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2019–20 Connacht Rugby season

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Connacht
2019–20 season
Head coachAndy Friend
Chief executiveWillie Ruane
CaptainJarrad Butler
Pro144th, Conf. B
Champions CupPool stage (4th)
Top try scorerAll: John Porch (6)
Top points scorerAll: Conor Fitzgerald (85)
Highest home attendance8,129 v Leinster
8 November 2019
8,129 v Munster
21 December 2019
8,129 v Toulouse
11 January 2020
Lowest home attendance4,512 v Cardiff Blues[a]
15 February 2020
Average home attendance6,316[a]
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2018–19 2020–21 →

The 2019–20 season was 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 was Andy Friend's second season in charge of the side.

In the regular season, Connacht were placed 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] The competition resumed in August, with the remaining fixtures replaced by two rounds of derby games for each team.[2] Connacht ultimately finished fourth in their conference. This was enough to earn entry to the 2020–21 Champions Cup after it was expanded to 24 teams on a one-season basis due to the pandemic.[3]

Coaching and management team

[edit]

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[6]  Australia
Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy[7]  Ireland
Backs Coach Nigel Carolan[8]  Ireland
Defence Coach Peter Wilkins[9]  England
Senior Video Analyst Simon Kavanagh[10]  Ireland
Head of Strength and Conditiong David Howarth[11]  Australia
Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach Johnny O'Connor[12]  Ireland
Academy Manager Eric Elwood[13]  Ireland
Connacht Eagles Coach Mossy Lawler[14]  Ireland

Players

[edit]

Senior playing squad

[edit]
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.
Italics indicate players signed during mid-season break.
Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[15]

Academy squad

[edit]
Connacht Rugby Academy squad

Props

Hookers

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

Locks

Back row

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

Scrum-halves

  • Ireland Colm Reilly (2)

Fly-halves

Centres

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

Wings

  • Ireland Conor Hayes (2)
  • Ireland Hugh Lane (1)
  • Ireland 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.[16]

Senior team transfers

[edit]

Unlike most seasons, where the bulk of transfers occur during the summer pre-season the 2019–20 season saw two separate periods of major transfer activity. Many moves scheduled to happen at the end of the season instead took place during the extended hiatus from March to August 2020.

May 2019 – March 2020

[edit]
For player movement in the Pro14 from the end of the 2018–19 season until the mid-season hiatus, see List of 2019–20 Pro14 transfers.

May 2020 – August 2020

[edit]
For player movement in the Pro14 from the mid-season hiatus to the end of the 2020–21 season, see List of 2020–21 Pro14 transfers.

Results

[edit]

Pro14

[edit]
Main article: 2019–20 Pro14
2019–20 Pro14 table view · watch · edit · discuss
Conference A
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1 Ireland Leinster (CH) 15 15 0 0 531 216 +315 74 28 9 0 69
2 Ireland Ulster (RU) 15 8 1 6 385 306 +79 50 40 7 3 44[b]
3 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 15 8 0 7 364 329 +35 53 42 5 1 38
4 South Africa Cheetahs 13 6 0 7 342 280 +62 48 32 5 2 32
5 Wales Dragons 15 5 1 9 283 415 –132 32 49 1 1 24
6 Italy Zebre 15 3 1 11 230 399 –169 29 56 4 3 21
7 Wales Ospreys 15 2 2 11 205 375 –170 21 45 1 4 17
Conference B
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1 Scotland Edinburgh (SF) 15 11 0 4 391 225 +166 47 27 5 2 51
2 Ireland Munster (SF) 15 10 0 5 426 255 +171 53 26 8 3 51
3 Wales Scarlets 15 10 0 5 354 274 +80 46 34 5 2 47
4 Ireland Connacht 15 8 0 7 302 360 –58 41 48 7 1 40
5 Italy Benetton 15 6 1 8 309 350 –41 35 42 5 5 36
6 Wales Cardiff Blues 15 7 0 8 283 327 –44 30 38 3 2 33
7 South Africa Southern Kings 13 1 0 12 204 498 –294 23 75 0 3 7
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[47]
  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
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. (Q) Qualified for Pro14 play-off semi-finals. (e) Cannot reach play-offs.

