Connacht 2022/23

[neill_m]

Connacht Rugby can announce the club have signed Scottish hooker Grant Stewart on a short term, six-month contract.

Stewart arrives at The Sportsground to provide further injury cover and depth for the #2 jersey.

The 27-year old spent 5 years at Glasgow Warriors, scoring 9 tries across 48 appearances. Having represented Scotland at underage level, he also went on to make his senior international debut against France in 2019.

Commenting on his signing, Andy Friend says:

“We have three quality hookers in the squad in Dave Heffernan, Shane Delahunt and Dylan Tierney-Martin. However with Dave now a regular Ireland squad member and Shane unfortunately absent through injury for a little while longer, we’re now a little light in the position. So I’m very pleased we have been able to sign a player of Grant’s calibre and we have begun to integrate him into the squad this week, well in time for the start of the new season.”

[munster#1]

Great bit of business by Connacht.

An experienced short term signing can really add to a squad.

[scentofgunpowder]

Had to be done, starting the season with Tierney-Martin and de Buitléar as the only available options would have been rough. Final squad:

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (32) - Signed contract in 2021
Matthew Burke (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Peter Dooley (28) - Signed contract in 2022
Jordan Duggan (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Oisin Michel (20) - Academy year 1
Bart Vermeulen (?) - Academy year 2
Charlie Ward (22) - Academy year 3

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Finlay Bealham (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Sam Illo (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

Hooker

Shane Delahunt (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Dave Heffernan (31) - Signed contract in 2021
Grant Stewart (27) - Signed 6 month contract in 2022
Dylan Tierney-Martin (23) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

Eoin De Buitléar (20) - Academy year 3

Lock

Oisin Dowling (25) - Signed contract in 2022
Leva Fifita (33) - Signed contract in 2021
Darragh Murray (21) - Signed contract in 2022
Niall Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Gavin Thornbury (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Back row

Ciaran Booth (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Paul Boyle (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Jarrad Butler (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Shamus Hurley-Langton (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Sean Masterson (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Oisin McCormack (21) - Signed contract in 2022
Josh Murphy (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Conor Oliver (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Cian Prendergast (22) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Donnacha Byrne (21) - Academy year 3

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
Kieran Marmion (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020
Colm Reilly (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Matthew Devine (20) - Academy year 1
Hubert Gilvarry (u22) - Academy year 2
Will Reilly (u22) - Academy year 2

Outhalf

Jack Carty (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022
Conor Fitzgerald (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Cathal Forde (20) - Signed contract in 2022

Harry West (u20) - Academy year 1

Centre

Bundee Aki (32) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Shayne Bolton (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Tom Daly (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Tom Farrell (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
David Hawkshaw (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Shane Jennings (21) - Signed contract in 2022

John Devine (u20) - Academy year 1
Daniel Hawkshaw (20) - Academy year 1

Back 3

Adam Byrne (27) - Signed contract in 2022
Mack Hansen (24) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022
Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Oran McNulty (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Tiernan O'Halloran (31) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
John Porch (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022
Byron Ralston (22) - Signed contract in 2022
Alex Wootton (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Shane Mallon (20) - Academy year 1
Josh O'Connor (21) - Academy year 2

*ages as at 01/09/2022

[hugonaut]

Don't agree with the IRFU giving a Scottish player a contract.

I hope that Clontarf's Dylan Donnellan [27] was approached regarding the same deal. He was an Irish U20, has played for Biarritz and Leeds in the second tier professional ranks, but most impressively bagged a ridiculous 20 tries last season in Tarf's run to the AIL title. One of the most effective players in the league.

[scentofgunpowder]

Don't agree with the IRFU giving a Scottish player a contract.

I hope that Clontarf's Dylan Donnellan [27] was approached regarding the same deal. He was an Irish U20, has played for Biarritz and Leeds in the second tier professional ranks, but most impressively bagged a ridiculous 20 tries last season in Tarf's run to the AIL title. One of the most effective players in the league.

