2019–20 Connacht Rugby season

The 2019–20 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's nineteenth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-fourth season as a professional side. It was Andy Friend's second season in charge of the side.

Connacht
2019–20 season
Head coachAndy Friend
Chief executiveWillie Ruane
CaptainJarrad Butler
Pro144th, Conf. B
Champions CupPool stage (4th)
Top try scorerAll: John Porch (6)
Top points scorerAll: Conor Fitzgerald (85)
Highest home attendance8,129 v Leinster
8 November 2019
8,129 v Munster
21 December 2019
8,129 v Toulouse
11 January 2020
Lowest home attendance4,512 v Cardiff Blues[lower-alpha 1]
15 February 2020
Average home attendance6,316[lower-alpha 1]
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2018–19 2020–21 →

In the regular season, Connacht were placed in Conference B of the Pro14, after spending the previous two seasons in Conference A. As well as playing in the Pro14, the team competed in the Champions Cup in Europe on the back of the previous season's league performance. They were drawn into pool 5 with Gloucester, Montpellier and Toulouse, and finished bottom of the table. In addition to the league and European competitions, the Connacht Eagles development side again competed in the Celtic Cup. The Eagles finished third in the regular season of the eight-team competition, just two points behind finalists Ulster A.

On 12 March 2020, with 13 of Connacht's 21 fixtures in the regular season of the Pro14 completed, the league was put on indefinite hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.[1] The competition resumed in August, with the remaining fixtures replaced by two rounds of derby games for each team.[2] Connacht ultimately finished fourth in their conference. This was enough to earn entry to the 2020–21 Champions Cup after it was expanded to 24 teams on a one-season basis due to the pandemic.[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[6]  Australia
Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy[7]  Ireland
Backs Coach Nigel Carolan[8]  Ireland
Defence Coach Peter Wilkins[9]  England
Senior Video Analyst Simon Kavanagh[10]  Ireland
Head of Strength and Conditiong David Howarth[11]  Australia
Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach Johnny O'Connor[12]  Ireland
Academy Manager Eric Elwood[13]  Ireland
Connacht Eagles Coach Mossy Lawler[14]  Ireland

Players

Senior playing squad
Connacht Rugby Pro14 squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Italics indicate players signed during mid-season break.
Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[15]

Academy squad
Connacht Rugby Academy squad

Props

Hookers

  • Declan Adamson (1)
  • Dylan Tierney-Martin (2)

Locks

Back row

  • Joshua Dunne (2)
  • Seán Masterson (3)
  • Oisín McCormack (1)
  • Mikey Wilson (2)

Scrum-halves

  • Colm Reilly (2)

Fly-halves

Centres

  • Shane Jennings (1)
  • Seán O'Brien (2)

Wings

  • Conor Hayes (2)
  • Hugh Lane (1)
  • Oran McNulty (2)

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[16]

Senior team transfers

Unlike most seasons, where the bulk of transfers occur during the summer pre-season the 2019–20 season saw two separate periods of major transfer activity. Many moves scheduled to happen at the end of the season instead took place during the extended hiatus from March to August 2020.

May 2019 – March 2020
For player movement in the Pro14 from the end of the 2018–19 season until the mid-season hiatus, see List of 2019–20 Pro14 transfers.

May 2020 – August 2020
For player movement in the Pro14 from the mid-season hiatus to the end of the 2020–21 season, see List of 2020–21 Pro14 transfers.

Results

Pro14
Main article: 2019–20 Pro14
2019–20 Pro14 Table
Conference A
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1 Leinster (CH) 151500531216+31574289069
2 Ulster (RU) 15816385306+7950407343[lower-alpha 2]
3 Glasgow Warriors 15807364329+3553425138
4 Cheetahs 13607342280+6248325232
5 Dragons 15519283415–13232491124
6 Zebre 153111230399–16929564321
7 Ospreys 152211205375–17021451417
Conference B
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1 Edinburgh (SF) 151104391225+16647275251
2 Munster (SF) 151005426255+17153268351
3 Scarlets 151005354274+8046345247
4 Connacht 15807302360–5841487140
5 Benetton 15618309350–4135425536
6 Cardiff Blues 15708283327–4430383233
7 Southern Kings 131012204498–2942375037
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[47]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams that compete in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earn a place in the 2020–21 European Champions Cup

Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2020–21 European Champions Cup
Red background indicates teams ineligible for European cup tournaments
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (Q) Qualified for Pro14 play-off semi-finals. (e) Cannot reach play-offs.

