2018–19 Connacht Rugby season explained

Club:	Connacht
Season:	2018–19
Chairman:	Willie Ruane
Chrtitle:	Chief executive
Manager:	Andy Friend
Mgrtitle:	Head coach
Captain:	Jarrad Butler
League:	Pro14
League Result:	3rd, Conf. A (play-off quarter-finals)
Cup1:	Challenge Cup
Cup1 Result:	Quarter-finals
Points Scorer:	Jack Carty (187)
Try Scorer:	Matt Healy (8)
Highest Attendance:	8,129 v Leinster 29 September 2018 8,129 v Ulster 28 December 2018 8,129 v Munster 5 January 2019
Lowest Attendance:	4,056 v Zebre 8 September 2018
Average Attendance:	5,876
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Prevseason:	2017–18
Nextseason:	2019–20

The 2018–19 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's eighteenth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-third season as a professional side. It was Andy Friend's first season in charge of the side.

In the regular season, Connacht were in Conference A of the Pro14. The team finished third in their conference, qualifying for the play-offs for the first time since the 2015–16 season where they were beaten by Ulster in the quarter-final. As well as playing in the Pro14, the team competed in the Challenge Cup in Europe. They qualified as one of the best runners up from a pool including Bordeaux, Perpignan and Sale Sharks to reach the quarter-finals, where they again met Sale. A 20–10 defeat saw the team eliminated in the last eight.

In addition to the league and European competitions, the Connacht Eagles development side competed in two new competitions. The first was the Celtic Cup, which saw them play against other Irish provinces' development teams and sides from Wales. The Eagles finished bottom of the Irish conference the inaugural edition of this tournament. The second competition was the Cara Cup, which involved the Irish provinces and the New England Free Jacks, a newly established Major League Rugby side. The Eagles won both of their games, beating Ulster and the Free Jacks.

Background

Following the removal of head coach Kieran Keane one year into a three-year deal, Andy Friend was hired as his replacement.^[1] The team also had a new captain for the season, following the retirement of John Muldoon, the province's most-capped player.^[2] In August 2018, Jarrad Butler was named as his replacement.^[3]

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.

Role	Name	Union
Chief executive	Willie Ruane^[4]	Ireland
Team manager	Tim Allnutt^[5]	New Zealand
Head coach	Andy Friend	Australia
Forwards Coach	Jimmy Duffy^[6]	Ireland
Backs Coach	Nigel Carolan^[7]	Ireland
Defence Coach	Peter Wilkins^[8]
Head Performance Analyst	Simon Kavanagh^[9]	Ireland
Head of Strength and Conditiong	David Howarth^[10]	Australia
Strength and conditioning Coach	Johnny O'Connor^[11]	Ireland
Academy manager	Eric Elwood^[12]	Ireland
Connacht Eagles Coach	Mossy Lawler^[13]	Ireland

Players

Senior playing squad

The Connacht senior squad for 2018–19 was:^[14]

• Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold
• Players qualified to play for on dual nationality or residency grounds*
• Irish Provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").^[15] Connacht is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement.^[16]
• Notes:

Academy squad

The Connacht academy squad for 2018–19 was:^[17]

Senior team transfers

Players in

• HK Jonny Murphy from Rotherham Titans^[18]
• PR Conán O'Donnell promoted from Academy
• LK Peter Claffey promoted from Academy^[19]
• LK Joe Maksymiw from Leicester Tigers^[20]
• BR Robin Copeland from Munster^[21]
• BR Colby Fainga'a from Melbourne Rebels^[22]
• BR Cillian Gallagher promoted from Academy^[19]
• SH Angus Lloyd from Clontarf^[23]
• FH David Horwitz from Melbourne Rebels^[24]
• CE Tom Daly from Leinster (loan)^[25]
• CE Kyle Godwin from Brumbies^[26]
• WG Stephen Fitzgerald from Munster (loan)^[27]

Players out

• HK Pat O'Toole to San Diego Legion^[28]
• PR JP Cooney retired^[29]
• PR Denis Coulson to Lansdowne^[30]
• LK Andrew Browne retired^[31]
• BR Naulia Dawai to Otago^[32]
• BR Jake Heenan to Bristol Bears^[33]
• BR John Muldoon retired^[34]
• FH Steve Crosbie to Old Belvedere^[30]
• FH Andrew Deegan to Western Force^[35]
• CE Pita Ahki to Toulouse^[36]
• WG Cormac Brennan released^[37]
• WG Stacey Ili to Hawke's Bay^[38]
• WG Rory Scholes to Brive^[39]

• Player's name in italics indicates a transfer that took place during the course of the season

Results

Pro14

See main article: 2018–19 Pro14.

