Connacht need a proper stadium

Stupido

If Connacht are to develop they need a proper stadium.

The racecourse is too open and exposed, it puts people off in bad weather. Having spent some time there last year, and attended matches I have come to the conclusion that if they are ever to get a decent following, then they have to start with the facilities....and if that means a new ground elsewhere then so be it. Doesn't have to be huge, but two grandstands would create a nice cosy atmosphere...

The obvious reason for the big increase in the Munster & Leinster crowds can be directly attributed to the facilities (when leinster started playing in lansdowne, they got a huge jump in crowds because the facilities were so much better than Donnybrook)

Irish rugby needs 4 competitive teams. Connacht need the income. It would be a good investment for all

boredatwork82

The sportsground is a joke, There is very few adequate viewing positions outside of the stand. You are so far from the pitch. I use to go years ago, Went to the munster game this year and remembered why I don't go to Connacht matchs.
They should play some games in Buccs, until they get a proper venue.
Buccs may not be as big a venue, but can still hold a couple of thousand (5-6k when the AIL was in its in prime), and everyone will get to see the game.


The sportsground is quite possibly the worst sporting venue I've been at.

chupacabra

I agree. Also its pretty ridiculous that they plan on redeveloping Musgrave park so soon after Thomond when Connacht are in clear need of better facilities. tut tut IRFU, tut tut..

Diom

They really need to get the greyhound lights out of the way. It would/should not be hard to get a motorised system for bringing them up/down.
I always say that if I win the EuroMillions then the first thing I would do would be to buy the dog-people out of their share in the SG. Then I could build stands right in on top of the pitch. The existing stand could be a clubhouse/restaurant (obviously incorporated into the new stand).

It would also not be expensive to build a basic shelter on the other side of the pitch. And the large flat concrete area at the top should be terrace up higher to allow more people to see the game from that side. Simple ideas usually work the best.

ALH-06

But surely Connacht need to build their support base in order to accommodate this investment? How can you can justify expanding the Sportsground if they rarely fill it the way it is???

Leinster played for years in Donnybrook. Over the last few seasons, their average attendance has shot up. Therefore, they moved to the RDS. They nearly fill it every time. Munster won two Heineken Cups and had clearly outgrown the old Thomond....

Connacht need to invest more in player signings, facilities and coaching. With the success that this brings, their support base will grow. Stadium expansion is not necessary before this happens.

Podge_irl

ALH-06 wrote: »

But surely Connacht need to build their support base in order to accommodate this investment? How can you can justify expanding the Sportsground if they rarely fill it the way it is???

Leinster played for years in Donnybrook. Over the last few seasons, their average attendance has shot up. Therefore, they moved to the RDS. They nearly fill it every time. Munster won two Heineken Cups and had clearly outgrown the old Thomond....

Connacht need to invest more in player signings, facilities and coaching. With the success that this brings, their support base will grow. Stadium expansion is not necessary before this happens.

The attendance at Leinster games shot up partly as a result of moving to the RDS as well. There was 20,000 people at Leinster's two HEC games in Lansdowne in 2007, yet it wasn't exceptionally difficult to get tickets to the third game in Donnybrook. People will be more likely attend a game if the stadium provides a better experience.

Diabhal Beag

ALH-06 wrote: »

But surely Connacht need to build their support base in order to accommodate this investment? How can you can justify expanding the Sportsground if they rarely fill it the way it is???

QFT. If we are only going to have a full stadium maybe 4 times a year then why should we expand.Fans won't just come to matches because of a half decent ground. Look at Terryland Park for example.
Eddie the eagle would not be the dominant force if we were to move from the dog track.

darrenh

terryland is a bad example. its situated in the coldest windiest part of town. hard to get there. traffic is bad. no parking and not a pub for miles so you can have a pint before and after. everyone in galway says its in the wrong place. great facilities. wrong place.