  1. ^ a b This excludes the game against Ulster on 23 August 2020, which was officially a home game but played behind closed doors in the Aviva Stadium.
  2. ^ Ulster deducted 1 point for administration error regarding Ian Madigan. [46]

Conference Rounds 1 to 13

[edit]
28 September 2019
17:15
Scarlets Wales18–10Ireland Connacht
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,415
Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)
5 October 2019
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland41–5Italy Benetton
Report
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 4,839
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (SARU)
11 October 2019
19:35
Dragons Wales14–38Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 3,257
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
26 October 2019
17:15
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland24–22South Africa Cheetahs (1 BP)
Report
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 4,945
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
2 November 2019
17:15
Ospreys Wales10–20Ireland Connacht
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 5,726
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
8 November 2019
19:35
Connacht Ireland11–42Ireland Leinster (1 BP)
Report
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 8,129
Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
30 November 2019
17:15
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland24–12South Africa Southern Kings
Report
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 5,146
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
21 December 2019
17:15
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland14–19Ireland Munster
Report
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 8,129
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
27 December 2019
19:35
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland35–3Ireland Connacht
Report
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 17,483
Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
4 January 2020
17:30
(1 BP) Leinster Ireland54–7Ireland Connacht
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,300
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
15 February 2020
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland29–0Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 4,512
Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)
21 February 2020
19:35
(1 BP) Edinburgh Scotland41–14Ireland Connacht
Report
BT Murrayfield Stadium
Attendance: 5,367
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
1 March 2020
13:00
Southern Kings South Africa19–29Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
Report
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU)

Additional Derby Rounds

[edit]
23 August 2020
16:30
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland26–20Ireland Ulster (1 BP)
Report
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 0[a]
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)
30 August 2020
15:00
Munster Ireland49–12Ireland Connacht
Report
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 0[a]
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Champions Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup

Pool 5

[edit]
Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
France Toulouse (3) 6 6 0 0 162 85 77 19 9 3 0 27
England Gloucester 6 2 0 4 140 140 0 19 14 3 3 14
France Montpellier 6 2 0 4 118 157 –39 12 20 1 1 10
Ireland Connacht 6 2 0 4 120 158 –38 15 22 1 1 10

[48]

17 November 2019
13:00
Connacht Ireland23–20France 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[49]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 France32–17Ireland 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[50]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 England26–17Ireland Connacht
Try: Marshall (2) 3' c, 60' m
Rees-Zammit 46' c
Polledri 63' c
Con: Cipriani (3/4) 4', 46', 64'		Report[51]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 Ireland27–24England 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[52]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 Ireland7–21France Toulouse
Try: Penalty try 10'Report[53]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 France35–29Ireland 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[54]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)