    1. This excludes the game against Ulster on 23 August 2020, which was officially a home game but played behind closed doors in the Aviva Stadium.
    2. Ulster defucted 1 point for administration error regarding Ian Madigan. [46]

    Conference Rounds 1 to 13
    28 September 2019
    17:15
    Scarlets 18–10 Connacht
    Report
    Parc y Scarlets
    Attendance: 6,415
    Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)
    5 October 2019
    19:35
    (1 BP) Connacht 41–5 Benetton
    Report
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,839
    Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (SARU)
    11 October 2019
    19:35
    Dragons 14–38 Connacht (1 BP)
    Report
    Rodney Parade
    Attendance: 3,257
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    26 October 2019
    17:15
    (1 BP) Connacht 24–22 Cheetahs (1 BP)
    Report
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,945
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    2 November 2019
    17:15
    Ospreys 10–20 Connacht
    Report
    Liberty Stadium
    Attendance: 5,726
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    8 November 2019
    19:35
    Connacht 11–42 Leinster (1 BP)
    Report
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,129
    Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
    30 November 2019
    17:15
    (1 BP) Connacht 24–12 Southern Kings
    Report
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,146
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    21 December 2019
    17:15
    (1 BP) Connacht 14–19 Munster
    Report
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,129
    Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
    27 December 2019
    19:35
    (1 BP) Ulster 35–3 Connacht
    Report
    Kingspan Stadium
    Attendance: 17,483
    Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
    4 January 2020
    17:30
    (1 BP) Leinster 54–7 Connacht
    Report
    RDS Arena
    Attendance: 18,300
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
    15 February 2020
    19:35
    (1 BP) Connacht 29–0 Cardiff Blues
    Report
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,512
    Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)
    21 February 2020
    19:35
    (1 BP) Edinburgh 41–14 Connacht
    Report
    BT Murrayfield Stadium
    Attendance: 5,367
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    1 March 2020
    13:00
    Southern Kings 19–29 Connacht (1 BP)
    Report

    Additional Derby Rounds
    23 August 2020
    16:30
    (1 BP) Connacht 26–20 Ulster (1 BP)
    Report
    30 August 2020
    15:00
    Munster 49–12 Connacht
    Report

    Champions Cup
    Main article: 2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup

    Pool 5
    Team
    		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
    Toulouse (3) 660016285771993027
    Gloucester 6204140140019143314
    Montpellier 6204118157–3912201110
    Connacht 6204120158–3815221110

    [48]

    17 November 2019
    13:00
    Connacht 23–20 Montpellier (1 BP)
    Try: Boyle 37' m
    McCartney 40'+4 m
    Blade 52' c
    Con: Carty (1/3) 53'
    Pen: Carty (1/1) 15'
    C. Fitzgerald 67' (1/1)
    		 Report[49] Try: Cruden 1' c
    Bouthier 62' c
    Con: Paillaugue (2/2) 1', 63'
    Pen: Paillaugue (2/2) 22', 46'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 6,229
    Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
    23 November 2019
    14:00
    (1 BP) Toulouse 32–17 Connacht
    Try: Bézy 12' c
    Huget 33' m
    Kaino 63' c
    Ahki 80'+1 c
    Con: Ramos (3/4) 14', 64', 80'+2
    Pen: Ramos (2/2) 18', 60'
    		 Report[50] Try: Farrell 10' c
    Blade 24' c
    Con: Fitzgerald (2/2) 11', 25'
    Pen: Fitzgerald (0/1)
    Drop: Fitzgerald (1/1) 49'
    Stade Ernest-Wallon
    Attendance: 15,100
    Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
    8 December 2019
    13:00
    (1 BP) Gloucester 26–17 Connacht
    Try: Marshall (2) 3' c, 60' m
    Rees-Zammit 46' c
    Polledri 63' c
    Con: Cipriani (3/4) 4', 46', 64'
    		 Report[51] Try: Porch 8' c
    Roux 80' c
    Con: Carty (1/1) 8'
    Fitzgerald (1/1) 80'+1
    Pen: Carty (1/2) 17'
    Kingsholm Stadium
    Attendance: 10,875
    Referee: Pascal Gauzère (FFR)
    14 December 2019
    12:45
    Connacht 27–24 Gloucester (2 BP)
    Try: Blade 29' c
    Delahunt 76' c
    Copeland 80' c
    Con: Fitzgerald (3/3) 30', 77', 80'+ 2
    Pen: Fitzgerald (2/2) 14', 59'
    		 Report[52] Try: Grobler 33' c
    Atkinson (2) 50' m, 68' m
    Ludlow 65' c
    Con: Twelvetrees (2/4) 34', 66'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 6,787
    Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)
    11 January 2019
    15:15
    Connacht 7–21 Toulouse
    Try: Penalty try 10'
    		 Report[53] Try: Kaino 19' c
    Marchand 37' c
    Ahki 44' c
    Con: Ramos (3/3) 21', 39', 46'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 8,129
    Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
    19 January 2019
    16:15
    (1 BP) Montpellier 35–29 Connacht (2 BP)
    Try: Chilachava 3' c
    N'Gandebe (2) 23' c, 28' c
    Reilhac (2) 52' c, 77' c
    Con: Pollard (5/5) 4', 24', 30', 52', 78'
    		 Report[54] Try: Healy 34' c
    Porch 36' c
    Marmion 40'+1 c
    Godwin 43' m
    Con: Carty (3/4) 35', 38', 40'+ 2
    Pen: Carty (1/1) 57'
    Altrad Stadium
    Attendance: 9,900
    Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

    Notes
    1. This game was played behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions.