Also worth noting that he is from Galway, spent some time with Corinthians a while back.

I'm not sure how this plays out in practice, does Nucifora personally approve all contracts? If he/the IRFU put their foot down and insisted that this contract be given to an IQ player, I would imagine Connacht would sooner bring Johnny Murphy back in (like they did with Robertson-McCoy), as they need a player who can adapt to the new systems quickly and play a role in pre and early season games.

[Twist]

I remember hearing that Peter Robb might be off to Ealing to help them find that trail, at long last. I take it that's where he's gone?

[Dave Cahill]

If someone in their late mid 20s is in a full time job are they going to want to give it up (unless of course their employer would let them take a career break) for a six month contract? It'd be a tough call to make at that stage in your life

[scentofgunpowder]

I remember hearing that Peter Robb might be off to Ealing to help them find that trail, at long last. I take it that's where he's gone?

Yep, was confirmed in June: http://www.ealingtrailfinders.com/news/ ... ailfinders

He managed to put together a rare run of games at the start of 19/20 and showed a lot of promise imo, but ultimately he just didn't get on the field enough to justify his place in the squad.

[berliner]

Some changes to the Connacht coaching set up with Peter Wilkins becoming head coach and Andy Friend moving to DOR. Wilkins will also be responsible for defence, replacing Colm Tucker who switches to scrum and contact work:
https://www.the42.ie/connacht-friend-di ... 8-Aug2022/

[munster#1]

Connacht coaching team:

Andy Friend – director of rugby
Peter Wilkins – head coach
Dewald Senekal – forwards [lineout and maul]
Colm Tucker – scrum and contact
Mossy Lawler – attack and skills

Great to see Tucker and Mossy getting some additional responsibilities, both have great rugby brains, and are paving good careers for themselves.

[berliner]

Connacht coaching team:

Andy Friend – director of rugby
Peter Wilkins – head coach
Dewald Senekal – forwards [lineout and maul]
Colm Tucker – scrum and contact
Mossy Lawler – attack and skills

Great to see Tucker and Mossy getting some additional responsibilities, both have great rugby brains, and are paving good careers for themselves.

What's the deal with those Tucker and Lawler, they worked together at one of the Limerick clubs as well, right?

[munster#1]

Connacht coaching team:

Andy Friend – director of rugby
Peter Wilkins – head coach
Dewald Senekal – forwards [lineout and maul]
Colm Tucker – scrum and contact
Mossy Lawler – attack and skills

Great to see Tucker and Mossy getting some additional responsibilities, both have great rugby brains, and are paving good careers for themselves.

What's the deal with those Tucker and Lawler, they worked together at one of the Limerick clubs as well, right?

They are actually cousins, and both would have worked with UL Bohs together with Mossy as DOR and Tucker as Head Coach, and would have both been at Shannon at the same time as far as remember.

They have both been quietly chipping away at developing a career from coaching, and both appear to be doing a good job.

It is always good to see homegrown coaches being elevated to these positions.

[the spoofer]

Smart move by Friend as the DOR can sack the Head Coach if the team continues to underperform.

[sunshiner1]

Connacht (v Castres):

15. Oran McNulty
14. Adam Byrne
13. Byron Ralston
12. Tom Daly (captain)
11. Alex Wootton
10. David Hawkshaw
9. Caolin Blade

1. Denis Buckley
2. Grant Stewart
3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy
4. Niall Murray
5. Oisín Dowling
6. Ciaran Booth
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
8. Seán Masterson

Replacements:

16. Eoin de Buitléar
17. Matthew Burke
18. Sam Illo
19. Darragh Murray
20. Oisín McCormack
21. Colm Reilly
22. Shane Jennings
23. Josh O’Connor
24. Charlie Ward
25. Bart Vermeulen
26. Donnacha Byrne


Really like the look of this team. He's giving the young lads and new signings a chance to put their hand's up and see if they can force their way into the first team. Hope they do well.

