There are 2 new ariel photos posted on the Connacht Instagram today of the development. The extension to the gym area where the old training pitch looks absolutely huge. Good times.
Wilkins said last week he's been taking a full part in pre season. I wouldn't be worried
Squad named including a certain winger
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/squad-named-for-glasgow-warriors-friendly/bp3138/
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY SQUAD VS GLASGOW WARRIORS
18:00, Saturday 7th September 2024 @ Scotstoun Stadium
15. Piers O’Conor 14. Shayne Bolton 13. David Hawkshaw 12. Cathal Forde 11. Shane Jennings 10. Josh Ioane 9. Matthew Devine 1. Denis Buckley 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin 3. Jack Aungier 4. Joe Joyce (C) 5. Darragh Murray 6. David O’Connor 7. Conor Oliver 8. Paul Boyle
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, Niall Murray, Oisín Dowling, Oisín McCormack, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Ben Murphy, Jack Carty, John Porch, Finn Treacy, Mack Hansen.
Good win tonight. Don't know was it available to view anywhere or if anyone caught any of it. I take pre season results positive or negative with a pinch of salt but only right to recognise a good win especially with a tough start to the season around the corner.
Connacht tweeted that there was no stream but hope to share highlights afterwards but not seen anything since.
Interested to hear from anyone who was there.
Particularly on how Ioane got on? Looks a very different 10 to any we've had for a long time. Noted that Forde was taking the kicks.
https://youtu.be/QbX3GDfTynM?si=Mwn-7i57tS3Q-Hzd
Thanks for that. Wow, Cathal Forde allowed the kicking duties. Last time he was allowed that was a long time ago and he was 100% that day. Jeepers, I'm am beginning to get a positive itch with Connacht. I'm sure if I scratch it then it will go away but Cathal taking the kicks is a step in the right direction. I am not suggesting optimism but maybe I am getting interested in our evolution. The Forde call is a very positive step
Glad to see Tom Daly was picked up by Stade Niçois, great adventure for him.
Does anyone know if Tadhg McElroy was picked up by another team?
My assumption was that Gav Thornbury has retired - anyone have confirmation?
Craggy crew suggested a number of times that he was well established in his transition to his next career (accountancy??) so think he's retired.
Delighted for Daly alright, too good a player for how much game time he got last year, great part of the world for him to play rugby too so really hope he goes well. Not that many miles on the clock for his age so could have a good few years left.
Hi. Can anyone who was at the recent Bath match tell me has much changed on the Mainstand side?? Season ticket holder there for a number of years and I realise there's going to be more traffic on that side now. Just wondering are there more toilets/bars/etc. Thanks
I was at the Sale (not Bath!) match and I didn't see any extra facilities. It wasn't too bad because there wasn't the usual big crowd there but I don't know what it's going to be like when the season proper kicks off. You'd hope that they will do something.
Am I right in thinking that less season tickets went on sale this year anyway? And I presume that there will be less tickets sold at the gate this year too.
Thanks Serf! I'm always mixing them up!
Hopefully there'll be a few extra installed or something for the URC matches as it will be busier than side and behind the goals.
Squad list for tomorrows game with Bristol which is a behind closed doors game in Bristol
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/squad-named-for-bristol-friendly/bp3145/
Game finished 38-35 to Bristol
Connacht tries Andrew Smith 2
Niall Murray
Fiachna Barrett
Paul Boyle
Who played well? How has Barrett looked through pre-season so far? How did Gavin go at 12?
Is mack Hanson back from injury
Game was behind closed doors and the Glasgow game wasn't broadcast so unfortunately there's not a lot to go on
played today
With just the one home game and very little coverage of the away games tough to get a grasp on where Connacht are at but would have to think that, overall, preseason looks to have gone really well.
A good preseason is not a guarantee of a good season, or possibly not even a good indicator, but having Josh Murphy back gives us a really good abrasive option in the back row, the young guys like Devine and Gavin look ready to see significant game time and make a real impact for us. We struggled for tries from the outside backs last year, but you have to think if we get any kind of mediocre ball to Hansen, Bolton and Cordero we have stretch teams and hurt them.
So excited and hopeful heading into the first week, let's hope that's not all gone by this day next week!
New captain for Connacht
Now that is a great decision. Well done Cian.
Yes, delighted to see this. He already leads by example, and has a cool head, so the right man for the job. Congratulations, Cian.
Perfect man for the job. Will also aid him in getting into Irish squads - having the leadership experience.
This should be of interest ye.
Everyone except for JJ is fit and taking part in training
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/squad-update-ahead-of-munster/bp3153/
Jack Auginer, Jordan Duggan, Sean Jansen, Darragh Murray, Shayne Bolton, Matthew Devine, and Hugh Gavin have been selected for the emerging Ireland 3 game tour of South Africa which takes place between 2nd and 9th of October
Did we do a pre-season camp in Lourdes because I've never seen an injury list that small?
First selection of the season will be very interesting, with almost the entire squad being available. I think I'd like to see:
15-9, 1-8: Cordero, Hansen, O'Conor, Forde, Bolton, Ioane, Blade, Dooley, Heffernan, Aungier, N Murray, Joyce, Prendergast, Hurley-Langton, O'Brien
16-23: Tierney-Martin, Buckley, Illo, Dowling, Oliver, Devine, Carty, Gavin
I know you want to see these players push on and get international representation, but I do think Connacht are probably the most impacted of the four provinces with this tour.
Connacht realistically probably have the least depth anyway of the four, so to lose guys like Aungier, Devine, Bolton, Murray etc who look pretty nailed on as first 23 players looks tough.
Aungier would be the one I'd be most concerned about as I think we have good coverage in the other positions. Having said that though I think it is good for the players overall and I'm happy for them being selected
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wa.vanillicon.com/v2/ad289898c0c6dda7e667bf900ae26d0c.svg)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wb.vanillicon.com/v2/bd40ed787997615a97439817a5018a3c.svg)
