Fa'afili to join Connacht
Friday, 17 June 2011 13:47    Print E-mail

Connacht Rugby have completed the signing of rugby league legend Henry Fa’afili.

Henry300Samoan born Fa’afili scored more than 400 points in 7 years of rugby league playing with the New Zealand Warriors and Warrington Wolves.  In 2007, while playing for the Wolves, he was the Super League’s top try scorer with 22 trys in 29 games. His blistering pace and ferocious ball carrying ability, coupled with some slick offloading have made Fa’afili a fans favourite and supporters at The Sportsground are sure to be treated to some outstanding displays from the powerful centre next season.

Fa’afili changed codes to play rugby union for Biarritz in 2007 alongside French legends Damien Traille, Dmitri Yachvili and Italian centre Andrea Masi and following a successful season in the South of France joined  Aviva Premiership side Leeds Carnegie

The 5’11, 104kg centre has played for Samoa and New Zealand in rugby league, scoring a hat-trick against Great Britain in 2002 and has represented Manu Samoa in rugby union in the Pacific 6 Nations competition. He will join Eric Elwood’s squad when they return to preseason training next week.

Speaking about the move Henry said:
“I’m really looking forward to joining Connacht in what is a very exciting time for both myself and the club. I’ve always wanted to experience the Magners League (RaboDirect PRO12) and with Connacht in the Heineken Cup next year it’s a great opportunity for me. I spoke to Mike Forshaw (Connacht’s Defence Coach) who I know from my rugby league days and he explained what Connacht were about and the great work that is going on there so I’m very excited about the move. Galway is a great city and myself and my fiancée are really looking forward to living there.”

Head Coach Eric Elwood was equally as happy with signing Henry:
“Henry is a quality player with a proven track record with both Biarritz and Leeds and we will use Henry’s experience and power to compliment the youth and raw talent of our backs. He is a dynamic ball carrier with exceptional skill, strength and pace and we look forward to working with him, along with our other new signings, in the coming weeks.”

Pic (C) www.inpho.ie
Last Updated ( Friday, 17 June 2011 14:39 )
 
Early-bird season ticket offer set to finish today.
Thursday, 16 June 2011 11:36    Print E-mail

Early-bird season ticket offer set to finish today.

Gerry_Kelly300With inclusion in the 2011/12 Heineken Cup and the newly launched RaboDirect Pro12, Connacht Rugby have recieved an unprecedented demand for the exceptional value tickets. 3 weeks ago Connacht launched their early-bird prices which put them as one of the cheapest rugby season tickets in the country but all good things must come to an end and tomorrow see’s the conclusion of this fantastic offer.

From just €200 a season ticket guarantee’s entry to all 11 home Pro12 games (including Leinster, Munster and Ulster), 3 home games in the Heineken Cup against Toulouse, Gloucester and Harlequins and Connacht’s preseason friendly against the Exeter Chiefs. The season ticket offers exceptional value for money and supporters are urged to buy their tickets before tomorrow evening to avail of this low price.

A season ticket not only guarantee’s admission to all Connacht’s home matches, also included are a free pint for all adults, a free supporters scarf,  membership of the Connacht Rugby Supporters Club and 2 complimentary tickets to a RaboDirect PRO12 match of your choice (excluding inter-provincial matches).

Speaking today Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly was delighted with the sales so far:
“We are very happy with the progress our sales team have made so far and season ticket sales have exceeded our expectations. Our early-bird offer ends tomorrow so we are urging supporters to buy their tickets before then. I’d like to remind supporters that a season ticket is the only way to guarantee entry to all our league games which includes the inter-provincial clashes against European champions Leinster and Magners League winners Munster as well as all 3 home Heineken Cup games against Toulouse, Gloucester and Harlequins in what promises to be a very exciting year for Connacht Rugby.”

To purchase season tickets please visit the Connacht Rugby website www.connachtrugby.ie

pic Gerry Kelly speaking about tseason ticket sales (C) www.inpho.ie
Last Updated ( Friday, 17 June 2011 13:47 )
 
Exeter Chiefs to play The Sportsground
Tuesday, 14 June 2011 14:59    Print E-mail
Connacht announce preseason friendly against Exeter Chiefs

EricCoaching300Connacht Rugby are pleased to announce a preseason friendly match against Aviva Premiership side Exeter Chiefs on the 13th August this year. The fixture will be the first test of Head Coach Eric Elwood’s side 3 weeks before the launch of the newly sponsored RaboDirect Pro 12.
Building on a successful first season in charge, Elwood has brought some exciting new talent to join the experienced players in the Connacht squad and this will be the first chance to see this new look Connacht side in action. The Exeter Chiefs have just finished their first season in the top flight of English rugby and with some impressive performances including wins over London Wasps, Gloucester and Saracens, finished a credible 8th in the league. Under the captaincy of Limerick born Tommy Hayes, Rob Baxter’s Exeter side boast an eclectic mix of home-grown English players and international talent that is sure to light up the Sportsground.
Season tickets are currently on sale and with the exceptional value earlybird prices set to cease at the end of this week supporters are urged to purchase their tickets before Friday to avail of this special offer.
Speaking about the confirmation of the fixture Head Coach Eric Elwood said:
“We’re very happy to be welcoming the Exeter Chiefs to Galway. The Aviva Premiership is one of the toughest leagues and for Connacht to continue to progress we have to constantly test ourselves against tough opposition. Exeter are very similar to ourselves, they’ve just come off the back of a successful season, their first in the Premiership, and just like us they will be hoping to improve on the good work they put in last season. This will be a great chance for our supporters to see Connacht’s newest additions in action and for the new players to make their mark and show the coaches what they are capable of. It’s also a great opportunity to experience the atmosphere at The Sportsground and to support Connacht Rugby ahead of the new season.”
 
