Connacht Rugby will induct Connacht and Ireland back-row legend Eamonn McGuire in the Hall of Fame at the annual Awards Nights on 28th April.
Eamonn was part of the Ireland pack including four Connacht players (with back-row & Tony O’Sullivan and props Ray McLoughlin & PJ Dwyer) that played New Zealand as part of their ‘63/64 tour. Despite losing the match five points to six and having a try of his own disallowed (which would have given Ireland their first ever victory over the All Blacks) McGuire is credited with rattling Kiwi out half Mac Herewini enough to shake the New Zealand team to the core and cement his place for the upcoming 5Nations tournament.
Born in 1939, McGuire first came to prominence playing for Connacht Schools in the 1956/57 as a St Josephs, Galway student. That season they went on to beat Leinster and Munster, losing out only to Ulster and Eamonn went on to represent Connacht Schools for a further two years.
In 1960 Eamonn was called up to represent Connacht in the inter-provincial series and he earned his first cap against Leinster that November. A prolific try scorer, Eamonn went on to accumulate over 20 Connacht caps over his eight seasons with the club
In the 1960/61 season Eamonn, an Engineering student at UCG, was selected for the Combined Universities for their matches against UCD and the Rest of Ireland, scoring trys in both games and it was his skill and turn of pace in the back-row of the scrum that helped him go on to win several Connacht Senior League and Cups title whilst with UCG RFC. Alongside incoming IRFU president Billy Glynn, Eamonn was part of the 1965 Combined Universities team that beat South Africa 12 points to 10, becoming the first Irish side ever to do so.
In February 1963 he earned the first of eight Ireland caps with a home match against England in Lansdowne Road. That match finished scoreless and though Ireland lost to France in that series they went on to thump Wales 14 6. He went on to be part of the famous victory over England in Twickenham in 1964 and though the series wasn’t a huge success that win has remained one of Irelands greatest victories over the old foe.
A broken leg in 1966 cut short the fabulous career of a tremendous sportsman who alongside representing Connacht and Ireland in rugby had rowed with The Bish, played football with the Claddagh Gaels and earned 3 provincial championship sprinting medals.
Eamonn will join fellow inductee’s Brendan Guerin, Noel Mannion, Tony O’Suillivan, Ciaran Fitzgerald and Billy Mulcahy in the Hall of Fame to forever be remembered for his exceptional contribution to Connacht Rugby.
The Connacht Rugby Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday 28th April in the Connemara Coast Hotel, Furbo, Galway. Tickets are available from €85 and can be purchased from the Connacht Rugby Office on College Rd, Galway or by contacting Commercial Manager Fiona Keys by email:
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Here's a short piece on the Ireland England game in 1964:
Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 April 2012 09:50 )
Family Fun Day next Saturday
Sunday, 15 April 2012 16:42
Connacht Rugby are hosting their annual Family Fun Day this Saturday in the Sportsground. The event, which has been a huge success in recent years is a thank you to the families and younger fans of Connacht Rugby. From 2.30pm, the training pitch in the Sportsground will be transformed into a children's playground full of bouncy castles, inflatable obstacle course, rugby assault course and much more. There will also be face-painting and a chance to meet some of the Connacht players as well as Eddie the Eagle. There will be a signing station where fans can secure autographs with giveaways and promotions from our club partners.
The event will run until 4.30pm with Connacht v Aironi kicking off at 5.00pm. Entry is free for U12's, €5 for U18's and adult tickets are just €15 before 4pm and include admission to the game at 5pm.
After the game the Official Connacht Supporters Club will be holding a forum with a number of Connacht players in the Clan Bar as well as presenting their choice of Senior Player and Young Player of the Year awards making the whole day and event not to be missed.
Newly appointed Head of Marketing Alex Saul spoke about the event saying:
“It’s great to throw the doors open to the younger fans and to give something back to the community. We pride ourselves on being a child friendly club with initiatives such as free admission to the majority of our Pro12 matches and our great value family season ticket. We’re all looking forward to welcoming the next generation of Connacht fans and players to the Sportsground on Saturday. Previous fun days have been a huge success and it’s a great away for supporters to interact with the squad and bring their kids along for a great day out. All we need now is for the weather to be good to us!”
Tickets can be purchased on www.ticketmaster.ie or by calling into the Connacht Rugby Office on College Rd, Galway.
Legendary flanker Ofisa to depart from Connacht at the end of the season
Connacht Rugby can confirm the Samoan number seven will not feature for the province next season. 31 year old Ray has been an integral part of the Connacht set-up since he joined in 2007 from North Otago in New Zealand. An aggressive, dynamic ball-carrier Ray is known throughout the RaboDirect PRO12 as one of the hardest hitting tacklers in the game and though not the biggest member of the back-row at 1.84m and 95kg he regularly punches well above his weight.
