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Final Thoughts on Connacht’s 2024/25 Season – and Looking Ahead

JoeNa Connacht — Tue, 20 May 2025 07:11:47 +0000

Final Thoughts on Connacht’s 2024/25 Season – and Looking Ahead

There’s a lot changing at Connacht — and not all of it is on the pitch. The brand-new, world-class stand at the Sportsground is a genuine game-changer, a sign that the province is thinking bigger and building for the long term. There’s also a fresh coaching ticket incoming, a new General Manager of Performance behind the scenes, and a wave of exciting young talent rising through the ranks.

On the field, though, 2024/25 was a tough watch at times.

Losing all six interpros — including a gut-wrenching home defeat to Ulster — was hard to swallow, and the season never quite found consistency. Realistically, our only win over a full-strength side came in the Challenge Cup last 16 against Cardiff. The league form was patchy at best, and we struggled to put points on the board against stronger sides.

Connacht averaged 23 points per game, placing around 11th in the URC for scoring. Defensively, we leaked an average of 25 — likely the third worst in the competition. That combination left us on the wrong side of too many scorelines.

Worryingly, the Sportsground was no fortress. Just four home wins from nine (against Sharks, Cardiff, Benetton and Dragons), while the only away victories came against Zebre and Scarlets. Six wins from 18 in the URC doesn’t meet the standard this squad should be aiming for.

But not everything was bleak.

The Challenge Cup run was a real highlight. Five wins and a thrilling, high-scoring battle with Racing at home showed what this team is capable of. It wasn’t just the results — it was the way Connacht played in that competition: ambitious, energised, and entertaining.

There were also individual standouts. Ben Murphy was a revelation. Sean Jansen and Paul Boyle brought consistent power. Peter Dooley anchored the scrum. Shayne Bolton keeps going from strength to strength, while Finn Tracey made a strong impression. And then there’s SHL — a real leader, and arguably the standout player of the season. Coming back from injury inside five weeks was a testament to his character.

Looking ahead, recruitment has been low-key — with only Sam Gilbert arriving so far — and finances remain tight. That’s likely why Rob Seib, originally set for a backs coach role, is now the favourite to take the head coach position too. There were whispers of interest from Dan McFarland and Stuart Lancaster, but nothing materialised. If Seib does step up, a top-class defence coach beside him will be vital.

The bones of a strong season are there. With a new stand, new structures, new energy — and a core of talented, committed players — there’s reason to believe. A top-eight URC finish and a Challenge Cup semi-final run are realistic targets if things click.

There’s work to do, but the future isn’t bleak — it’s just waiting to be built. Roll on 2025/26.

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URC Dream Over — Connacht Must Shake Things Up for Challenge Cup Knockout Clash

JoeNa Connacht — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 17:57:52 +0000

Opinion: URC Dream Over — Connacht Must Shake Things Up for Challenge Cup Knockout Clash

A record-breaking crowd of 27,500 packed into Hastings Insurance MacHale Park last Saturday night, hopeful of witnessing Connacht Rugby land a statement win over Munster. Instead, they left deflated, as Connacht suffered a 24-30 defeat, a result that officially ended their URC play-off hopes in front of their biggest-ever home crowd.

Off the field the day was a celebration of rugby in the west of Ireland but on the field it became another chapter in a frustrating, inconsistent season.

But while the URC dream is gone, Connacht’s season is far from finished.

This Saturday, Connacht face Cardiff at The Sportsground in the Challenge Cup Last 16 — a knockout clash that now defines their year. Win, and Connacht will host a European quarter-final against Racing 92 or Perpignan. Lose, and the season is over.

That’s why selection this week is crucial. Connacht need to change the formula. They can’t keep rolling out the same players who look mentally and physically drained. It’s time to freshen things up, back the wider squad, and give the fans something to believe in.

The Connacht XV I’d Start Against Cardiff

Here’s the team I would select — a side built on freshness, form, and hunger:

Starting XV

1. Peter Dooley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Joe Joyce
5. Niall Murray
6. Josh Murphy
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
8. Sean Jansen
9. Colm Reilly
10. Josh Ioane
11. Finn Treacy
12. Cathal Forde
13. Piers O’Conor
14. Mack Hansen
15. Shane Jennings

Replacements

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin
17. Denis Buckley
18. Jack Aungier
19. Darragh Murray
20. Paul Boyle
21. Matthew Devine
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. David Hawkshaw

Why this team?

This isn’t about disrespecting senior players — it’s about giving Connacht the best chance of keeping their season alive.

The side that lost to Munster last weekend needs changing. They’ve carried the load all year and it showed. Connacht need to bring fresh legs, fresh energy, and fearless players ready to scrap for every inch.