Ginja Ninja

i'd also lik to add that connaught only recieve HALF,yes HALF of the irfu funding of the other provinces and so can't sign and can't build a new stadium
but after the munster /leinster upset this year maybe we can get some cash injections in the near future

Amazotheamazing

Ginja Ninja wrote: »

i'd also lik to add that connaught only recieve HALF,yes HALF of the irfu funding of the other provinces and so can't sign and can't build a new stadium
but after the munster /leinster upset this year maybe we can get some cash injections in the near future

True, but Munster and Leinster bring in a good bit of money to the IRFU, and have advanced schools and clubs systems to develop players. You aren't comparing like with like, the entire population of Connacht is only 20,000 more than county Cork. There is only so big Connacht can grow.

Sundy

Podge_irl wrote: »

The attendance at Leinster games shot up partly as a result of moving to the RDS as well. There was 20,000 people at Leinster's two HEC games in Lansdowne in 2007, yet it wasn't exceptionally difficult to get tickets to the third game in Donnybrook. People will be more likely attend a game if the stadium provides a better experience.

Nail on head.

In a season or two leinster went from on average 3/4 full donnybrook to 3/4 RDS. This has made a big difference in terms of attracting fans especially the ability to provide lots of seating making it safer and easier for families

Stupido

ALH-06 wrote: »

But surely Connacht need to build their support base in order to accommodate this investment? How can you can justify expanding the Sportsground if they rarely fill it the way it is???

Leinster played for years in Donnybrook. Over the last few seasons, their average attendance has shot up. Therefore, they moved to the RDS. They nearly fill it every time. Munster won two Heineken Cups and had clearly outgrown the old Thomond....

Connacht need to invest more in player signings, facilities and coaching. With the success that this brings, their support base will grow. Stadium expansion is not necessary before this happens.

The reason the support base exploded was that they moved.....not vice versa

spursman

the fact is that if something isn't done to improve the sportsground or a better facility is not found i cant see connacht rugby surviving much longer. I believe connacht would need a ground of about 10k capacity, this would be large enough for any big games but would also be the right size for an average attendance of about 4k or 5k which i think connacht have to aim at getting if they are to survive as a viable professional outfit.

Webbs

spursman wrote: »

the fact is that if something isn't done to improve the sportsground or a better facility is not found i cant see connacht rugby surviving much longer. I believe connacht would need a ground of about 10k capacity, this would be large enough for any big games but would also be the right size for an average attendance of about 4k or 5k which i think connacht have to aim at getting if they are to survive as a viable professional outfit.

If Connacht go to the wall it will be a disastrous day for Irish rugby.

Ireland needs 4 provinces, the IRFU needs to increase not decrease funding to Connacht, if not you will have a situation where either the IRFU will start to dictate the selection policies of the other provinces or there will be a noticeable decline in the quality/quantity of the Irish qualified playing base.

In Wales the WRU are starting to be allowed to dictate player selection, e.g. Gatland is instructing Cardiff to not play Williams as much so that he can go through to the next world cup and also bring on in a playing sense a possible replacement in Snowdon-Taylor.

I am sure that for example, Munster fans would not be happy if they were told they couldn't play Mafi or Tipoki as an Irish player had to be picked.

As for a ground, I think that if they could get on board with Galwegians when and if they move to their new ground and develop a 10K capacity stadium as the new home of Connacht. (there would be little overlap as most Connacht games are on a Friday night)

Saruman

Sounds like a "build it and they will come" attitude. Is there enough of a following to justify someone building a new stadium? I tend to follow international rugby and only watch the odd Munster/Leinster match but i have never seen Connacht play rugby.

Diom

Look the way it is at the minute Connacht get a lot of support for big games, and regularly you end up with 3000 people standing in the rain and wind with absolutely zero protection. We're not talking about building an Aviva here, just a massive bus shelter of corrugated clear plastic, a bit more concrete and a couple hundred chairs for the old ladies who like to sit down when rugby is being played. It would not cost more than funding Connacht properly for a year or two i.e. about a half million max.

Don't agree with the move to Wegians. Already there is too much inverted at the SG. If the dog-people would get lost it would be a brilliant place for a proper stadium.

leeroybrown

Diom wrote: »

If the dog-people would get lost it would be a brilliant place for a proper stadium.

Unfortunately, my understanding is that we're at the wrong end of the agreement. The primary leasehold is to Bord na gCon, with Connacht sub-letting from them. While the IRFU do have an investment in the Connacht clubhouse and gym facilities they are probably quite reluctant to contribute to a larger investment in improving the cemetary side and adding some better terracing at the ends of a ground they don't own.

