2016–17 Connacht Rugby season explained
| Club: | Connacht |
| Season: | 2016–17 |
| Chairman: | Willie Ruane |
| Chrtitle: | Chief executive |
| Manager: | Pat Lam |
| Mgrtitle: | Head coach |
| Captain: | John Muldoon |
| League: | Pro12 |
| League Result: | 8th |
| Cup1: | Champions Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Pool stage (3rd) |
| Points Scorer: | Craig Ronaldson (100) |
| Try Scorer: | Niyi Adeolokun (8) |
| Highest Attendance: | 8,091 v Toulouse
15 October 2016 |
| Lowest Attendance: | 4,091 v Zebre
3 March 2017 |
| Average Attendance: | 6,386 |
| Pattern La1: | _Connacht_home_16-17 |
| Pattern B1: | _Connacht_home_16-17 |
| Pattern Ra1: | _Connacht_home_16-17 |
| Pattern Sh1: | _Connacht_home_16-17 |
| Pattern So1: | _Connacht_home_16-17 |
| Leftarm1: | 339933 |
| Body1: | 036303 |
| Rightarm1: | 339933 |
| Shorts1: | 036303 |
| Socks1: | 036303 |
| Pattern La2: | _connacht_away_16-17 |
| Pattern B2: | _connacht_away_16-17 |
| Pattern Ra2: | _connacht_away_16-17 |
| Pattern Sh2: | _connacht_away_16-17 |
| Pattern So2: | _connacht_away_16-17 |
| Leftarm2: | 0b0b29 |
| Body2: | FFFFFF |
| Rightarm2: | 0b0b29 |
| Shorts2: | 0b0b29 |
| Socks2: | 0b0b29 |
| Prevseason: | 2015–16 |
| Nextseason: | 2017–18 |
The 2016–17 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's sixteenth season competing in the Pro12, and the team's twenty-first season as a professional side. It was Pat Lam's fourth and final season in charge of the side.
Connacht finished the season in eight place in the league. As well as playing in the Pro12, Connacht competed in the Champions Cup in Europe, finishing third in their pool, level on points with Toulouse, who advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best runners-up. The second-tier side the Connacht Eagles competed in the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup, finishing bottom of their pool.
Background
Connacht started the season with a new coaching team. Backs and kicking coach Andre Bell left his role to return to his family in New Zealand.[1] Head performance analyst and assistant attack coach Conor McPhillips took over coaching of the backs, while the team's former head coach Eric Elwood took over coaching kicking.[2] The close season also saw the departure of the side's all-time record try-scorer Fionn Carr who scored 42 tries over two spells with the province.[3] During the off-season, the team's homeground, the Galway Sportsground underwent renovations with the addition of a seated stand increasing its capacity to 8,100.[4]
Coaching and management team
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Individuals may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
Players
Senior playing squad
- Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*
- Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold
- Irish Provinces were limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player"). Connacht Rugby is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement
Academy squad
year 3 year 2 year 3 year 1 year 2 year 3 year 2 year 1 year 1 year 2 year 3 year 3 year 1 year 2 year 3 year 1 year 3 year 1 year 2 year 2
Senior Team Transfers
Players in
Players out
Results
Pro12
See main article: article and 2016–17 Pro12.
--------After 40 minutes of play, the match was "abandoned due to adverse weather conditions causing considerable risk to both the players and spectators". Zebre were leading 22–10 (3 tries to 1) when the match was abandoned. A rescheduled fixture was played on 1 April 2017.[39] [40] ----------------------------------------------------------------
- Game rescheduled from 17 September 2016.
----------------
Champions Cup
See main article: article and 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Pool 1
------------Assistant referee Mathieu Raynal replaced the original referee Jérôme Garcès on the 73rd minute of the game after pulling a hamstring.--------
Champions Cup play-offs
See main article: article and 2017–18 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs.
Semi-final
Notes and References
- Web site: My job in Connacht: Andre Bell, Backs & kicking coach . . 6 February 2015 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: Connacht suffer major blow as backs coach Bell opts to return to New Zealand . . 9 June 2016 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: Carr and Muldowney among players leaving Connacht at end of season . . 4 April 2016 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: A new seated stand is in place at the Sportsground for Connacht's upcoming season . . 31 August 2016 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO . Irish Independent . 20 May 2017 . 8 May 2014.