This team blends youth, form and physicality:

Shane Jennings at full-back: One of Connacht’s brightest young talents. I think he is injury free.
Mack Hansen back on the wing: World-class in broken play.
Treacy on the other wing: Raw, hungry and deserves his shot.
Forde & O’Conor in midfield: Direct, physical, with plenty to prove. Give Bundee and Gavin a rest and possibly bring them back for quarter-final
Ioane & Reilly at half-back: Blade may need a break. These two can bring spark. Reilly deserves a chance and Devine is there to come on any time.
A proper, physical pack: Joe Joyce and Niall Murray in the engine room, with Murphy at 6 to bring a hard edge alongside Hurley-Langton and Jansen.

The bench is loaded with experienced heads to close the game out.

The bottom line

Connacht’s URC campaign is over — but their season is not.

This Saturday’s Challenge Cup Last 16 knockout at home to Cardiff is everything now. Win, and they will host a European quarter-final in Galway. Lose, and it’s all over.

The time for caution and conservatism is gone.
It’s time to back the squad, trust the fresh legs, and change the mood.

Fresh faces. Fresh energy. A fresh approach.
Connacht’s season depends on it.

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Connacht v Munster Preview – Predicted Teams, Kick-Off Time, Key Stats | URC Round 14 at MacHale Park

JoeNa Connacht — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:15:42 +0000

Connacht v Munster Preview – Predicted Teams, Kick-Off Time, Injury Updates & More | URC Round 14, MacHale Park

Date: Saturday, 29 March 2025
Kick-Off: 14:30
Venue: Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Historic Day in Castlebar as Connacht Host Munster at MacHale Park

MacHale Park will become the 56th venue to host a United Rugby Championship fixture as Connacht and Munster collide in Round 14. The first professional rugby match ever played at the iconic Mayo GAA ground is set to attract Connacht’s largest-ever home crowd.

Form Guide and URC Picture

Connacht have won two of their last three matches — beating Cardiff and Benetton — and came close to making it three in a row before falling 43–40 to Ospreys. They’re 12th on 31 points, with a top-eight finish unlikely, but a Challenge Cup campaign lies ahead with the prospect of three home games to reach the final.

Munster are sixth on 34 points but reeling from back-to-back losses to Edinburgh and Glasgow. They’ve won twice away from home this season (Ulster and Dragons) and haven’t won in Galway since 2021.

Key Stats

MacHale Park is the 56th URC venue.
Connacht have won 2 of their last 7 matches — both at home.
They’ve lost 7 straight against Irish provinces.
Munster’s only away wins this season came at Ulster and Dragons.
The last 7 meetings have all been won by the home team on the day.
Munster last won in Galway in January 2021.

Team News and Predicted Lineups

Connacht are expected to welcome back their Irish internationals — Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Cian Prendergast, and Finlay Bealham — while in-form winger Finn Tracey retains his place. Ben Murphy is ruled out through injury.

Connacht Predicted XV:

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Darragh Murray
5. Joe Joyce
6. Josh Murphy
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
8. Cian Prendergast
9. Caolin Blade
10. Josh Ioane
11. Finn Tracey
12. Bundee Aki
13. Cathal Forde
14. Mack Hansen
15. Piers O’Conor

Munster Team News:

Munster could welcome back several key players to their matchday 23:

Tadhg Beirne
Jack Crowley
Conor Murray
Calvin Nash
Peter O’Mahony
Craig Casey
Jean Kleyn
Jack O’Donoghue
Thaakir Abrahams

Oli Jager is also due to return to training this week after missing the defeat to Glasgow. Meanwhile, the fitness of Niall Scannell and Billy Burns (both shoulder) will be assessed closer to the weekend.

Munster Injury List:

Shane Daly – hamstring
Diarmuid Kilgallen – thigh
Mike Haley – ankle
Dave Kilcoyne – thigh
Liam Coombes – chest
Edwin Edogbo – Achilles
Roman Salanoa – knee

What’s at Stake

Connacht are eyeing a strong finish in the URC and a major run in the Challenge Cup. With a record crowd and returning stars, they’ll be fired up for a statement win.

Munster need a response. A third straight loss could push them out of the top eight with pressure mounting. A full-strength squad could make all the difference.

Prediction

Connacht 26–20 Munster
Home advantage, form momentum, and returning Ireland stars could see Connacht edge what’s set to be a thrilling encounter.

#CONvMUN #URC #IrishRugby
vs | |

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Challenge Cup pools and fixtures announced

JoeNa Connacht — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 10:58:19 +0000

Ahead of the December kick-off of the European club season, EPCR has announce a rebrand of the Challenge Cup

It will be officially renamed the ‘EPCR Challenge Cup’. This new look and feel have emerged following feedback from fans worldwide and EPCR has stepped up to create an enduring identity for the future.