As a season ticket holder who always stands at the cemetary side, I think that building up the terrace a little more, reducing the impact of the two dugouts on the view and providing some protection from the elements would be a huge improvement that would make a lot of people much happier to attend games throughout the winter.

Robbo

I agree with Diom. Just a little bit of investment over the clubhouse/cemetery side of the ground would make things a hell of a lot nicer. A steeper pitch to the steps and some for of overhead shelter would do the job. To an extent the "rain from 4 directions at once" aspect of the Sportsground is part of it's character but I've spent nights up there decked out in full waterproof gear and still come away wet and frozen.

As it stands, the weather is a huge factor in attendances for games (outside of your guaranteed full houses like a decent Euro game or interpro). You'll often meet people in the pubs after a game in filthy weather and they'll have bailed at the last minute and stayed in Garvey's or wherever.

Yes the Sportsground has it's faults but it's location is superb. Where else would you go? In an ideal world where things are properly planned, perhaps the Aussie model of a municipal stadium would be the job. Share it with Galway United. But that's not going to happen because the Galway League owns Terryland and has put a lot of money into it recently despite it's rubbish location.

Pearse Stadium won't work because the locals are getting increasingly upset and surprised that a stadium built 2 decades before most of their houses is being used regularly.

Amazotheamazing

But in a greater sense, how good can Connacht ever be?

Leinster's population is 2,292,939, it has a very advanced schools cup and clubs system.

Ulster's population is 1,993,918, it has a very advanced schools cup and clubs system.

Munster's population is 1,172,170, it has a very advanced schools cup and clubs system.

Connacht's population is 503,083, it's schools system is way behind the other provinces, it's only has a handful of senior clubs.

Added to that, since the RDS move has been cited as the reasons Leinster's crowds grew, Leinster is based in Dublin, population (per wikipedia) is
- City 505,739
- Urban 1,045,769
- Metro 1,661,185

You can't seriously compare Connacht's situation with the other provinces.

The Sportsgrounds is a poor stadium, but how much investment will ever be justified into Connacht rugby?

Podge_irl

Connacht doesn't need to be restricted by provincial boundaries. The likes of Keatley and Carr are doing well there and it is a useful asset for the IRFU if used properly.

The population argument is a red herring anyway. Connacht's population is larger then Leicester's for example. The ratio of Connacht's population to Leinster's is far less then the ratio of Ireland's to France's and so on. Its easy to say that Connacht will never be successful when there has never been much effort to make it so. It's lagging behind and will only end up further behind unless there is serious investment in it.

Stupido

It is not just about population. Even if connacht were playing at Donnybrook it would be an improvement on the RC, and people would have much better protecton from the elements (the new stand for example).


A nice 10,000 arena, with tall stands to protect from the wind, would, I am sure, turn friday night games into a social event (as with Leinster), and attract more than the diehard stand-in-all-weather-I'll-show-you-who-a-real-rugby-fan-is supporter)

I think the fact that Connacht is so much smaller than the other three provinces goes in their favour....

Come on GCC......a bit of social investment for the city please

Shelflife

I live about an hour away from the ground and have travelled on numerous occasions with my young son to the games, i have to say that the weather is an important element in whether we travel or not,

its not unreasonable to expect that a stand will give you some protection from the elements. in the sportground you will get none.

A decent stand would result in us going to more matches, as im sure more families would go as well, if you start them young they will continue to go to the games.

connacht dont need a big stadium, the location is ideal, a decent stand would bring the families and dare i say it more of the fairer sex to the game as well.

Amazotheamazing

Podge_irl wrote: »

Connacht doesn't need to be restricted by provincial boundaries. The likes of Keatley and Carr are doing well there and it is a useful asset for the IRFU if used properly.

The population argument is a red herring anyway. Connacht's population is larger then Leicester's for example. The ratio of Connacht's population to Leinster's is far less then the ratio of Ireland's to France's and so on. Its easy to say that Connacht will never be successful when there has never been much effort to make it so. It's lagging behind and will only end up further behind unless there is serious investment in it.

But Leicester have a long history of top level rugby. Also, I'm not sure, but I doubt the population of Leicester is a spread out as that of Connacht. I'd like Connacht to be successful, used to go to a lot a games when I lived in Galway but there's only so much IRFU money to go around.

Connacht should be better used to develop young players, but very often a young player will hang around the larger provinces because if can get a few games for Munster, Ulster or Leinster you're in line for an Ireland place, and playing relatively top level rugby. You can't force players to move and there has been a history of good players like Matthews and Gannon moving only to stall when they get there.

Podge_irl

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

But Leicester have a long history of top level rugby. Also, I'm not sure, but I doubt the population of Leicester is a spread out as that of Connacht. I'd like Connacht to be successful, used to go to a lot a games when I lived in Galway but there's only so much IRFU money to go around.

Connacht should be better used to develop young players, but very often a young player will hang around the larger provinces because if can get a few games for Munster, Ulster or Leinster you're in line for an Ireland place, and playing relatively top level rugby. You can't force players to move and there has been a history of good players like Matthews and Gannon moving only to stall when they get there.

Its a fair point, but I cant help but feel that the IRFU money is going the wrong way. Bradley is, in my opinion anyway, a big problem. He is not getting what he should out of that Connacht side. Gannon was exceptional in his first season there and has only gone backwards since. Bradley did well with Ireland over the summer, but he is wasting what precious resources Connacht get imo. Looking at their squad they should be doing better then they are. All the same, as far as I recall, Sheahan is or recently was on a central contract - that is a complete waste of money as the IRFU goes. Paying for Cronin and someone else to be at Connacht is a much better use of resources then paying for Munster's reserve hooker...

Ceartgoleor

boredatwork82 wrote: »

The sportsground is quite possibly the worst sporting venue I've been at.

Full agreement with this, probably the most unpleasant place to attend a match in the Magners.

Poor pitch to play on too (not the surface), but its very wide, and difficult when kicking for touch because of the dogtrack around the pitch which can sometimes mean getting your bearings a bit difficult.

kevmy

The first thing Connacht need is respect.

They never get any. Not from the IRFU, not from the other provinces and not from a lot of the players.

I've always felt the greatest thing the IRFU was central contracting. This should mean that it is easier to move players within the provinces. However they have never used the opportunity to use Connacht as a blooding ground for new young talent who can't for obvious reasons get games at Leinster and Munster.
The few players who have availed of this have come on well Flannery, Jackman, Gavin Duffy and now Keatley. I mean this time next year I can easily see Keatley being ahead of Sexton in the Irish setup. Do you think this would have happened if he hadn't gone to Connacht?

Do this and results will get better, with results come crowds, with crowds come money, with money comes better facilities and better results, which means better crowds etc.

But it all starts with respect. And unti they get that we can talk all we want but nothing much will ever happen.

Trojan

A couple of years back I was speaking with a few lads high up in the Connacht Branch (alickadoos, ex branch President, etc) and they reckoned that the #1 priority they needed to address to get more IRFU funding was "bums on seats". If they're right and that is the case, we do seem to have this chicken and egg situation.

There's a crucial assumption from people here that the guys at the top of the Connacht branch know what they're doing running a professional sports organisation, but that may not actually be the case. I don't know anything about the branch setup in 2009 or how it's been run recently, but a lot depends on this point.

To the last poster: respect is earned, not freely given.

Diom

Trojan wrote: »

respect is earned, not freely given.

Connacht have kept their team moderately competitive despite being given only half the funding of other teams, despite their already poorer situation, and without being properly represented by their national body.
Over the last few years their attendances have been increasing, and they are actually fielding better teams.

Anyways, as you said it is an egg/chicken type situation here. Connacht would need about 500,000 to vastly improve the experience of those punters who DO come to the SG. If the 5000-6000 people at the big games were dry and had proper WC facilities then they might return. The IRFU get money off our government to run rugby in this country, and yet they continue to fail to develop the one place that rugby has the potential for massive growth.