A fans favourite and part of the fabric that has moulded the current Connacht team Ray earned his 100th cap for Connacht against Treviso earlier this season. He has been part of some of the biggest matches in the clubs history including the Heineken Cup match against Toulouse and South Africa’s visit in 2007. He was unfortunate to miss Connacht’s clash against his native Samoa when they arrived in the Sportsground in 2010 and he will be fondly remembered by fans as one of the most unassuming gentlemen off the field and one of the clubs greatest competitors on it.
Speaking about Ray’s departure Head Coach Eric Elwood said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the hard work, commitment and respect that Ray has shown throughout his six years here at Connacht. He is one of the quietest men in the squad but once he crosses the whitewash he can turn a match in a flash with a moment of brilliance. In his time here he has really bought into the ethos of everything we are about and I know Ray considers Connacht a family away from home. It’s a credit to the man and his strength of character that even now he is finishing the season on a high and on behalf of myself, the management, the players and all our supporters I would like to wish Ray every success for the future.
The following five players have not been offered contracts for the 2012/13 season:
Henry Fa’afili, Dermot Murphy, Dylan Rogers, Jamie Stephens, Brian Tuohy.
Team Manager Tim Allnutt said: “Following discussions with Head Coach Eric Elwood and his coaching team it was decided that these players would not be offered contracts for next season. On behalf of all at Connacht Rugby I would like to wish them all the very best of luck in their future careers and thank them for their professionalism and commitment whilst they were at the club.”
(Above right) Ray Ofisa in action against Bath in 2006, (above left) in PRO12 action against Munster and (above) with George Naoupu following the Heineken Cup victory over Harlequins (C) www.inpho.ie
Connacht capture flanker Faloon
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 09:14
Connacht capture flanker Faloon.
Connacht Rugby are delighted to announce the signing of Willie Faloon. As Connacht continue to strengthen their squad for next season they can today confirm that the Ulster openside flanker will join the club at the end of this season.
In another high-profile swoop Connacht have secured Faloon on a two year deal. The 6ft, 104kg back-rower earned his first Ireland Wolfhound cap against Scotland last year and his commitment to Connacht will see him play at the Sportsground until at least the Summer of 2014.
Voted Ulster Academy Player of the Year in 2009 Faloon won the AIB Cup with his native Ballynahinch and went on to earn his first Heineken Cup cap for Ulster against Bath in the same year. Now with 14 appearances in the Heineken Cup and 33 caps in the RaboDirect PRO12 Faloon has built a reputation as an abrasive ball-carrier.
A genuine openside flanker, his workrate across the park has helped Ulster reached the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup this year and his addition to the Connacht set-up is further proof of the hard work being done off the field to bolster the squad for the coming seasons.
Speaking about the signing Head Coach Eric Elwood said:
“Signing Willie is a big step for us, he will join an already strong pack here at Connacht and his experience and workrate will add an extra dimension to our gameplay. He’s an athletic, aggressive ball-carrier in the mould of a traditional number seven and alongside his phenomenal work at the breakdown I know he will be a major asset to the club.”
Willie added:
“I'm really looking forward to the move to Connacht next season to challenge for regular game time. After speaking with Eric I was in no doubt as to the direction he wants to take Connacht Rugby and I'm happy to be part of that plan.”
Faloon’s signing comes hot on the heels of the recent high-profile acquisitions of Dan Parks and Nathan White and these big name arrivals, coupled with the retention of the best of Connacht’s homegrown talent will provide a timely boost as Connacht Rugby are set to launch their Season Tickets in the coming days.
Pictured (above right) Faloon in action against Ospreys, (above left) smashing his way through the Glasgow defence and (above) scoring a try against Scotland A (C) www.inpho.ie
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 27 March 2012 09:29 )
Interview with Ronan Loughney
Monday, 26 March 2012 11:53
TG4 and Nemeton TV caught up with Connacht's versitile front row forward Ronan Loughney and assistant coach Dan McFarland before last weekends inter-provincial clash against Munster.
Connacht Rugby can confirm the Samoan number seven will not feature for the province next season. 31 year old Ray has been an integral part of the Connacht set-up since he joined in 2007 from North Otago in New Zealand. An aggressive, dynamic ball-carrier Ray is known throughout the RaboDirect PRO12 as one of the hardest hitting tacklers in the game and though not the biggest member of the back-row at 1.84m and 95kg he regularly punches well above his weight.
Speaking about Ray’s departure Head Coach Eric Elwood said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the hard work, commitment and respect that Ray has shown throughout his six years here at Connacht. He is one of the quietest men in the squad but once he crosses the whitewash he can turn a match in a flash with a moment of brilliance. In his time here he has really bought into the ethos of everything we are about and I know Ray considers Connacht a family away from home. It’s a credit to the man and his strength of character that even now he is finishing the season on a high and on behalf of myself, the management, the players and all our supporters I would like to wish Ray every success for the future.
In another high-profile swoop Connacht have secured Faloon on a two year deal. The 6ft, 104kg back-rower earned his first Ireland Wolfhound cap against Scotland last year and his commitment to Connacht will see him play at the Sportsground until at least the Summer of 2014.
Speaking about the signing Head Coach Eric Elwood said:
