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2024–25 Connacht Rugby season

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Connacht Rugby
UnionIRFU
Nickname(s)The Westerners
Founded1888; 137 years ago (1888)
LocationGalway,  Ireland
RegionConnacht
Ground(s)Dexcom Stadium, Galway
MacHale Park, Mayo (Capacity: 6,170 (Dexcom, under development)
25,000 (MacHale))
CEOWillie Ruane
Coach(es)Peter Wilkins
Captain(s)Cian Prendergast
League(s)United Rugby Championship
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.connachtrugby.ie
Current season

The 2024–25 season is Connacht Rugby's third season in the United Rugby Championship, their 31st season of professional rugby and their 137th sseaon of representative rugby since their foundation. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2024-25 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Senior squad

[edit]
For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers § Connacht.
Connacht Rugby United Rugby Championship squad[a]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players including 7s.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
ST denotes a short-term signing at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[1]
  1. ^ Taking into account signings and departures ahead of 2024–25 season as listed on List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers.

Academy squad

[edit]
Connacht Rugby Academy squad[a]

Props

  • Ireland Billy Bohan (1)
  • Ireland Fiachna Barrett (2)

Hookers

  • Ireland Matthew Victory(2)

Locks

  • None currently named

Back row

  • Ireland Max Flynn (1)
  • Ireland Eanna McCarthy (1)

Scrum-halves

  • Ireland Tomás Farthing (1)

Fly-halves

  • Ireland Seán Naughton (2)
  • Ireland Harry West (3)

Centres

Wings

  • Ireland Finn Treacy (2)

Fullbacks

  • Ireland James Nicholson (2)
(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.[2][3]
  1. ^ Taking into account signings and departures ahead of 2024–25 season as listed on List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers.

Transfers

[edit]


Results

[edit]

United Rugby Championship

[edit]
Main table
2024–25 United Rugby Championship
 watch · edit · discuss
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Ireland Leinster 10 10 0 0 296 123 +173 43 17 8 0 48
2 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 10 7 0 3 277 172 +105 41 22 6 3 37
3 South Africa Bulls 8 6 0 2 219 150 +69 29 16 4 2 30
4 South Africa Sharks 9 6 0 3 245 230 +15 30 34 3 2 29
5 Wales Cardiff 10 5 1 4 220 255 –35 34 34 6 1 29
6 Wales Scarlets 10 5 1 4 235 196 +39 25 28 2 3 27
7 Ireland Munster 10 5 0 5 230 252 –22 37 35 6 0 26
8 Scotland Edinburgh 10 4 0 6 244 250 -6 33 34 4 4 24
9 Ireland Ulster 10 4 0 6 220 232 –12 33 35 3 4 23
10 Italy Benetton 10 4 1 5 187 260 –73 24 35 4 1 23
11 Wales Ospreys 10 4 1 5 207 205 +2 26 25 2 2 22
12 South Africa Stormers 9 4 0 5 198 214 -16 26 29 4 1 21
13 South Africa Lions 8 4 0 4 171 178 -7 21 25 2 1 19
14 Ireland Connacht 10 3 0 7 215 247 -32 32 32 4 3 19
15 Italy Zebre Parma 10 3 0 7 143 230 –87 18 32 1 3 16
16 Wales Dragons 10 1 0 9 185 298 –113 23 42 1 3 8
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[21]
  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 are in play-off places and earn a place in the 2025–26 European Champions Cup

Pink background indicates teams that are in play-off places and earn a place in the 2025–26 European Challenge Cup
Yellow background indicates the team that won the 2024–25 European Challenge Cup and thus qualify for the 2025–26 European Champions Cup, but are not in a play-off place
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2025–26 European Challenge Cup.
Q: qualified for play-offs. H: home field advantage secured for quarter-and semi-final. h; home field advantage secured for quarter-final X: cannot reach play-offs. E: qualified for Champions Cup.