Rugby was a popular sport at my school, but there was only one other team in the city with a half-decent team. Why are the IRFU not helping the other schools get teams up and running? Why are they not attempting to help the brand new Oughterard team with their gear? Why haven't they gotten someone out to Oranmor to setup a team there while their population boom seems to be slowing down?

Because they are not interested in running the game for the entire country. They are interested in keeping the status quo. You could see it from the lack of ambition in their development plan released after the RWC. No mention of internal domestic expansion. Not a word about improving the infrastructure of the game to reap the maximum reward from minimal resources.

Anyone can see that Connacht is the best place to invest in new growth. The relative return on investment would be much higher here, than anywhere else in the country. A 10% increase in "productivity" from the Leinster/Ulster schools system would require massive investment.

Connacht need to start helping themselves.

There is clearly no grass roots level in Connacht,which in turn means no fans.

Fair enough it would be great if more like Carr and Keatley went down but why do they kepp calling for more money when they have very little rugby played in the province,not many underage players,not many fans.

Why do they keep crying out for a team of foreigners,what good will that do anyone?

The Connacht branch deserve no respect because they never produce any decent players.Once they do that then they should be funded.

Munster and Leinster basically started out early proffesional times eg 2001,with very good homegrown players which lead to success and more fans,why should Connacht get a free ride off their success and the success of the underage coaches who developm these players?

Trojan

Diom, I see your points and I agree with many of them, but not all. I believe there has been a lot of IRFU development money gone into Connacht rugby over the years, and very little return. As Braylon Curved Roller-skate puts it, fairly bluntly, Connacht has to help itself.

I would love to see Connacht being competitive at the highest level. I think a bit of entrepreneurial thinking in the Branch office might help the situation, as well as a more active grassroots campaign.

Maybe Connacht should base themselves out of Dublin but play in the sportsground.

Its only an idea but lets be real,If im a player in the leinster academy who seem to be the only province sending players to Connacht,then im unlikely to want to leave,family,girlfriend,friends,studies to go to Galway and risk not even making it.

Im not bothered making a list but alot of the Leinster academy players are better than their Connacht first team counterparts.

O'malley,Foley,Kearney jr etc would all make the team.

They could basically play whatever Leinster academy players they deemed good enough as Connacht players.

I bet Bradley would jump at that oppertunity,they get the bus down on a friday night to Galway and then back to dublin the next morning.That would help irish rugby.

Stev_o

Braylon Curved Roller-skate wrote: »

Maybe Connacht should base themselves out of Dublin but play in the sportsground.

Its only an idea but lets be real,If im a player in the leinster academy who seem to be the only province sending players to Connacht,then im unlikely to want to leave,family,girlfriend,friends,studies to go to Galway and risk not even making it.

Im not bothered making a list but alot of the Leinster academy players are better than their Connacht first team counterparts.

O'malley,Foley,Kearney jr etc would all make the team.

They could basically play whatever Leinster academy players they deemed good enough as Connacht players.

I bet Bradley would jump at that oppertunity,they get the bus down on a friday night to Galway and then back to dublin the next morning.That would help irish rugby.

Why would Connacht play in Dublin or be affilated with just being a spin off Leinster accademy.

I love the fact that every rugby forum users "problem solvers" are based outside of Connacht and seem to think it should become the national academy. Do people know what Connacht means? They are aware it is a province right??

It was only a suggestion but it would leave them in a better position then they are now.

Connacht rugby is run as a joke and the blame has to go directly to the Connacht branch of the IRFU,they are provided with funding for grass roots and it seems they have done nothing with it.

So as for Connacht ever being a fully blooded Munster or leinster style club,it will never happen until they earn the right and that involves actually doing something about not having good players instead of bitching about it.

Money doesnt solve everything.I bet if they held trials at some clubs for the GAA kids,you would get a load of good players.

Do you have a suggestion?

Stev_o

Braylon Curved Roller-skate wrote: »

It was only a suggestion but it would leave them in a better position then they are now.

Connacht rugby is run as a joke and the blame has to go directly to the Connacht branch of the IRFU,they are provided with funding for grass roots and it seems they have done nothing with it.

Do you have a suggestion?

Either they get proper funding and the IRFU treat them like the other 3 provinces our they are dissolved easy as that. The fact the IRFU prefer to leave them as they are now and hopefully they ll die off is a disgrace.

