Connacht need a proper stadium

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.

Trojan

If it's a secondary site, it's not REPLACING Galway, it's just in addition to it. Therefore it should be located somewhere a good distance away from Galway, but in a good location for a decent number of clubs. Ballina is handy for a lot of clubs (e.g. Ballina, Sligo, Westport, Castlebar, the Roscommon clubs)

Again for the record, Ballina is my least favourite town in Mayo, but in terms of logistics, it's a useful location.

If you're looking for a town as good to live in as Galway, Westport is ideal.

Anyway, I think is disgressing miles off topic

Trojan

Ceartgoleor wrote: »

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

There are a few people who are willing to drive 2-4 hours each way to rugby in Galway, then home again after. Fair play to them. But their numbers won't increase if the facilities aren't there at the stadium.

What about running a few Connacht home games in different towns every season (without going to a full new base)? E.g. 1 game in Sligo, one in Westport, one in Galway, etc. Might help increase interest around the province.

At this point, brainstorming ideas, however stupid they might seem, is a useful exercise - there might be a great idea in there somewhere (to pass on to Aubrey, to get shot down by CBIRFU?)

Ceartgoleor

Trojan wrote: »

If it's a secondary site, it's not REPLACING Galway, it's just in addition to it. Therefore it should be located somewhere a good distance away from Galway, but in a good location for a decent number of clubs. Ballina is handy for a lot of clubs (e.g. Ballina, Sligo, Westport, Castlebar, the Roscommon clubs)

Again for the record, Ballina is my least favourite town in Mayo, but in terms of logistics, it's a useful location.

If you're looking for a town as good to live in as Galway, Westport is ideal.

Anyway, I think is disgressing miles off topic

Sorry, got the wrong end of the stick and thought you meant Ballina as an alternative rather than an additional site! It probably would be a good idea as a secondary location for games, but the facilities aren't there are the moment.

Stev_o

Trojan wrote: »

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.

Are happy with the way Connacht are now? Do you think that they will improve constantly over the next 4 years with the same funds now? Do you think given the way they treated they will make the HC in those 4 years?

I want Connacht to succeed as much as the next man but leaving them in this state that they are in is a disgrace and pointless as it isn't achieving anything.

Stupido

if connacht got into the HC, where would they play their games?

Surely the RC is not good enough?

thehighground

I suggested Athlone because it actually has some facilities (underage Irish games are played there) and I seem to remember being at a game there involving Connacht around Christmas time about 10 years ago.

No point going to a place like Ballina or Westport etc. You need a few big towns that are connected by decent roads. Its no big deal to travel from Ballinasloe, Roscommon, Tullamore, Mullingar to Athlone.

It would also be closer to Dublin where a lot of people on the way back home to the West for the weekend might just drop off in to go to the match.

Nowso

Greyhound stadiums are hard to match although derry has soccer and dundalk has horse racing and Mullingar was planning a join Gaa venture.
I have a distant relative playing for the province.
Maybe a joint irfu and igb dual purpose renovation in a few years time would suit

darrenh

If the GAA did let them in would the pitch in pearse stadium be too small?? It's used feck all too.

leeroybrown

darrenh wrote: »

If the GAA did let them in would the pitch in pearse stadium be too small?? It's used feck all too.

Directly the opposite. The maximum infield dimensions (excluding dead ball area) of a rugby pitch are 100m x 70m. The minimum infield dimensions of a GAA pitch are 130m x 80m. The postage stamp sized rugby pitch in Croke Park is due to it having the maximum GAA pitch dimensions of 145m x 90m.

While it's used relatively infrequently all the local residents would become a serious issue if they tried to use it more regularly.

Also, despite living close by I don't view it as a particularly suitable venue for Connacht. I'd rather stay in the Sportsground in preference.

Stupido

Pearse stadium is unfortunatly too big and open for Connacht as things stand at the moment.

However the Idea of the GAA & Galway United & Connacht rugby sharing the same facility has merits. A bit of investment towards the prep of the pitch between games could work well.


What is Pearse Park? 34,000 (with 7,000 seats?). The 12 houses on Dr Manix road could be bought up ah-la Thomond Park and a decent stand put in. Lots of Room elsewhere. With two covered stands holding say 15-20,000 it would be perfect for Connacht...and Galway United....and the GAA who would get much more use out of the ground.