c
        Huget 33' m
        Kaino 63' c
        Ahki 80'+1 c
        Con: Ramos (3/4) 14', 64', 80'+2
        Pen: Ramos (2/2) 18', 60'
        		 Report[34] Try: Farrell 10' c
        Blade 24' c
        Con: Fitzgerald (2/2) 11', 25'
        Pen: Fitzgerald (0/1)
        Drop: Fitzgerald (1/1) 49'
        Stade Ernest-Wallon
        Attendance: 15,100
        Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
        8 December 2019
        13:00
        (1 BP) Gloucester 26–17 Connacht
        Try: Marshall (2) 3' c, 60' m
        Rees-Zammit 46' c
        Polledri 63' c
        Con: Cipriani (3/4) 4', 46', 64'
        		 Report[35] Try: Porch 8' c
        Roux 80' c
        Con: Carty (1/1) 8'
        Fitzgerald (1/1) 80'+1
        Pen: Carty (1/2) 17'
        Kingsholm Stadium
        Attendance: 10,875
        Referee: Pascal Gauzère (FFR)
        14 December 2019
        12:45
        Connacht 27–24 Gloucester (2 BP)
        Try: Blade 29' c
        Delahunt 76' c
        Copeland 80' c
        Con: Fitzgerald (3/3) 30', 77', 80'+ 2
        Pen: Fitzgerald (2/2) 14', 59'
        		 Report[36] Try: Grobler 33' c
        Atkinson (2) 50' m, 68' m
        Ludlow 65' c
        Con: Twelvetrees (2/4) 34', 66'
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Attendance: 6,787
        Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)
        11 January 2019
        15:15
        Connacht 7–21 Toulouse
        Try: Penalty try 10'
        		 Report[37] Try: Kaino 19' c
        Marchand 37' c
        Ahki 44' c
        Con: Ramos (3/3) 21', 39', 46'
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Attendance: 8,129
        Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
        19 January 2019
        16:15
        (1 BP) Montpellier 35–29 Connacht (2 BP)
        Try: Chilachava 3' c
        N'Gandebe (2) 23' c, 28' c
        Reilhac (2) 52' c, 77' c
        Con: Pollard (5/5) 4', 24', 30', 52', 78'
        		 Report[38] Try: Healy 34' c
        Porch 36' c
        Marmion 40'+1 c
        Godwin 43' m
        Con: Carty (3/4) 35', 38', 40'+ 2
        Pen: Carty (1/1) 57'
        Altrad Stadium
        Attendance: 9,900
        Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

        References
        1. "Coronavirus: Pro14 final cancelled due to coronavirus". BBC Sport. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
        2. "Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
        3. "I just came over here to visit my brother and I never left". Irish Independent. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
        4. "Andy Friend confirmed as new Connacht head coach". Irish Independent. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
        5. "Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach". RTÉ Sport. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
        6. "Connacht confirm Carolan and Duffy as part of new coaching team". RTÉ Sport. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
        7. "Connacht appoint former Queensland Reds and Edinburgh defence coach". The42. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
        8. "Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs' coach". Irish Times. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
        9. "Aussie coach joins Connacht backroom team after three years with leading NBA side". The42. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
        10. "Connacht son Johnny O'Connor returns to join club's backroom team". The42. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
        11. "Connacht legend Eric Elwood succeeds Carolan as academy manager". The42. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
        12. "Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season". The42. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
        13. "Connacht Rugby | Senior Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
        14. "Academy Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
        15. "Wexford man Boyle secures first professional contract with Connacht". The42. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
        16. "First end-of-season departure confirmed by Gloucester Rugby as prop agrees to join Connacht". Gloucestershire Live. 15 January 2019.
        17. "Three Connacht Academy players sign first professional contracts". Connacht Rugby. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
        18. "Daly, Fitzgerald and Lloyd the latest to sign Connacht contracts". Connacht Rugby. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
        19. "Connacht sign prop Rory Burke as Kerins becomes latest Academy graduate". Connacht Rugby. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
        20. "Connacht Rugby announce signing of Australian winger John Porch". Connacht Rugby. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
        21. "Marmion out for 3-4 weeks as depleted Connacht prepare for Montpellier". The42. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
        22. "Pro14: Connacht wing Cian Kelleher to rejoin Leinster next season". BBC Sport. 8 January 2019.
        23. "Worcester Warriors: Connacht prop Conor Carey signs for Premiership club". BBC Sport. 5 February 2019.
        24. "Delahunt and Robb extend Connacht contracts as Griffin announces retirement". Connacht Rugby. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
        25. "James Cannon to join Ealing Trailfinders from Connacht". Ealing Trailfinders. 25 April 2019.
        26. "Connacht prop O'Donnell joins Japanese Super Rugby outfit". The42. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
        27. "Connolly joins the Nottingham back-row". Nottingham R.F.C. 12 July 2019.
        28. "James Mitchell: Northampton Saints sign former Connacht scrum-half". BBC Sport. 3 September 2019.
        29. "Reigning champions Cork Con edge Munster derby and new boys run Terenure close as AIL kicks off in style". The42. 5 October 2019.
        30. "Energia All-Ireland League: Results Round-Up". Irish Rugby. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
        31. Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
        32. "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
        33. "Battling Connacht defeat Montpellier". EPCR. 17 November 2019.
        34. "Toulouse grab late bonus point score to top their pool". EPCR. 23 November 2019.
        35. "Gloucester enhance Heineken Champions Cup hopes". EPCR. 8 December 2019.
        36. "Copeland try gives Connacht last-gasp win". EPCR. 14 December 2019.
        37. "Toulouse reach last eight". EPCR. 11 January 2020.
        38. "Montpellier win a thriller with Connacht". EPCR. 19 January 2020.
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