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b This game was played behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Coronavirus: Pro14 final cancelled due to coronavirus". BBC Sport. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Pro14 set to resume in late August as league reduced". RTÉ Sport. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  3. ^ "New EPCR dates for 2019/20 announced". European Professional Club Rugby. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  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. ^ "Andy Friend confirmed as new Connacht head coach". Irish Independent. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach". RTÉ Sport. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Connacht confirm Carolan and Duffy as part of new coaching team". RTÉ Sport. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Connacht appoint former Queensland Reds and Edinburgh defence coach". The42. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs' coach". Irish Times. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Aussie coach joins Connacht backroom team after three years with leading NBA side". The42. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Connacht son Johnny O'Connor returns to join club's backroom team". The42. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Connacht legend Eric Elwood succeeds Carolan as academy manager". The42. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season". The42. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  15. ^ "Connacht Rugby | Senior Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Academy Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  17. ^ a b c "Three Connacht Academy players sign first professional contracts". Connacht Rugby. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Connacht sign prop Rory Burke as Kerins becomes latest Academy graduate". Connacht Rugby. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  19. ^ "First end-of-season departure confirmed by Gloucester Rugby as prop agrees to join Connacht". Gloucestershire Live. 15 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Wexford man Boyle secures first professional contract with Connacht". The42. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  21. ^ a b c "Daly, Fitzgerald and Lloyd the latest to sign Connacht contracts". Connacht Rugby. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Connacht Rugby announce signing of Australian winger John Porch". Connacht Rugby. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  23. ^ "Marmion out for 3-4 weeks as depleted Connacht prepare for Montpellier". The42. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Worcester Warriors: Connacht prop Conor Carey signs for Premiership club". BBC Sport. 5 February 2019.
  25. ^ "Connacht prop O'Donnell joins Japanese Super Rugby outfit". The42. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  26. ^ "James Cannon to join Ealing Trailfinders from Connacht". Ealing Trailfinders. 25 April 2019.
  27. ^ "Reigning champions Cork Con edge Munster derby and new boys run Terenure close as AIL kicks off in style". The42. 5 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Connolly joins the Nottingham back-row". Nottingham R.F.C. 12 July 2019.
  29. ^ a b c "Delahunt and Robb extend Connacht contracts as Griffin announces retirement". Connacht Rugby. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  30. ^ "James Mitchell: Northampton Saints sign former Connacht scrum-half". BBC Sport. 3 September 2019.
  31. ^ "Energia All-Ireland League: Results Round-Up". Irish Rugby. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  32. ^ "Queanbeyan Whites and Brumbies junior Will Goddard joins Connacht". Canberra Times. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  33. ^ "Pro14: Connacht wing Cian Kelleher to rejoin Leinster next season". BBC Sport. 8 January 2019.
  34. ^ a b c d "Connacht announce signings of four players ahead of 2020/21 season". Connacht Rugby. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  35. ^ a b c d e f "Connacht promote six exciting academy prospects into their senior squad". The42. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  36. ^ a b "Connacht Rugby announce signings of Ben O'Donnell and Abraham Papali'i". Connacht Rugby. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  37. ^ "Player Update | Alex Wootton". Munster Rugby. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Connacht's McCartney to hang up boots". Irish Examiner. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  39. ^ a b c d "Connacht Rugby confirm departing players". Connacht Rugby. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  40. ^ a b "Bristol sign Niyi Adeolokun, Peter McCabe & Keiron Assiratti on short-term deals". BBC Sport. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  41. ^ "Joe Maksymiw: Dragons sign Wales-qualified lock from Connacht". BBC Sport. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  42. ^ "Connacht's Robin Copeland signs for French club on a three-year deal". The42. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  43. ^ "#TRANSFERT. Colby Fainga'a sera Lyonnais". Lyon OU Rugby (in French). 12 February 2020. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  44. ^ "A complete team-by-team guide to the 2020 Shute Shield". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020. Former Waratah Dave Horwitz also returns from overseas to start at No.10
  45. ^ "Force confirm Godwin, Holmes signings". Rugby.com.au. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  46. ^ "Ulster docked point over Madigan mishap". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  47. ^ Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  48. ^ "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  49. ^ "Battling Connacht defeat Montpellier". EPCR. 17 November 2019.
  50. ^ "Toulouse grab late bonus point score to top their pool". EPCR. 23 November 2019.
  51. ^ "Gloucester enhance Heineken Champions Cup hopes". EPCR. 8 December 2019.
  52. ^ "Copeland try gives Connacht last-gasp win". EPCR. 14 December 2019.
  53. ^ "Toulouse reach last eight". EPCR. 11 January 2020.
  54. ^ "Montpellier win a thriller with Connacht". EPCR. 19 January 2020.
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