Tag Archives: connacht

Connacht full-back, Tiernan O’Halloran, has been named in Andy Friend’s side to face Sale Sharks in the European Challenge Cup tomorrow.  The 27-year-old has recovered from the leg injury that saw him miss all of the interprovincial derbies over the Christmas period and will feature in the back line alongside Cian Kelleher and Matt Healy. Following his contract extension earlier …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has made seven changes to his side for their PRO14 clash against Connacht tomorrow evening in a sold-out Sportsground. Peter O’Mahony captains the side as Chris Farrell returns from injury with Tommy O’Donnell, Alex Wootton, Alby Mathewson, Jeremy Loughman and Arno Botha also coming into the starting XV. Billy Holland is named among the …

The Sportsground was the venue for the latest instalment of festive inter-provincial fixtures in the PRO14. Connacht played host to Ulster, and both sides would have fancied their chances of a win. The hosts have gotten the better of Ulster recently, while the Northern province were gunning for a fifth win in a row having seen off Munster last week. …

A quality festive clash ensued at the RDS as the Champions hosted a buoyant Connacht side. Leo Cullen rang in the changes for the Conference B leaders, so he would have been wary of a Connacht team that boasted five wins in a row – with good reason. It took the visitors just five minutes to get on the board, …

Irish internationals, Finlay Bealham and Ultan Dillane have returned to the Connacht starting XV for their interprovincial derby against Leinster on Saturday while Bundee Aki is named among the bench. Bealham comes back into a front row that sees Denis Buckley returning at loosehead and Tom McCartney retained at hooker. In the second row Dillane will line up alongside Gavin Thornbury with James Cannon named among …

Connacht head coach, Andy Friend has named two academy players in his starting team to face Perpignan in the European Challenge Cup on Friday. Following his debut against the French side in the Sportsground last weekend, Kieran Joyce retains his place in midfield in the absence of Bundee Aki who has travelled to New Zealand to get married. He will partner …

Irish international and Connacht prop Finlay Bealham has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the Sportsground until the end of the 2020-21 season. Bealham, who has been capped seven times for Ireland, was this week named in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad for the upcoming November Internationals. He joined the Connacht Academy in the 2012-13 season and …

Irish international, Kieran Marmion returns to the starting 15 for Connacht as they prepare to take on the Ospreys on Friday night.  Andy Friend’s side is also boosted by the return of Bundee Aki to the centre where he will partner Tom Farrell. In more good news, Sean O’Brien has recovered from injury and will feature n the back row with Captain Jarrad Butler …

The second round of fixtures in the Champions Cup takes place this weekend, and the Irish teams, including defending champions Leinster, have named their starting XVs. The province hammered a Wasps side that have lost Christian Wade to the NFL to the tune of 52-3, and have made just one change from that side, with Joe Tomane starting his first game …

Connacht have been dealt a huge blow with the news that lock, Gavin Thornbury will be out of action for a number of weeks with a shoulder injury, just as the province prepare for their European Challenge Cup opener. The 24-suffered suffered the injury to his AC joint during the win over Scarlets last month. Thornbury missed the game against …

Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster have all named their teams ahead of this weekend’s interprovincial games in the Guinness Pro14. Connacht take on current Pro14 champions Leinster at the Showgrounds on Saturday at 17:15 as Ulster travel to Thomond Park to take on struggling Munster at 19:35. Dave Heffernan is named as captain for Connacht as Ultan Dillane partners Quinn …

Connacht overcame their disappointment against Edinburgh last week to see off Scarlets at the Glaway Sportsground. The Welsh visitors had gained victories over Benetton and even champions Leinster in recent fixtures, but were undone on Saturday against a home team boasting players like Jack Carty and Tom Farrell who were in top form. It was Thomas Farrell who got the …

Ulster Rugby have announced that former Connacht scrum-half, John Cooney has signed a three-year extension with the province. The 28-year-old enjoyed a stellar opening season with Ulster last year, culminating in him winning the Bank of Ireland Player of the Year, Supporters Club Player of the Year and Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year awards after a remarkable season that …

The IRFU and the WRU have joined forces to launch a new development competition called ‘The Celtic Cup’. The aim of the competition is to introduce emerging professional players to the week-to-week challenges of playing senior rugby. It will run for seven weeks and include development squads from Munster, Connacht, Ulster, Leinster, Cardiff Blues, the Scarlets, the Dragons and Ospreys. IRFU & WRU …

Former Connacht player, Ethienne Reynecke has left the intensive care unit but remains heavily sedated after suffering a stroke last week. The 36-year-old was left in a critical condition after developing a blood clot on the brain with doctors unable to operate due to the swelling. Media outlet, Sport24 are reporting that the SuperSport commentator has been moved to a neurology …