Ireland U20 XV to face South Africa
Monday, 13 June 2011 14:29    Print E-mail

4 Connacht players have made the starting lineup for Ireland's U20 game against South Africa

(from www.irishrugby.ie)

The Ireland Under-20 team (sponsored by PwC) to play South Africa has been named by Coach Mike Ruddock.
Ruddock has made five personnel changes to the starting XV that lost out to England in their opening game of the IRB Junior World Championship.
Tiernan O’Halloran comes in at full back with Craig Gilroy moving to the wing. JJ Hanrahan will partner Brendan Macken in the centre.
James McKinney has been promoted to the starting side in the out half position with Paddy Jackson named in the replacements.
Daniel Qualter has been named alongside Michael Kearney in the second row with Aaron Connelly making his tournament debut in the back row.
Iain Henderson, Dominic Gallagher, and Luke Marshall have been named in the replacements.
Speaking about his selection, Ruddock said "We have looked closely at South Africa and they present another massive challenge. Typically they are a big and very physical side. Combine that with a four day turnaround and it is important that we introduce some freshness into our team.
As such I have made five changes to the team that played England. The players coming in are all experienced age grade internationals and they will be keen to perform on the big stage."

Ireland Under-20 Team to play South Africa Under-20 (IRB Junior World Championship, Treviso, Tuesday, 13th June, kick-off 20.10hrs local time/ 19.10hrs Irish time)
15 - Tiernan O’Halloran (Galwegians - Connacht)
14 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock - Leinster)
13 - Brendan Macken (Blackrock - Leinster)
12 - JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians- Munster)
11 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon - Ulster)
10 - James McKinney (Queens - Ulster)
9 - Kieran Marmion (UWIC - Exile)
1 - James Tracy (UCD - Leinster)
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster)
3 - Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf - Leinster)
4 - Michael Kearney (Clontarf - Leinster)
5 - Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers - Connacht)
6 - Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne - Leinster)
7 - Aaron Connelly (Galway Corinthians - Connacht)
8 - Eoin McKeon (Galwegians - Connacht)
Replacements -
16 - David Doyle (UCD - Leinster)
17 - Conor Carey (Ballymena - Ulster)
18 - Iain Henderson (Queens - Ulster)
19 - Dominic Gallagher (Dublin University - Ulster)
20 - Peter Du Toit (UCD - Leinster)
21 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon - Ulster)
22 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena - Ulster)


Ireland Under-20 Pool Games (All Times are Local)
14 Jun 20:10 Ireland v South Africa Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
18 Jun 20:10 Ireland v Scotland Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
 
2 Connacht players in U20 side
Friday, 10 June 2011 11:43    Print E-mail
The Ireland Under-20 Team (Sponsored by PwC) to play England in the opening game of the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy has been named.
Coach, Mike Ruddock has named 11 changes to the opening side that faced England in their last outing in the Six Nations Tournament earlier in the year.
Craig Gilroy has been called up to full-back and is joined in the back three by the experienced Andrew Conway and Andrew Boyle. Leinster’s Brendan Macken and Ulster’s Luke Marshall make up the central pairing.
Paddy Jackson starts at out-half and is partnered by newcomer, Kieran Marmion at scrum-half.
Captain, Niall Annett will be joined in the front row by James Tracy and Tadhg Furlong with Ian Henderson and Michael Kearney forming the second row while the back row features Jordi Murphy, Dominic Gallagher and Eoin McKeon.
Speaking ahead of the opening game Coach, Mike Ruddock said "The players have trained very well. We have had a really good preparation with two warm-up games which we didn’t have before last year’s tournament so we are really positive about our build-up”.
“We are going into the tournament in a very positive frame of mind and we know that England are favourites for this game. We realise that they are the Under-20 Grand Slam champion and we respect that, however this will be a different Ireland team to the one that they played in the Six Nations with as many as 11 changes to the starting team”.
“We have prepared well with senior Ireland coaches, Les Kiss and Gert Smal helping out and we are as ready as we can ever be for a game of this magnitude".
Ireland Under-20 Team to play England Under-20 (IRB Junior World Championship, Treviso, Friday 10th June, kick-off 18.10hrs local time/ 17.10hrs Irish time)
15 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon - Ulster)
14 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock - Leinster)
13 - Brendan Macken (Blackrock - Leinster)
12 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena -Ulster)
11 - Andrew Boyle (UCD - Leinster)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon - Ulster)
9 - Kieran Marmion (UWIC - Exile)
1 - James Tracy (UCD - Leinster)
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster)
3 - Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf - Leinster)
4 - Michael Kearney (Clontarf - Leinster)
5 - Iain Henderson (Queens - Ulster)
6 - Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne - Leinster)
7 - Dominic Gallagher (Dublin University - Ulster)
8 - Eoin McKeon (Galwegians - Connacht)
Replacements -
16 - David Doyle (UCD - Leinster)
17 - Conor Carey (Ballymena - Ulster)
18 - Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers - Connacht)
19 - Shane Buckley (Garryowen - Munster)
20 - Peter Du Toit (UCD - Leinster)
21 - James McKinney (Queens - Ulster)
22 - JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Two of the Ireland Under-20s Pool C matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports - their opening fixture against England on Friday, June 10 and the clash with South Africa on Tuesday, June 14.
Those two games will also be streamed live on the official tournament website www.irb.com/jwc and there will be further coverage of the knockout stages on TV and online.
Ireland Under-20 Pool Games (All Times are Local)
10 Jun 18:10 England v Ireland Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
14 Jun 20:10 Ireland v South Africa Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
18 Jun 20:10 Ireland v Scotland Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
 
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