Regular season

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Play-offs

Challenge Cup

See main article: 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Pool 3

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Pool winners and runners-up rankings

Rank	Pool Leaders	Pts	Diff	TF
1	Clermont	30	187	44
2		24	134	32
3	Sale Sharks	22	88	27
4		22	25	19
5		21	66	23
Rank	Pool Runners–up	Pts	Diff	TF
6		22	26	19
7	Bristol Bears	21	159	42
8		21	155	42
9		20	65	23
10	Ospreys	13	36	18

Quarter-finals

Notes and References

1. Web site: Andy Friend confirmed as new Connacht head coach . . 24 May 2018 . 24 May 2018.
2. Web site: The end of an era: John Muldoon bids fond farewell to Connacht . . 28 April 2018 . 30 May 2018.
3. Web site: Back row Jarrad Butler succeeds Muldoon as Connacht captain . . 15 August 2018 . 16 August 2018.
4. Web site: Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO . . 23 May 2014 . 8 May 2014.
5. Web site: 'I just came over here to visit my brother and I never left' . . 16 January 2015 . 1 October 2016.
6. Web site: Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach . . 30 September 2015 . 9 June 2015.
7. Web site: Connacht confirm Carolan and Duffy as part of new coaching team . . 23 May 2017 . 21 May 2017.
8. Web site: Connacht appoint former Queensland Reds and Edinburgh defence coach . . 9 May 2017 . 21 May 2017.
9. Web site: Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs' coach . . 8 June 2016 . 1 October 2016.
10. Web site: Aussie coach joins Connacht backroom team after three years with leading NBA side . . 8 June 2017 . 9 June 2017.
11. Web site: Connacht son Johnny O'Connor returns to join club's backroom team . . 25 June 2017 . 26 June 2017.
12. Web site: Connacht legend Eric Elwood succeeds Carolan as academy manager . . 28 April 2017 . 21 May 2017.
13. Web site: Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season . . 28 December 2016 . 12 January 2017.
14. Web site: Connacht Rugby Senior Squad. Connacht Rugby. 6 July 2018.
15. Web site: Not all rules are made to be broken . . 4 September 2016 . 26 January 2018 . Ireland's set-up demands a maximum of five NIEs - one of whom is a project player .
16. Web site: Foreign stars hit by new IRFU contract rules . . 21 December 2011 . 26 January 2018 . The changes will not apply to Connacht who recently agreed a separate programme of structural and performance development with the IRFU..
17. Web site: Academy Squad . . 14 September 2018.
18. News: Connacht: Former Ulster hooker Jonny Murphy joins from Rotherham. BBC Sport. 16 May 2018.
19. Web site: Three promising homegrown players sign pro contracts with Connacht . . 9 March 2018 . 10 March 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180309191552/http://www.the42.ie/connacht-claffey-gallagher-odonnell-contract-3894519-Mar2018/ . 9 March 2018 . dmy-all .
20. News: Connacht Rugby have signed second row Joe Maksymiw from Leicester Tigers ahead of next season . . 15 May 2018 . 15 May 2018.
21. News: Connacht capture Robin Copeland signature. Planet Rugby. 12 March 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180313031803/http://www.planetrugby.com/news/connacht-capture-robin-copeland-signature/. 13 March 2018. dmy-all.
22. News: Connacht sign Colby Fainga'a. Planet Rugby. 11 July 2018.
23. Web site: Connacht sign former Munster scrum-half Lloyd as injury cover . . 22 December 2018 . 23 December 2018.
24. News: Australian fly-half David Horwitz to join Connacht next season. Sky Sports. 23 March 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101557/http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15183/11301405/australian-fly-half-david-horwitz-to-join-connacht-next-season. 24 March 2018. dmy-all.
25. Web site: Connacht bolster backline options with loan signing of Leinster's Daly . . 18 December 2018 . 18 December 2018.
26. News: Connacht to sign Brumbies centre Kyle Godwin. Planet Rugby. 20 March 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180320231022/http://www.planetrugby.com/news/connacht-to-sign-brumbies-centre-kyle-godwin/. 20 March 2018. dmy-all.
27. Web site: Connacht make third short-term signing with capture of Munster's Fitzgerald . . 26 December 2018 . 27 December 2018.
28. News: Ex-Connacht men Leader and O'Toole called into USA Men's Selects squad. The42. 13 September 2018.
29. Web site: JP Cooney - Solutions Advisor at SmartBear Software. LinkedIn. 31 August 2018.
30. News: All-Ireland League: Results Round-up. Irish Rugby. 5 October 2018.
31. News: Elder lemon O'Halloran excited and primed for voyage under fifth Connacht coach. The42. 20 September 2018 . 31 October 2018.
32. News: Durban-born No 8 among Otago recruits. ODT.co.nz. 11 May 2018.
33. News: Bristol: John Afoa and Harry Thacker among nine signings for next season. BBC Sport. 20 January 2017.
34. News: Muldoon calls it a day. Planet Rugby. 24 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180125194254/http://www.planetrugby.com/news/muldoon-calls-it-a-day/. 25 January 2018. dmy-all.
35. News: World Cup winning Springbok Jaque Fourie, Olympic gold medallist Masivesi Dakuwaqa join Western Force. The West Australian. 5 March 2018. live. https://archive.today/20180305141206/https://thewest.com.au/sport/western-force/world-cup-winning-springbok-jaque-fourie-olympic-gold-medallist-masivesi-dakuwaqa-join-western-force-ng-b88764422z. 5 March 2018. dmy-all.
36. News: Pita Ahki to join Toulouse next season. Planet Rugby. 3 March 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180308232921/http://www.planetrugby.com/news/pita-ahki-to-join-toulouse-next-season/. 8 March 2018. dmy-all.
37. News: Connacht Rugby confirm departing players. Connacht Rugby. 30 March 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180330211609/https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-confirm-departing-players/. 30 March 2018. dmy-all.
38. News: 2018 Magpies Squad Announced. Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. 9 August 2018.
39. Web site: Connacht in the market for Irish-qualified scrum-half as injury cover . . 10 December 2018 . 18 December 2018.