Connacht players already well versed in Cup
Tuesday, 07 June 2011 14:08    Print E-mail

It may be the first time the Heineken Cup is coming to the Sportsground but it won’t be the first time some of Connacht’s players have played in the competition. Johnny O’Connor (London Wasps), Adrian Flavin (London Irish), Gavin Duffy (NEC Harlequins), Frank Murphy (Leicester Tigers) and Mike McCarthy (Newcastle Falcons) have all played in the tournament during their time with other clubs. We caught up with some of them to get their views on the Heineken Cup coming to Galway:

Flavin300Former London Irish and current Connacht hooker Adrian Flavin:
“It’s great to be in the Heineken Cup, it’s the highlight of rugby in the Northern Hemisphere, everyone wants to do well in it and we’ll be no different to that. It’s great to see Connacht being drawn against Toulouse, we (London Irish) were the only team to beat them in Europe when they won the Cup in ’03 so I know what the atmosphere can be like playing against them. Playing down there is a completely different experience, the fans, the stadium, the noise; it’s a huge experience.

McCarthy300Versatile forward Mike McCarthy, who passed the 100 cap mark for Connacht this season said:
“It’s great to play in the top competition as obviously that’s where every team wants to be. You know you are playing against the best teams around. The difference compared to Amlin or Magners i would say is that it is slightly faster, more physical and every team you play will raise their game because they are playing in arguably the best club competition in the world. Having Connacht in the Heineken cup means a lot to everyone not just in Connacht but the whole of Ireland. Obviously it is very special to all the players and management but we are very proud to be in it for our supporters and fans and we look forward to giving them some big days out at The Sportsground. I suppose getting in is the easy part and now we must perform to the best we can. Obviously it’s been a long, long wait for Connacht getting into the Heineken cup but we all feel we deserve our chance having finished above Treviso, Aironi and Glasgow in the Magners League whom are all in the Heineken cup. Even though it’s been our best league finish for a number of years there were a good number of games which we really let slip so we know ourselves that we could have and should have had a better finish but we’re looking forward to the start of next season now and the arrival of Heineken Cup rugby to the Sportsground.”
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 June 2011 19:32 )
 
Heineken Cup pools decided
Tuesday, 07 June 2011 12:16    Print E-mail

Connacht have been drawn in pool 6 of the Heineken cup along with French champions Toulouse, Amlin Challenge Cup winners Harlequins and Aviva Premiership semi-finalists Gloucester. The draw will see the biggest names in European rugby travel to The Sportsground over the course of next season and with players such as French captain Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), flying English winger James Simpson Daniel (Gloucester) and former English captain Nick Easter (Harlequins) all set to take on Connacht at the College Rd venue.
Supporters are reminded that the only way to guarantee tickets for the home Heineken pool games, along with all 11 home Celtic league games is to purchase a season ticket. Season tickets, which start from just €200, can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Connacht Rugby on 091 561568


2011/12 Heineken Cup Pools:

Pool 1
Munster
Northampton
Scarlets
Castres

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues
London Irish
Edinburgh
Racing Metro

Pool 3
Leinster
Bath
Glasgow
Montpellier

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers
Clermont Auvergne
Ulster
Aironi

Pool 5
Biarritz
Ospreys
Saracens
Bennetton Treviso

Pool 6
Toulouse
Harlequins
Gloucester
Connacht
 
John Carr - President of Connacht Rugby
Sunday, 05 June 2011 20:29    Print E-mail
John Carr has been elected as President of the Connacht Branch for the 2011/2012 season.

JohnCarr350He becomes the 55th President of the organisation that was founded in 1885. Richard Biggs of Galway Grammar School was the first President of the Connacht Branch back in 1885 when there were just 6 clubs to oversee. The role now encompasses 22 adult clubs, 6 youth/mini clubs, the Senior Professional team and representative teams at U18 (Youths & Schools), U19, U20 and Junior level.

John, who is a former Tuam RFC President and still actively involved in the club, carries on the ambassadorial role from Galwegians FC’s Jim Foy who oversaw the 125th anniversary of Connacht Rugby this season.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be elected as President. It (the Presidency) is an important function within the Provincial structure and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Last season was a very successful one for Connacht Rugby on all fronts. The Senior team did exceptionally well in the Magners League as well as gaining qualification to the Heineken Cup, our Junior team won the Inter-Provincial title for the first time in their history, a 5th Connacht club (Sligo RFC) made it into the All Ireland League and Connacht clubs won All Ireland Championships at U17 and U19 so there’s a huge amount to be positive about as we head into next season and it is the challenge of building on these success that I am most looking forward to.”
 
Cup draw live on www.ercrugby.com
Friday, 03 June 2011 14:37    Print E-mail

From www.irishrugby.ie

The draw for the pool stages of the 2011/12 Heineken Cup will take place at Twickenham next Tuesday. It will start at 12pm and will be streamed live on the tournament's website, www.ercrugby.com.

HCupTrophyCurrent Heineken Cup champions Leinster will be the first team allocated a pool for the 2011/12 tournament when the draw for the 17th tournament is performed in London.
Leinster are also top of the ERC European Rankings, which determine the tiers of the teams who have qualified for European club rugby's premier competition.
They are joined in Tier 1 by three other Heineken Cup winners in Munster, Toulouse and Leicester Tigers. Cardiff Blues and Biarritz Olympique, both former Heineken Cup finalists, complete the top group of six.
Ulster, who reached the quarter-finals this past season, are in Tier 3, while the bottom tier includes the likes of Eric Elwood's Connacht, Italian sides Benetton Treviso and Aironi Rugby and Top 14 finalists Montpellier.
Once the Tier 1 teams have each been allocated a different pool, no side from the same tier will be drawn in the same pool and no pool will have more than one team from the same country with the exception of England, as there are seven English teams.
The draw will launch the countdown to a tournament which will climax at Twickenham Stadium over the weekend of May 19-20, 2012.

2011/12 HEINEKEN CUP DRAW:
TEAMS AND TIERS -
TIER 1: LEINSTER, Toulouse, MUNSTER, Cardiff Blues, Biarritz Olympique, Leicester Tigers
TIER 2: Northampton Saints, Clermont Auvergne, Ospreys, Bath, Harlequins, London Irish
TIER 3: ULSTER, Saracens, Gloucester, Glasgow Warriors, Scarlets, Edinburgh
TIER 4: CONNACHT, Benetton Treviso, Castres Olympique, Montpellier, Racing Metro 92, Aironi Rugby

Pic (c) www.inpho.ie
 
Brian Melrose to move on
Thursday, 02 June 2011 13:11    Print E-mail

brian_melrose564Connacht Rugby confirm Backs Coach Brian “Billy” Melrose’s contract will not be renewed with the club for next season. Brian joined Connacht from Eastwood RFC in Sydney at the start of last season. Brian’s departure comes as Head Coach Eric Elwood puts the final touches to his squad for next season with the added bonus of competing in the Heineken Cup for the first time in the clubs history.

Details of Connacht’s preseason friendlies are due to be announced shortly and are likely to take place during the month of August.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 June 2011 13:23 )
 
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RaboDirect PRO12 Table

PosTeamPldPts
1 Leinster 13 48
2 Ospreys 13 39
3 Munster 13 38
4 Glasgow 13 35
5 Scarlets 13 34
6 Ulster 13 31
7 Cardiff 12 31
8 Treviso 13 28
9 Edinburgh
 13 22
10 Dragons 12 17
11 Connacht 13 17
12 Aironi
 13 14

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