Content strands celebrating diversity, embracing inclusion, and promoting accessibility. It will be available primarily on a new fan-focused tournament Instagram account epcr_challengecup and this will complement additional material on EPCR’s other social media channels as well as on epcrugby.com.

The rebrand is aimed at engaging a new generation of rugby fans while acknowledging the established supporters of the tournament since its inception in 1996.

How will the new Challenge Cup play out?

A modified format for the 2021/22 season will see 15 clubs with 10 European titles between them competing in three pools of five. Three-time finalists, RC Toulon, two-time winners, Gloucester Rugby, and Saracens, are among the favorites to lift silverware in Marseille next May.

Another former Challenge Cup winner, Biarritz Olympique, is making a welcome return to European competition after an absence of seven years.

The clubs were allocated into three pools based on their rankings from last season’s leagues and the pool stage will be played over five rounds starting on the 10^th December and finishing on the weekend 10^th April 2022.

A Round of 16 will be played on the weekend of 17^th April 2022, followed by quarterfinals and semi-finals, with the final at the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille on 27 May 2022.

One club in each pool will have a bye during each round. A limited number of fixtures will see clubs playing against opponents from the same league.

The three highest-ranked clubs from each pool, and the highest-ranked fourth-placed club, as well as the three clubs, ranked nine to 11 from each of the Heineken Champions Cup pools, will qualify for the Round of 16.

The exact dates of the pool stage fixtures, as well as kick-off times and TV coverage, will be announced shortly.

𝗘𝗣𝗖𝗥 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗽

The all new Challenge Cup has evolved!

Step up Real Rugby Fans. pic.twitter.com/QaaeID1BHV

— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 1, 2021

2021/2022 EPCR Challenge Cup Pools

Pool A

RC Toulon, Newcastle Falcons, Zebre Rugby Club, Worcester Warriors, Biarritz Olympique

Pool B

Dragons, Lyon, Gloucester Rugby, Benetton Rugby, USAP

Pool C

London Irish, Edinburgh Rugby, CA Brive, Section Paloise, Saracens

2021/22 weekends

First Round – 10/11/12 December

Second Round – 17/18/19 December

Third Round – 14/15/16 January 2022

Fourth Round – 21/22/23 January 2022

Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 (1st leg) and EPCR Challenge Cup Round 5 – 8/9/10 April 2022

Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 (2nd leg) and EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 – 15/16/17 April 2022

Quarter-finals – 6/7/8 May 2022

Semi-finals – 13/14/15 May 2022

EPCR Challenge Cup final – Friday 27 May 2022; Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

Heineken Champions Cup final – Saturday 28 May 2022; Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

To read more in-depth and up-to-date Irish and international rugby news, click here.

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Heineken Champions Cup Format and Qualifiers Announced

JoeNa Connacht — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 12:30:45 +0000

The 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup’s format and qualifiers have been announced following the conclusion of the domestic seasons in England and France.

Europe’s elite club rugby tournament is set to return with a highly competitive schedule of 71 matches for the upcoming season.

The 2021/22 Champions Cup season will begin in December when Stade Toulousain begin the defence of their title.

The competition will once again be competed for by 24 clubs across Europe’s top three leagues – the Pro14 (now United Rugby Championship), the Premiership and the Top 14.

Each league will be represented by eight teams who have qualified based on their position in the 20/21 league tables.

The clubs will be divided into two pools of 12 – Pool A and Pool B – using a draw and the tournament will be played over nine weekends with four of those rounds of matches in the pool stages.

The eight highest-ranked clubs from each pool will qualify for the tournament’s knockout stage, consisting of a Round of 16 on a home and away basis, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final.

The final will be held at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on May 28th, 2022.

The draw for the pools will be carried out the same way as last season’s draw with the 24 clubs separated into four tiers based on their 20/21 league position.

Clubs from the same league in the same tier will not be drawn into the same pool.

The number one and two ranked clubs from each league will be in Tier 1, the number three and four ranked clubs will make up Tier 2, the number five and six ranked clubs will be in Tier 3, and the number seven and eight ranked clubs will occupy Tier 4.

The Tier 1 and Tier 4 clubs which have been drawn into the same pool but are not from the same league will play one another on a home and away basis during the pool stage.

The same process will occur for Tier 2 and Tier 3 clubs that are drawn into the same pool but are not from the same league.

The pool draw will be live-streamed on HeinekenChampionsCup.com and the date of the event and further details will be communicated shortly.

As previously announced, EPCR is finalising a new shareholder agreement and discussions to finalise the Challenge Cup format and future Champions Cup and Challenge Cup seasons.

These future plans include the South African URC sides.

