"We can watch the game afterwards"
Sorry, what? You're there for the jolly up? Why not watch it in the pub then?
Theyre not wheelchair friendly though. in a wheelchair you cant see the game from where bohermore as you cant have wheelchairs in the main walkway down there and for games with extended terracing in place it would be even worse. you then have issues of getting people over the track and to see pitch with barriers etc.
Munster fan here, just catching up with the last couple of pages - I love going to the Sportsground, don't get up there often enough at all. Having it so close to town is a massive bonus - I can't imagine trekking out to somewhere on the outskirts or near the motorway. People want to visit Galway afterwards for their night out.
My 2 cents is develop the Sportsground. It's currently the same capacity as Musgrave Park in Cork, I think add another 8-10K onto it and you'd have a fine sized stadium (or building it smaller but ensure it so plenty of temporary seating can be put in if it's going to be a big game). There's an argument that they built Thomond too big at 26k.
In Limerick they do Park and Rides from all major routes in to the city. Seems to be a big success. You get a good few cars parking in LIT next door but a lot of people walk out from the town or get the bus.
EDIT: on another note, maybe this has been mentioned elsewhere and I've missed it, but what's up with Bundee being out of favour?
The planning permission is for a 12,000 capacity venue when all the work is complete. A big 7,000 capacity stand replacing the Clan terrace, an extension to full pitch length of the main stand, and some form of flexible end terracing to extend capacity. I think it's an ideal size for Connacht. Ambitious beyond current best case ticket sales but not too big.
I'd be hoping for a decent supporters bar for match days too. A supporters club can really build on a good match day venue to meet up early and invite away supporters clubs into.
We'll probably never find out what the full story with Bundee is. Hopefully it's mostly calmed down when he gets back from Ireland camp. I've heard various rumours but nothing worth reposting online. For my money I reckon he'd probably really frustrated by a combination of our club form, our attack malfunctioning, his own club form at times, and him not being able to have an impact when he's available. I know people think that internationals should just slot in, but that relies on a consistency of game plan and combination building in a way we just haven't had recently. Centers are the ones who tend to look completely out of sorts when all the attacking structures malfunction.
I am excited to see u 20 match vs Scotland tommorow, especially their TH Barrett (Corintians). If he expectedly grow up so fast, he will become the key player of Connacht. He shuld be more bigger with mucle and need to make lower the centre of Gravity. Go for it.
You mean today as match is tonight not tomorrow (Sat).
Sorry,I am wrong.
Just some quick thoughts on the redevelopment of the Sportsground.
Prior to building the current Clan Stand, you were looking at average attendance of 1500/2000. Improved infrastructure encouraged more people to go.
Yes, we dont want them to build a massive stadium, that is 90% empty. There is a balance. As the Munster fan pointed out above, a stadium the size of Musgrave Park would be ideal. I know people, who dont buy tickets, because all of their friends/family have season tickets in the Clan Stand, and it is basically a closed shop to new fans. They dont want to be in the main stand on their own
As for moving the stadium out of the city, that is a terrible idea. Cardiff tried it, and moved back to a smaller stadium. Location is more important than facilities. I'm surprised park and ride hasn't been implemented already. Maybe start by forcing people to pre-book tickets, so buses can be properly organised, but having small park and ride centers in maybe, Tuam, Loughrea, the University, Barna, and the airport would allow lots of people to get to the game without needing to park near the ground
https://galwaybayfm.ie/sports/connacht-rugby-ceo-willie-ruane-the-interview/
Connacht sign Irish qualified Sean Jansen from Leicester Tigers. Seems like he's a big ball carrying number 8 type.
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/sean-jansen-joins-connacht-from-leicester/bp2482/
https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1634207566745026560
Is Paul Boyle's signed up for 23/24 yet?
I was just wondering this, new signing looks promising based on my limited knowledge of him but to me it all depends whos place he is taking whether it strengthens the squad overall or not.....
Really liking the look of the pack for next season if we aren’t losing anyone else. Joyce and Jansen should add some real beef, saw rumours of Moore from Ulster coming in at hooker too. Potentially something like:
Buckley, Dooley, Duggan, Burke
Heffernan, DTM, De Buitlear, Moore
Bealham, Auinger, Illo, Barrett
N Murray, D Murray, Dowling
Thornbury, Joyce
Prendergast, Murphy, Booth
Oliver, SHL, McCormack
Boyle, Jansen, Butler
That interview wouldn't fill me with a huge amount of confidence......
Fiachna Barrett will be in the first year of the academy next year. He's only in his second season of playing prop, will be a a while before he's playing senior rugby I'd imagine. Be interesting to see if we retain DRM or look at another option in the meantime.
Don’t think he’ll see much if any game time at all, just don’t see them making a signing there either
We'll need a fourth option of some form with Finlay going to the world cup.