Why should they get proper funding?

As a province they continue to offer nothing on the international scene.

I think if used properly as a development province then they could do much better than their current position,the IRFU need to give Munster and Ulster a kick up the arse and send more players there.

Stev_o

Braylon Curved Roller-skate wrote: »

Why should they get proper funding?

As a province they continue to offer nothing on the international scene.

I think if used properly as a development province then they could do much better than their current position,the IRFU need to give Munster and Ulster a kick up the arse and send more players there.

And the reason for the highlighted sentence is that they aren't getting enough funding the develop the players. How are you supposed to develop international class players when your on the lowest funding out of every province?

Whats the point of them being a development province, iv already posted before that it could be even worse for them and would result in many supports leaving them.

Diom

Damn...I have a reply waiting on my work computer. I meant to post it about half an hour ago.

Look in order Connacht to receive the same amount of money as everyone else, without it coming from the IRFU, the three other provinces just need to give up ONE-EIGHT of the money they receive from the IRFU and let Connacht have it. That money is a drop in the ocean for the big 3, but it would do the world of good for us.

People always talk about the lack of grassroots in Connacht, but I really don't know how they expect it to change in the current circumstances. We have no money to develop new facilities for underage teams, or to run local events etc... How can you develop rugby in a province where our most senior professional team is treated as a joke by everyone else in the country!

There has been really good work done the last few years, with increased gates, attendances, coverage, player numbers, and new clubs. But no matter what we can do here, we cannot match Munster and Co without the help of the rest of the rugby nation. We will always be behind and because of that there is the excuse not to attempt to develop rugby here. It is unforgivably bad logic.

Stev_o is right. The IRFU don't want to be seen closing Connacht down. They want them to die out on their own.

I'll post my proper response tomorrow from work.

Ceartgoleor

Braylon Curved Roller-skate wrote: »

Maybe Connacht should base themselves out of Dublin but play in the sportsground.

Its only an idea but lets be real,If im a player in the leinster academy who seem to be the only province sending players to Connacht,then im unlikely to want to leave,family,girlfriend,friends,studies to go to Galway and risk not even making it.

Im not bothered making a list but alot of the Leinster academy players are better than their Connacht first team counterparts.

O'malley,Foley,Kearney jr etc would all make the team.

They could basically play whatever Leinster academy players they deemed good enough as Connacht players.

I bet Bradley would jump at that oppertunity,they get the bus down on a friday night to Galway and then back to dublin the next morning.That would help irish rugby.

Speaking as someone from Leinster, who knows some of the lads you referenced, I can tell you you're wrong. O'Malley would possibly be in line, but Foley and Dave Kearney would not be good enough to play for Connacht at present. Not to mention Leinster probably wouldn't be delighted to have their Academy players usurped by Connacht. Pretty stupid post all round so.

Fozzie Bear

I heard from a member of the Connacht management team a few months ago that they are looking at putting a covered stand along the dressing room side of the pitch. They expect to spend approx 1.5-2million building it, not sure how much of a stand you get for that?

However the problem as has been already touched on is funding from the IRFU.

Diom

Meant to post this yesterday in reply to gooses post top of page 3

Hahaha...funny stuff there Goose.

YES... the grassroots in Connacht is not there. Thanks for pointing out the obvious. If it was there then there would not be a problem.
What do you expect? It's not going to spring up by itself is it? All of my suggestions are based around the long term development of rugby in Connacht as a whole. Do you think that if I go out and hassle enough people that that will make a difference? I DO that by the way... but they come to a couple of games, see very little to excite and don't come back.

And the Connacht Branch does produce some very decent players, obviously not as many as the other provinces but that is because of the lack of grassroots rugby in Connacht (which has been growing by the way much faster than anywhere else in Ireland over the last few years). The IRFU need to invest in that, in getting more young lads involved earlier on.

Trojan what do you suggest the CBIRFU do? They already have piles of nights out, they have every single player sponsored by a local business, they have the match programs sponsored, they share a stadium with a different "sport", they have brought in food vendors and they keep a bar and restaurant open during the game. They are stuck with Friday night games because of the other sport. They get youth teams in at half time to play.

