Below is everything you need to know about Connacht rugby before the start of the new 2021/22 season
Connacht are a squad in the middle of a rebuilding process. After a mixed season last year, the team has lost some of their more experienced players to retirement and foreign clubs.
Andy Friend’s team finished second behind Munster in the Pro 14 Conference B table last year but they only managed to win half of their 16 group matches.
Their last competitive match was a strong 26-19 victory at home over Ospreys in the Rainbow Cup.
Connacht have been known to cause major upsets in recent years but Jarrad Butler captaining the team will this season be one of them.
Latest transfer news
Players In
Leva Fifita – Lock, 31y/o, France
Shayne Bolton – Centre, 21y/o, South Africa
Mack Hansen – Fullback, 23y/o, Australia
Greg McGrath – Prop, 24y/o, Ireland
Sam Illo – Prop, 20y/o, Ireland
Players Out
Conor Kenny – Prop, 24y/o, Ireland – to Newcastle
Paddy McAllister – Hooker, 31y/0, Ireland – Retirement
Quinn Roux – Lock, 30y/o, South Africa – to Toulon
Sean O’Brien – Back row, 26y/o, Ireland – Retirement
Cillian Gallagher – Back row, 23y/o, Ireland – Retirement
Stephen Kerins – Scrum half, 25y/o, Ireland – Loaned to Bristol
Conor Dean – Fly half, 23y/o, Ireland
Sean O’Brien – Centre, 23y/o, Ireland – to Exeter
Stephen Fitzgerald – Fullback, 25y/o, Ireland – Retirement
Colm De Buitlear – Centre, 23y/o, Ireland
Betting
Connacht are the lowest rated side in the Champions Cup with odds of 250/1 of winning it this year.
Predicted finishing position
Connacht’s second place finish in the Pro 14 last year is a sign of good things for the province.
It is very unlikely that we will see them in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup this year but expect a top three finish in their Pro 14 Conference group.
@bundeeaki12 shouting instructions to the Connacht team pic.twitter.com/AP6LtkiRMZ
— Joe Naughton (@JosephNaughton4) October 3, 2020
Fixtures
R1 – Friday, September 24
Cardiff v Connacht | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, TG4, Premier Sports
R2 – Friday, October 1
Connacht v Vodacom Bulls | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports
Saturday, October 9
Connacht v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, S4C, Premier Sports
Saturday, October 16
Munster v Connacht | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports
Saturday, October 23
Connacht v Ulster | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, Premier Sports
R6 – Friday, November 26
Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA/ 21:35 SA | RTE, BBC Wales, Premier Sports
R7 – Friday, December 3
Leinster v Connacht | 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA / 21:45 SA | TG4, Premier Sports
Sunday, December 26
Ulster v Connacht | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | BBC NI, TG4, Premier Sports
R9 – Saturday, January 1
Connacht v Munster | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | TG4, Premier Sports
R10 Saturday, January 8
Connacht v DHL Stormers | 17:00 UK / 18:00 ITA /19:00 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports
R11 – Weekend of Jan 28/29/30
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
R12 – Weekend of Feb 18/19/20
Scarlets v Connacht
R13 – Weekend of Mar 4/5/6
Edinburgh v Connacht
R14 – Weekend of March 25/26/27
Connacht v Leinster
R15 – Weekend of April 1/2/3
Benetton v Connacht
R16 – Weekend of April 22/23/24
Emirates Lions v Connacht
R17 – Weekend of April 29/30 and May 1
Cell C Sharks v Connacht
R18 – Weekend of May 20/21/22
Connacht v Zebre