[scentofgunpowder]

Smart move by Friend as the DOR can sack the Head Coach if the team continues to underperform.

I think it's very likely that Andy Farrell was pleased with Wilkins' contributions on the New Zealand tour, and as a result the IRFU have asked/told Connacht to increase his responsibilities in order to accelerate his development through the Irish coaching pipeline. There is surely absolutely no chance Friend has the authority to sack Wilkins. Friend himself will almost certainly depart at the end of the season. Seems like a great guy, has really bought into the cultural and community outreach aspects of the role in particular, and will leave us in much better shape than he found us. However, five years is a long tenure for a head coach in rugby, and I don't see any compelling reasons to extend beyond that.

Connacht coaching team:

Andy Friend – director of rugby
Peter Wilkins – head coach
Dewald Senekal – forwards [lineout and maul]
Colm Tucker – scrum and contact
Mossy Lawler – attack and skills

Great to see Tucker and Mossy getting some additional responsibilities, both have great rugby brains, and are paving good careers for themselves.

What's the deal with those Tucker and Lawler, they worked together at one of the Limerick clubs as well, right?

They are actually cousins, and both would have worked with UL Bohs together with Mossy as DOR and Tucker as Head Coach, and would have both been at Shannon at the same time as far as remember.

They have both been quietly chipping away at developing a career from coaching, and both appear to be doing a good job.

It is always good to see homegrown coaches being elevated to these positions.

Seems that Tucker has been demoted slightly if anything, has had the defence taken from him after a bit of a calamitous first year. Happy to see him take on a contact skills role though, I think Leinster's focus in that area has been a big contributor to their success over the years.

[scentofgunpowder]

Connacht (v Castres):

15. Oran McNulty
14. Adam Byrne
13. Byron Ralston
12. Tom Daly (captain)
11. Alex Wootton
10. David Hawkshaw
9. Caolin Blade

1. Denis Buckley
2. Grant Stewart
3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy
4. Niall Murray
5. Oisín Dowling
6. Ciaran Booth
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
8. Seán Masterson

Replacements:

16. Eoin de Buitléar
17. Matthew Burke
18. Sam Illo
19. Darragh Murray
20. Oisín McCormack
21. Colm Reilly
22. Shane Jennings
23. Josh O’Connor
24. Charlie Ward
25. Bart Vermeulen
26. Donnacha Byrne


Really like the look of this team. He's giving the young lads and new signings a chance to put their hand's up and see if they can force their way into the first team. Hope they do well.

We are playing Sale in Athlone two days later, so I think it's more a case that literally the entire squad will be needed across those two games. Good to see young lads getting a chance nonetheless, and also exciting to see Hawkshaw at 10. Ciaran Booth at 6 has been tipped by Buccs heads as the most likely academy grad to have a Cian Prendergast esque rise from nowhere to the first team.

[cormac]

Connacht lost 57-19

[sunshiner1]

by scentofgunpowder

I think it's very likely that Andy Farrell was pleased with Wilkins' contributions on the New Zealand tour, and as a result the IRFU have asked/told Connacht to increase his responsibilities in order to accelerate his development through the Irish coaching pipeline. There is surely absolutely no chance Friend has the authority to sack Wilkins.

Wilkins is interesting. He was brought in to be an attacking set-piece expert in New Zealand and was the guy who did the bland touchline interviews over there. Obviously the Irish attack was a success but how much was down to him is unknown. How is he rated in Connacht?

[berliner]

Dooley and Murphy will make their Connacht debuts against Sale tomorrow in Athlone.

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/dooley-mur ... -friendly/

[Ruckedtobits]

Dooley and Murphy will make their Connacht debuts against Sale tomorrow in Athlone.

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/dooley-mur ... -friendly/

That's a tidy Squad. I'll be watching the 2nd Row in particular