- Web site: Connacht confirm new three-year contract for head coach Pat Lam . . 21 January 2015 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: 'I just came over here to visit my brother and I never left' . . 16 January 2015 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach . . 20 May 2017 . 9 June 2015.
- Web site: Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs’ coach . . 8 June 2016 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season . . 28 December 2016 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: New Head Of Fitness And Increased Funding For Connacht . Irish Rugby . 20 May 2017 . 19 May 2014.
- Web site: Coach Profiles: Nigel Carolan . . 20 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170505054644/http://www.irishrugby.ie/coaches/33358.php . 5 May 2017 . dead .
- Web site: Injury-ravaged Connacht make 4 changes ahead of meeting with table toppers Munster . . 30 December 2016 . 20 May 2017 . New recruit John Andress is named on the bench after the prop agreed a short-term contract, as Lam trues to manage numerous injury setbacks to his squad..
- News: Connacht sign Nottingham prop Conor Carey. Nottingham Rugby. 7 March 2016. 20 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20161026182220/http://www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk/carey-to-join-connacht-in-the-summer/. 26 October 2016. dead. dmy-all.
- Web site: Pat Lam's Connacht sign Irish-qualified tighthead Robertson-McCoy . . 20 May 2017 . 21 June 2016.
- Web site: Connacht announce 4 contract extensions plus the addition of a Ukrainian-born prop . . 3 October 2016 . 20 May 2017.
- News: Connacht sign Wasps second-row James Cannon. Breaking News. 29 September 2016.
- News: Connacht to sign former Exeter Chiefs lock Lewis Stevenson. Planet Rugby. 8 August 2016.
- News: Connacht confirm signing of Fiji international back row Dawai. The42. 12 October 2016. 20 May 2017.
- Web site: Connacht sign South Africa and Lions fly-half Marnitz Boshoff . . 20 May 2017 . 14 March 2016.
- Web site: Connacht add three to senior squad amidst injury crisis . . 10 January 2017 . 20 May 2017.
- Web site: Connacht bring Irish centre Farrell home from England . . 9 January 2017 . 20 May 2017.
- News: London Irish centre Eoin Griffin resigns with Connacht next season. RTÉ Sport. 14 December 2015.
- News: Connacht sign Auckland utility back Stace Ili. The42. 14 September 2016.
- News: Leinster fullback Cian Kelleher signs for Connacht next season. Sky Sports. 3 May 2016.
- News: Connacht sign Ireland Sevens winger Josh Rowland. Sky Sports. 14 July 2016.
- News: London Irish to sign Connacht hooker Jason Harris-Wright. Planet Rugby. 4 August 2016.
- News: Connacht and Ireland tighthead prop Rodney Ah You to join Ulster. BBC Sport. 18 January 2016.
- Web site: Ireland international White forced to retire from rugby after concussion injury . . 28 September 2016 . 20 May 2017.
- News: Grenoble confirm signing of Connacht lock Aly Muldowney next season. Irish Times. 20 April 2016.
- News: Harlequins to sign Connacht number eight George Naoupu. BBC Sport. 28 July 2016.
- News: Connacht scrum-half returns to old hometown club Banbridge RFC. Banbridge Leader. 16 August 2016.
- News: Sale Sharks sign USA fly-half AJ MacGinty from Connacht. Manchester Evening News. 31 March 2016.
- Web site: 16 September 2016 . . 6 June 2016 . 20 May 2017.
- News: Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw to join Leinster. BBC Sport. 16 February 2016.
- News: Connacht centre Dave McSharry force to retire at 26 because of injuries. Planet Rugby. 17 August 2016.
- News: Connacht utility back Api Pewhairangi switches codes to join league side London Broncos. Sky Sports. 23 May 2016.
- Web site: The cream of Ireland's domestic rugby talent back in action this weekend . . 16 September 2016 . 20 May 2017 . Murphy, who has recruited his old school friend Fionn Carr fresh from the professional ranks.
- Web site: Statement on abandoned game between Zebre Rugby and Connacht Rugby . Pro 12 . 17 September 2016 . 31 January 2017.
- Web site: GUINNESS PRO12: IRISH PROVINCES' RESULTS AND FIXTURES . Irish Rugby . 27 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170109204742/http://www.irishrugby.ie/guinnesspro12/results_and_fixtures_pro_12_section.php . 9 January 2017 . dead .
Ireland
Samoa
New Zealand
Grenoble[30]
AJ MacGinty to Sale Sharks[33]