URC Irish Shield
2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools view · watch · edit · discuss
Ireland Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Ireland Leinster (S) 5 5 0 0 134 63 +71 19 9 4 0 24 1
2 Ireland Ulster 4 2 0 2 88 83 +5 12 13 1 2 11 9
3 Ireland Munster 4 2 0 2 76 106 –30 12 16 2 0 10 11
4 Ireland Connacht 5 0 0 5 91 137 –46 14 19 2 2 4 13
21 September 2024
17:30
(1 BP) Munster Ireland35–33Ireland Connacht (2 BP)
Try: Nankivell 28' c
Haley 31' c
Hodnett 44' c
Coombes 58' c
Daly 69' c
Con: Burns (3/3) 28', 32', 45'
Butler (2/2) 59', 70'		Try: Ioane 13' m
B. Murphy (2) 20' c, 39' c
Hawkshaw 53' c
Forde 63' c
Con: Ioane (3/4) 21', 54', 64'
Forde 40' (1/1)
Thomond Park, Limerick
Attendance: 15,705[22]
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
28 September 2024
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland36–30South Africa Sharks (1 BP)
Try: Heffernan (2) 3' c, 50' m
Forde 42' c
Jennings 54' c
Dowling 70' c
Con: Ioane (1/1) 4'
Forde (3/4) 43', 55', 71'
Pen: Forde (1) 79'		Try: Esterhuizen (2) 21' c, 28' c
Grobler 37' c
Con: Masuku (3/3) 22', 30', 39'
Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2) 24', 34'
Masuku 80'+1
The Sportsground, Galway
Attendance: 4,217[23]
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
4 October 2024
19:35
(1 BP) Scarlets Wales23–24Ireland Connacht
Try: G. Davies (2) 21' c, 29' c
Con: Costelow (2/2) 22', 30'
Pen: Costelow (2) 42', 73'
Lloyd 52'		Try: O'Conor 9' c
Hansen 15' c
J. Murphy 37' c
Con: Carty (3/3) 10', 16', 38'
Pen: Forde 77'
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Attendance: 5,080[24]
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
12 October 2024
20:00
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland32–27Ireland Connacht (2 BP)
Try: Andrew 2' c
Postlethwaite 20' m
Cooney 27' c
McCann 49' m
Timoney 75' m
Con: Cooney (2/5) 3', 28'
Pen: Cooney 71'		Try: Bolton 10' m
Joyce 30' m
B. Murphy 40' c
Tierney-Martin 60' c
Con: Ioane (2/4) 42', 62'
Pen: Ioane 79'
Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
19 October 2024
19:35
Connacht Ireland12–33Ireland Leinster (1 BP)
Try: O'Brien 33' m
Forde 64' c
Con: Ioane (1/2) 64'		Try: J. Osborne 5' c
Turner 15' c
Snyman 38' c
Deegan 45' m
A. Osborne 65' c
Con: Frawley 6' (1/1)
R. Byrne (3/4) 16', 40', 66'
The Sportsground, Galway
Attendance: 6,117[25]
Referee: Eoghan Cross, Ireland
26 October 2024
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland31–7Wales Dragons
Try: Boyle 5' c
Blade 19' c
Prendergast 38' m
Forde 73' c
Devine 80' m
Con: Forde (3/5) 7', 20', 74'		Try: Basham 77' c
Con: O'Brien 78'
The Sportsground, Galway
Attendance: 3,128[26]
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi, Italy
30 November 2024
17:30
Connacht Ireland14–28South Africa Bulls (1 BP)
Try: Hawkshaw 61' c
Blade 74'c
Con: Forde (2/2) 62', 75'		Try: de Klerk 5' c
Papier 35' c
Kriel 41' c
Moodie 54' c
Con: Goosen (4/4) 6', 37', 42', 55'
The Sportsground, Galway
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
21 December 2024
17:30
Leinster Ireland20–12Ireland Connacht
Try: A. Osbourne 19' c
Tector 26' c
Con: R. Byrne (2/2) 19', 27'
Pen: R. Byrne (2) 42', 79'		ReportTry: Dowling 52' m
Jennings 60' c
Con: Forde (1/2) 60'
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Attendance: 33,963[27]
Referee: Chris Busby (SCO)
28 December 2024
19:35
Connacht Ireland7-17Ireland Ulster
Try: Hansen 35' c
Con: Carty (1/1) 36'		ReportTry: O'Sullivan 10' c
Timoney 54' c
Con: Doak (2/2) 11', 55'
Pen: Doak 14'
The Sportsground, Galway
Attendance: 6,129
Referee: Andrew Brace
24 January 2025
19:35
Glasgow Warriors Scotland22-19Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Cancelliere 21’
Afshar 31’
Cancelliere57’
Con: Weir (2)
Pen: Weir		Try: Hawkshaw 18', 41
O'Conor 77'
Con: Hanrahan (2)
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Attendance: 6,277
15 February 2025
19:35
Connacht IrelandvWales Cardiff
The Sportsground, Galway
1 March 2025
19:35
Connacht IrelandvItaly Benetton
The Sportsground, Galway
22 March 2025
17:15
Ospreys WalesvIreland Connacht
Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea
29 March 2025
14:30
Connacht IrelandvIreland Munster
MacHale Park, Castlebar, County Mayo
19 April 2025
16:00
Stormers South AfricavIreland Connacht
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
26 April 2025
16:00
Lions South AfricavIreland Connacht
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
10 May 2025
19:35
Connacht IrelandvScotland Edinburgh
The Sportsground, Galway
17 May 2025
18:00
Zebre Parma ItalyvIreland Connacht
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