But that is all undone people still have to stand in the rain!

You're asking for a grassroots campaign. A grassroots campaign by whom? The grassroots I presume? The same one that yourself and Goose have pointed out that we don't have?

The attendances are up. The number of jerseys about Galway are up. The takings at the gate are up. The number of clubs in Connacht are up. The performances on the field are better. All on a pittance of money and all despite being laden with Bradley by the IRFU.
But it is still too much to ask for to get a plastic cover for one side of the grounds!!
It's still too much to ask the other branches to each give 1/8th of their direct IRFU funding to Connacht. Then we'd all be on equal money. The other provinces wouldn't even notice that that money was gone, their mer and attendances brings in money that dwarfs that.

ven0m

Trojan wrote: »

I think a bit of entrepreneurial thinking in the Branch office might help the situation, as well as a more active grassroots campaign.

Ask the Connacht supporter's club President for his views on the 'Branch office' - I can guarantee you the response will shock you.

Trojan

ven0m wrote: »

Ask the Connacht supporter's club President for his views on the 'Branch office' - I can guarantee you the response will shock you.

Unfortunately it wouldn't. Therein lies the problem.

stev_o wrote:

Either they get proper funding and the IRFU treat them like the other 3 provinces our they are dissolved easy as that.

I completely disagree. Why do they HAVE to be dissolved if they don't get supported at the big 3 level? That's a terrible attitude to have, and I hope for Connacht's sake that few hold it.

Diom wrote:

How can you develop rugby in a province where our most senior professional team is treated as a joke by everyone else in the country!

I don't think that's true either. Not with results like beating Munster this year.

btw I didn't realise, but Connacht Youths won the Interpro title in 07 and 08. That's enormous! Back when I played Youths we were lucky to beat Ulster every 2nd year, and hold Leinster and Munster to less than 30 points.

I think there are a lot of positives for Connacht rugby, like what Diom mentioned:

Diom wrote:

The attendances are up. The number of jerseys about Galway are up. The takings at the gate are up. The number of clubs in Connacht are up. The performances on the field are better. All on a pittance of money and all despite being laden with Bradley by the IRFU.

On that last - is Bradley really been foisted on CB by IRFU? I don't know the politics involved.

Keep the heads up, even something as simple as this discussion could help improve the game in the west.

Amazotheamazing

Ok, apart from being one of four notional provinces, what does Connacht offer Irish rugby?

If you look at the numbers of players, support, facilities, grassroots, etc, in a purely business sense it would be better to set up a separate team in either Dublin or Cork. This obviously isn't a runner, but it does show how far behind Connacht's grassroots are, imo.

A lot of good players have gone to Connacht over the years, but how many of them progressed while there? Wynne was a standout player underage and in the AIL, has his game improved since joining Connacht, has Duffy's, Riordain, Matthews, Gannon's, etc.

Diom

Note that all the players you mentioned were under Bradley. Also as previously pointed out the funding in Connacht doesn't really offer players the same level of development that other provinces have. You guys have the best coaches going, and we have Micheal Bradley, who is mediocre at best.

So better facilities and better coaches should equal better development right? And thus better squad, and thus better results and thus more supporters and thus more money, and so on.

ven0m

Trojan wrote: »

Unfortunately it wouldn't. Therein lies the problem.

I'm guessing you either have spoken with Aubrey before or know what the branch are like first hand LOL

Amazotheamazing

Diom wrote: »

Note that all the players you mentioned were under Bradley. Also as previously pointed out the funding in Connacht doesn't really offer players the same level of development that other provinces have. You guys have the best coaches going, and we have Micheal Bradley, who is mediocre at best.

So better facilities and better coaches should equal better development right? And thus better squad, and thus better results and thus more supporters and thus more money, and so on.

Perhaps, but the investment to make Connacht competitive goes far beyond building a new stand.

There's a shortage of good training facilities in Galway, a shortage of clubs, a shortage of underage players, etc. The IRFU is subsidising a team for a province which has no great interest in rugby. To build up Connacht rugby will take more than a bit of investment in a new stand, it needs growth from underage up.