    References
    1. "Coronavirus: Pro14 final cancelled due to coronavirus". BBC Sport. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
    2. "Pro14 set to resume in late August as league reduced". RTÉ Sport. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
    3. "New EPCR dates for 2019/20 announced". European Professional Club Rugby. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
    4. "Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
    5. "I just came over here to visit my brother and I never left". Irish Independent. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
    6. "Andy Friend confirmed as new Connacht head coach". Irish Independent. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
    7. "Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach". RTÉ Sport. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
    8. "Connacht confirm Carolan and Duffy as part of new coaching team". RTÉ Sport. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    9. "Connacht appoint former Queensland Reds and Edinburgh defence coach". The42. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    10. "Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs' coach". Irish Times. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
    11. "Aussie coach joins Connacht backroom team after three years with leading NBA side". The42. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
    12. "Connacht son Johnny O'Connor returns to join club's backroom team". The42. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
    13. "Connacht legend Eric Elwood succeeds Carolan as academy manager". The42. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    14. "Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season". The42. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
    15. "Connacht Rugby | Senior Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
    16. "Academy Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
    17. "Three Connacht Academy players sign first professional contracts". Connacht Rugby. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
    18. "Connacht sign prop Rory Burke as Kerins becomes latest Academy graduate". Connacht Rugby. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
    19. "First end-of-season departure confirmed by Gloucester Rugby as prop agrees to join Connacht". Gloucestershire Live. 15 January 2019.
    20. "Wexford man Boyle secures first professional contract with Connacht". The42. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
    21. "Daly, Fitzgerald and Lloyd the latest to sign Connacht contracts". Connacht Rugby. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
    22. "Connacht Rugby announce signing of Australian winger John Porch". Connacht Rugby. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
    23. "Marmion out for 3-4 weeks as depleted Connacht prepare for Montpellier". The42. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
    24. "Worcester Warriors: Connacht prop Conor Carey signs for Premiership club". BBC Sport. 5 February 2019.
    25. "Connacht prop O'Donnell joins Japanese Super Rugby outfit". The42. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
    26. "James Cannon to join Ealing Trailfinders from Connacht". Ealing Trailfinders. 25 April 2019.
    27. "Reigning champions Cork Con edge Munster derby and new boys run Terenure close as AIL kicks off in style". The42. 5 October 2019.
    28. "Connolly joins the Nottingham back-row". Nottingham R.F.C. 12 July 2019.
    29. "Delahunt and Robb extend Connacht contracts as Griffin announces retirement". Connacht Rugby. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
    30. "James Mitchell: Northampton Saints sign former Connacht scrum-half". BBC Sport. 3 September 2019.
    31. "Energia All-Ireland League: Results Round-Up". Irish Rugby. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
    32. "Queanbeyan Whites and Brumbies junior Will Goddard joins Connacht". Canberra Times. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
    33. "Pro14: Connacht wing Cian Kelleher to rejoin Leinster next season". BBC Sport. 8 January 2019.
    34. "Connacht announce signings of four players ahead of 2020/21 season". Connacht Rugby. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
    35. "Connacht promote six exciting academy prospects into their senior squad". The42. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
    36. "Connacht Rugby announce signings of Ben O'Donnell and Abraham Papali'i". Connacht Rugby. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
    37. "Player Update | Alex Wootton". Munster Rugby. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
    38. "Connacht's McCartney to hang up boots". Irish Examiner. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
    39. "Connacht Rugby confirm departing players". Connacht Rugby. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
    40. "Bristol sign Niyi Adeolokun, Peter McCabe & Keiron Assiratti on short-term deals". BBC Sport. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
    41. "Joe Maksymiw: Dragons sign Wales-qualified lock from Connacht". BBC Sport. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
    42. "Connacht's Robin Copeland signs for French club on a three-year deal". The42. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
    43. "#TRANSFERT. Colby Fainga'a sera Lyonnais". Lyon OU Rugby (in French). 12 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
    44. "A complete team-by-team guide to the 2020 Shute Shield". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020. Former Waratah Dave Horwitz also returns from overseas to start at No.10
    45. "Force confirm Godwin, Holmes signings". Rugby.com.au. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
    46. "Ulster docked point over Madigan mishap". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
    47. Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
    48. "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
    49. "Battling Connacht defeat Montpellier". EPCR. 17 November 2019.
    50. "Toulouse grab late bonus point score to top their pool". EPCR. 23 November 2019.
    51. "Gloucester enhance Heineken Champions Cup hopes". EPCR. 8 December 2019.
    52. "Copeland try gives Connacht last-gasp win". EPCR. 14 December 2019.
    53. "Toulouse reach last eight". EPCR. 11 January 2020.
    54. "Montpellier win a thriller with Connacht". EPCR. 19 January 2020.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.