Already barrett looks to deserve senior squads member. He looks very quick leaner in the match against Scotland even though they too weak opponents. His size is huge.He is clever to understand that he shuld do at the time. Maybe , after this summer, he will put much more ability underTucker. Anyway he shuld be used in real professional matches. And he must care of food life(Other players too) Galway is one of the most rich food-variety area in the world..
Yes we shouldn't spend money on TH, Aungier and Illo good enough for 2 months, if you give McCoy (who didn't disappoint) a RWC-short-term contract.
Then 3 TH with Finlay back, at worse Barrett may play 2 or 3 games on the bench in February 2024. No issue
listened to same interview. Ruane is a business dude. you wouldn't even know the product was rugby. and that's fine. he leads Connacht rugby business, not Connacht rugby.
The Willie Ruane interview didn't really reveal anything that wasn't already know. Regardless of people's opinions of Wilkins, it's now time for the branch to back him now with the assistants he needs and whatever signings we can cobble together the budget for. There'll be a huge legacy from his time as CEO if the stadium redevelopment can be shepherded through without saddling us with too much debt.
Delighted for Hansen today. And at the same time I'm gutted for Conor Murray. I suspect it may be his last international appearance. Truly appreciate all he has done for Irish rugby and wish him and his family only good things
Murray will be in the squad for the world cup. Alot of competition at SH but he has the experience of playing big games in the past. Can't see him playing for Ireland after the world cup.
Not sure why it’s in this thread but Murray did grand today in difficult circumstances, he’ll get another cap in 6 days time and go to the World Cup.
Any chance of Heff getting the nod for a bench spot against England or is he completely out of the picture?
O’Toole has been around the squad for ages though. Stewart has what a week or two? And on top of that I think heff was injured when Stewart got the call up?
Heff had been injured, but back now, and he'd be more familiar with the calls. Would be some game to get drafted in for!
Loosehead
Denis Buckley (33) - Signed 2 + 1 year contract in 2023
Matthew Burke (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Peter Dooley (29) - Signed contract in 2022
Jordan Duggan (25) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023
Oisin Michel (21) - Academy year 1
Charlie Ward (23) - Academy year 3
Tighthead
Jack Aungier (24) - Signed contract in 2022
Finlay Bealham (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Sam Illo (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (29) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
Hooker
Eoin De Buitléar (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023
Shane Delahunt (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Dave Heffernan (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023
Dylan Tierney-Martin (24) - Signed 3 year contract in 2023
Lock
Oisin Dowling (26) - Signed contract in 2022
Leva Fifita (34) - Signed contract in 2021
Joe Joyce (29) - Signed contract in 2023
Josh Murphy (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Darragh Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Niall Murray (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023
Gavin Thornbury (29) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023
Back row
Ciaran Booth (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Paul Boyle (26) - Signed contract in 2021
Jarrad Butler (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Shamus Hurley-Langton (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Sean Jansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023
Sean Masterson (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Oisin McCormack (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Conor Oliver (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Cian Prendergast (23) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022
Donnacha Byrne (22) - Academy year 3
John Forde (20) - Academy year 1
Scrumhalf
Caolin Blade (29) - Signed 3 year contract in 2023
Colm Reilly (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Matthew Devine (21) - Academy year 1
Will Reilly (22) - Academy year 2
Outhalf
Jack Carty (31) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022
Conor Fitzgerald (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Harry West (20) - Academy year 1
Centre
Bundee Aki (33) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Shayne Bolton (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Tom Daly (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Tom Farrell (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Cathal Forde (21) - Signed contract in 2022
David Hawkshaw (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023
Byron Ralston (23) - Signed contract in 2022
John Devine (19) - Academy year 1
Hugh Gavin (19) - Academy year 1
Daniel Hawkshaw (21) - Academy year 1
Back 3
Adam Byrne (28) - Signed contract in 2022
Mack Hansen (25) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022
Shane Jennings (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Diarmuid Kilgallen (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Oran McNulty (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Tiernan O'Halloran (32) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
John Porch (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023
Shane Mallon (21) - Academy year 1
Chay Mullins (21) - Academy year 1
Josh O'Connor (22) - Academy year 2
*ages as at 01/09/2023
IN: Joe Joyce (Lock, Bristol Bears), Sean Jansen (back row, Leicester Tigers)
OUT: Grant Stewart (Hooker, TBC), Kieran Marmion (scrum half, Bristol Bears), Alex Wootton (back 3, retiring)
any idea what contract Adam Byrne signed. if he gets a run of games he could be a great signing. guess there will be no further signing this year which would suggest all players contracts will be renewed for next year. any mention of where Delahunt is going and if Bundee will stay
That’s a rather enormous “if”. Adam Byrne has not managed much of a run of games in over 4 years. It was a gamble for Connacht to sign him and one that hasn’t paid off. Great player but permanently injured.
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