To be fair, clubs like Monivea are doing what they can but there's huge ground to make up. Right now, it's hard to see what type of return would justify a simply massive investment to rebuild or build from scratch Connacht's rugby infrastructure.

thehighground

I can't understand why Connacht doesn't do a Munster on it a la two training bases in Cork & Limerick and have a base in Galway & Athlone. Connacht could pick up a lot of rugby supporters who normally support Leinster/Munster who can't make it to the RDS or Musgrave/Thomond for games on a Friday night (if they could get a ticket). There is a fairly good rugby tradition in the midlands and land a lot cheaper than Galway I'd say - and with an IRFU academy in Athlone, could attract GAA players from the surrounding counties (Meath, Offaly, Laois, Tipp) who will never get a chance to get involved in Leinster/Munster.

It wouldn't be as wet in Athlone as Galway either

Stev_o

Trojan wrote: »

I completely disagree. Why do they HAVE to be dissolved if they don't get supported at the big 3 level? That's a terrible attitude to have, and I hope for Connacht's sake that few hold it.

Because they will be left in the shambles they are now, badly funded and in no mans land. The big Italian clubs have bigger budgets then Connacht, hell iv been to France and played in a 2nd division (very low end) stadium which holds more supporters then the Sports Ground and is in a much better condition.

Look its simple, its a professional game you either fund them like any other professional team or get rid of them. Leaving them like this is a disgrace to the players and supports of Connacht.

Trojan

Stev_o wrote: »

Look its simple, its a professional game you either fund them like any other professional team or get rid of them. Leaving them like this is a disgrace to the players and supports of Connacht.

Rubbish, complete and utter.

Having a team, any sort of professional team, is better than nothing. I vehemently disagree with you and, again, I hope that no one else in Connacht has similar notions.

ven0m wrote:

I'm guessing you either have spoken with Aubrey before or know what the branch are like first hand LOL

The latter

thehighground wrote:

I can't understand why Connacht doesn't do a Munster on it a la two training bases in Cork & Limerick and have a base in Galway & Athlone. Connacht could pick up a lot of rugby supporters who normally support Leinster/Munster who can't make it to the RDS or Musgrave/Thomond for games on a Friday night (if they could get a ticket). There is a fairly good rugby tradition in the midlands and land a lot cheaper than Galway I'd say - and with an IRFU academy in Athlone, could attract GAA players from the surrounding counties (Meath, Offaly, Laois, Tipp) who will never get a chance to get involved in Leinster/Munster.

Not a bad idea. For logistical reasons I think Ballina would make a better location - ok for Galway, good for Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon & Leitrim (lol?). For the record, Ballina is my least favourite town in the province, but would be useful for this purpose.

I have always hated Athlone been brought up with reference to Connacht - what province is Athlone in? Yes, it's not a practical attitude to hold

Ceartgoleor

Trojan wrote: »

Not a bad idea. For logistical reasons I think Ballina would make a better location - ok for Galway, good for Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon & Leitrim (lol?). For the record, Ballina is my least favourite town in the province, but would be useful for this purpose.

I have always hated Athlone been brought up with reference to Connacht - what province is Athlone in? Yes, it's not a practical attitude to hold

Ballina is probably the most ridiculous place in the province to put their home ground. Are you suggesting they train out of there too? A small population, and theres no way if only a few thousand people from Galway (the real centre of rugby in Connacht, almost indisputably) are prepared to head out to the Sportsground to watch Connacht that they are going to trek all the way up to North Mayo on a Friday evening to see Connacht play in the pathetic little ground thats there, or are you suggesting building a new ground?

How many people from Mayo/Sligo/Leitrim really follow rugby that much anyway?

Not to mention the fact that new players would have no interest going to Ballina, and even I imagine the Leinster/Munster Academy boys would have no interest in going there either.

The correct location is Galway, just a better ground in Galway if possible.

Diom

Have to agree...Ballina would be horrible, traveling supporters would NEVER go there, and the town is not big enough to create a decent local following. I know I could not travel from Galway to Ballina for the games. With Galway you at least get a very nice night out when you come to see your team play Connacht, and players are able to live in a decent sized town (Irish city), with plenty going on.