Challenge Cup

[edit]
EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ireland Connacht (1) 4 4 0 0 154 73 +81 25 10 4 0 20 Home round of 16
2 France Lyon (5) 4 3 0 1 150 118 +32 21 19 2 0 14
3 France Perpignan (8) 4 2 1 1 100 92 +8 12 14 1 0 11 Home as third best / Away round of 16
4 Wales Cardiff (16) 4 1 0 3 91 98 −7 13 13 2 1 7 Away round of 16
5 South Africa Cheetahs 4 1 1 2 73 132 −59 10 19 0 0 6
6 Italy Zebre Parma 4 0 0 4 70 125 −55 10 17 0 2 2
Source: EPCR[28]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Pool matches
7 December 2024
20:00
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland43–12Italy Zebre Parma
Try: Mullins (3) 22' m, 28' c, 62' m
Tierney-Martin 34' m
Boyle (2) 42' c, 80' c
Cordero 70' c
Con: Carty (2/4) 29', 43'
Naughton (2/3) 71', 80'		ReportTry: Stavile 6' m
Fusco 75' c
Con: Da Re (1/2) 76'
Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Attendance: 2,672
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
15 December 2024
14:00
Perpignan France18–31Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Boyer-Gallardo 17' m
Joseph 50' c
Con: Aucagne (1/2) 51'
Pen: Aucagne (2/3) 27', 44'		ReportTry: Ralston 6' c
de Buitléar 10' c
Mullins 36' m
Boyle 57' c
McBurney 78' m
Con: Carty (3/5) 7', 11', 57'
Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan
Attendance: 8,092
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
11 January 2025
20:00
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland52–24France Lyon
Try: B. Murphy (3) 1' c, 38' m, 45' m
Jansen 14' m
Bealham 17' c
J. Murphy 41' m
Aungier 53' m
Tierney-Martin 72' m
Hurley-Langton 80+3' m
Con: Ioane (2/6) 2', 18'
Pen: Ioane (1/1) 34'		ReportTry: Matavesi 23' c
Regard 48' c
Marchand 68' c
Con: Page-Relo (1/1) 24'
Meliande (2/2) 49', 69'
Pen: Page-Relo (1/1) 11'
Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Attendance: 4,024
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
17 January 2025
20:00
Cardiff Wales19–28Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Lloyd 17' c
Young (2) 42' c, 58' m
Con: Ben Thomas (2/3) 18', 43'		ReportTry: J. Murphy 13' c
Joyce 36' c
Ralston 53' c
Devine 65' c
Con: Ioane (3/3) 13', 37', 54'
Hanranhan (1/1) 66'
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Attendance: 6,321
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Knock-out phase
5 April 2025
20:00
Connacht Ireland (1)v(16) Wales Cardiff
Dexcom Stadium, Galway

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Connacht Rugby | Senior Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Academy Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Connacht Academy Squad confirmed for 2024/25 season". Connacht Rugby. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Matthew Devine signs first Pro contract". Connacht Rugby. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Hugh Gavin to join Pro ranks next season". Connacht Rugby. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Connacht announce signing of Piers O'Conor for next season". The 42.ie. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Adam McBurney was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Connacht adding second-row David O'Connor to their squad for next season". Irish Independent. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Ben Murphy and Temi Lasisi to join Connacht Rugby". Connaught Telegraph. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d "Departing players & 24/25 squad confirmed", Connacht Rugby, 16 May 2024
  11. ^ "Connacht sign All Black out-half Josh Ioane for 2024/25 season". Independent.ie. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Munster confirm signing of Diarmuid Kilgallen from Connacht". -The Irish Times. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Ex-Ireland international Tiernan O'Halloran announces retirement". Rugby Pass. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  14. ^ Neil Treacy, "Tadgh McElroy joins up with Ulster ahead of South Africa tour", RTÉ Sport, 25 September 2024
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tom Farrell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Former captain Jarrad Butler among the departures as Connacht confirm squad clearout". Irish Independent. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Farrell, Daly and Butler among 11 players set to leave Connacht". The Irish Times. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Oisin Michel: Cornish Pirates bring in Irish prop forward". BBC Sport. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Team to face Doncaster Knights". Ampthill RUFC. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Northampton Saints: Spencer and Thornbury join Premiership side". BBC Sport. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  21. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  22. ^ "WATCH: Munster Rugby edge Connacht in thrilling 10-try URC interpro derby at Thomond Park", limericklive, 22 Sep 2024
  23. ^ "Half-time reset pays off as Connacht recover from vicious Sharks attack", Irish Times, 30 Sep 2024
  24. ^ "Scarlets 23 Connacht 24 – More late heartbreak for home side", Scarlets Rugby, 4 October
  25. ^ "Connacht vs Leinster: Visitors cruise to bonus-point win in Galway", The Sunday Times, 20 October
  26. ^ "Dragons defeated at Dexcom Stadium", Dragons RFC, 26 October 2024
  27. ^ Leinster edge past Connacht in Christmas cracker RTE, 22 Dec 2024
  28. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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