2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup qualifiers

Premiership: 1. Harlequins, 2. Exeter Chiefs, 3. Bristol Bears, 4. Sale Sharks, 5. Northampton Saints, 6. Leicester Tigers, 7. Bath Rugby, 8. Wasps

Pro14: 1. Leinster Rugby, 2. Munster Rugby, 3. Ulster Rugby, 4. Connacht Rugby, 5. Scarlets, 6. Ospreys, 7. Cardiff Blues, 8. Glasgow Warriors

Top 14: 1. Stade Toulousain, 2. Stade Rochelais, 3. Racing 92, 4. Union Bordeaux-Begles, 5. ASM Clermont Auvergne, 6. Stade Francais Paris, 7. Castres Olympique, 8. Montpellier Herault Rugby

2021/22 Key Dates

Round One – 10/11/12 December

Round Two – 17/18/19 December

Round Three – 14/15/16 January 2022

Round Four – 21/22/23 January 2022

Round of 16 (1st leg) – 8/9/10 April 2022

Round of 16 (2nd leg) – 15/16/17 April 2022

Quarter-finals – 6/7/8 May 2022

Semi-finals – 13/14/15 May 2022

Challenge Cup Final – Friday 27 May 2022; Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Champions Cup Final – Saturday 28 May 2022; Stade Velodrome, Marseille

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Champions Cup Quarter Final fixture details

JoeNa Connacht — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 18:43:50 +0000

The fixture details for the Champions Cup quarter final have been revealed by the EPCR. Leinster and Ulster will play their quarter-finals in the middle of September according to the Irish Times.

Leinster will play Saracens, while Dan McFarlands Ulster side will take on Toulouse in the Champions Cup quarter-finals. These games are to take place on the weekend of September 18th-20th. The Irish Times state that the semi-finals will take place a week later, while the Champions Cup final is scheduled for Saturday October 17th. In terms of the Challenge Cup these games will be played on the weekend of September 18th. The semi-finals will be played a week later. The EPCR said in a statement on their website they hope to host both finals in France, “EPCR and the local organising committee in Marseille intend to clarify the position regarding the finals, including details of ticket refunds where applicable, as soon as possible”. They also went on to say that the venue is “under review” in light of public gatherings and travel restrictions.

Potential changes are likely for the 2021 season with EPCR stating “A 24-club Heineken Champions Cup with eight representatives from each of Europe’s leading league competitions is one of the options under discussion.” These changes would occur for next season which at present is due to begin on 11/12/13th of December 2020. However they said on the EPCR website “An official statement will be made regarding formats once discussions are concluded”.

Schedule of Games

Quarter-finals: weekend of 18/19/20 September

Semi-finals: weekend of 25/26/27 September

Challenge Cup final: Friday, 16 October

Heineken Champions Cup final: Saturday, 17 October

Start of 2020/21 season: weekend of 11/12/13 December

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Heineken Champions Cup & Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals Dates, Venues & Kick-Off Times

JoeNa Connacht — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 18:01:42 +0000

EPCR has confirmed the dates and kick-off times of the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-finals, with eight former winners of EPCR’s tournaments remaining in contention for European silverware this season.

The 25th anniversary season of the Heineken Champions Cup will resume with a clash between the No 1-ranked Leinster and holders, Saracens, at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday, 4 April.

The Leinster-Saracens game will be preceded by the meeting of No 2-ranked Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints at Sandy Park while on the same day, Stade Marcel-Michelin will be packed for the head-to-head between Clermont and Racing 92.

On Sunday, 5 April, the Heineken Champions Cup will be centre stage again when four-time winners, Toulouse, are up against Ulster at the 33,000-capacity Le Stadium, with the game live on Virgin Media.

The quarter-finals weekend kicks off on Friday, 3 April with the Challenge Cup clash of No 1-ranked RC Toulon and Scarlets at Stade Mayol.

On Saturday, Leicester Tigers host Castres Olympique, and Bordeaux-Bègles are at home against Edinburgh Rugby at Welford Road and Stade Chaban-Delmas respectively.

The last of the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, 5 April sees No 2-ranked Bristol Bears against the Dragons at Ashton Gate.

Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals
(All kick-offs local time)

Saturday 4 April
QF 4: Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints, Sandy Park (15.15).
QF 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92, Stade Marcel-Michelin (16.15).
QF 1: Leinster Rugby v Saracens, Aviva Stadium (17.45).

Sunday 5 April
QF 3: Toulouse v Ulster Rugby, Le Stadium (16.15).

Challenge Cup quarter-finals
(All kick-offs local time)

Friday 3 April
QF 1: RC Toulon v Scarlets, Stade Félix Mayol (21.00).

Saturday 4 April
QF 2: Leicester Tigers v Castres Olympique, Welford Road (12.45).
QF 3: Bordeaux-Bègles v Edinburgh Rugby, Stade Chaban-Delmas (21.15).

Sunday 5 April
QF 4: Bristol Bears v Dragons, Ashton Gate Stadium (12.45).

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