Connacht’s Michael Swift has become the RaboDirect PRO12’s most capped player of all-time.

Following his appearance in last Friday’s clash with the Scarlets the legendary second-row overtook former leader Deiniol Jones of the Cardiff Blues as the player with the most appearances in the league.

Lock Jones, who has 13 Welsh caps to his name, has missed recent games due to a shoulder injury allowing Connacht’s highest capped player Swift claim the top spot.

“Swifty” joined Connacht in 2000,making his debut against Ulster playing alongside current Connacht coaches Eric Elwood and Dan McFarland and is one of an elite group of players that were part of the very first Celtic League in 2001. Over the last 11 seasons he has amassed an incredible 214 caps in all competitions for the province, becoming the first Connacht player to reach the magnificent ‘200’ milestone against Edinburgh earlier this season.  

Speaking about the achievement Michael said:

“I’m obviously over the moon to reach this milestone. The league has gone from strength over the years as has the quality of the rugby played so as a brand the RaboDirect PRO12 stands in a great place at the moment.”

When pressed about what keeps a rugby player going for so long in the physical modern game Michael said:

“I suppose you could put my longevity down to a mix of good fortune and a great medical team looking after me.”

Known for his ferocious tackles and towering lineout presence the colossal 6’5, 120kg lock shows no sign of slowing down just yet hopes to add to his already impressive tally of caps when Connacht take on Munster in the Sportsground on 24th March.

As a tribute to the big man we have reached into the archives and plucked out this little gem of footage from the 2010/11 season:

Connacht fell to a 38-10 defeat to the Scarlets in Parc y Scarlets on Friday night.

Despite getting the better of the opening stages with magnificent breaks from Gavin Duffy and Tiernan O’Halloran it was Scarlets who got on the scoreboard first when winger Andy Fenby crossed for a try after 15 minutes. Stephen Jones added the conversion to give the home side an early lead. Miah Nikora reduced the deficit 15 minutes later with a penalty but prop Rhodri Jones crashed over minutes before the break for Scarlets second try of the night, Jones’s conversion leaving the half-time score 14-3.

Referee Marius Mitrea awarded the Scarlets a penalty 5 minutes into the second half and former Welsh outhalf Jones extended their lead by 3 points. The next 10 minutes proved critical to the game as Connacht were penalized 4 times in quick succession, including an extra 10m when captain Gavin Duffy sought clarification for one of the decisions and it wasn’t long before the Italian referee, in his 6^th competitive match, lost his patience and sin-binned replacement John Muldoon. The Scarlets made the most of the numerical advantage adding two converted tries in that time. Connacht rallied in the last quarter and when replacement prop Peter Edwards was sin-binned for the home side Ethienne Reynecke crossed for Connacht’s only try of the night, the assured Nikora adding the two points. With the last play of the game veteran prop Phil John crashed over the Connacht line to put the final nail in the coffin and Jones’s conversion left the full-time score Scarlets 38 Connacht 10.

Despite the defeat Eric Elwood will take consolation from some solid performances throughout the team including debut flanker Dave Heffernan and the on loan Peter Borlase and with a two week break in the league it will give the squad time to recuperate and recover before the next outing against Munster on the 24^th March.

Tickets for that clash, traditionally the biggest inter-provincial match of the season, are selling fast and supporters are urged to purchase their tickets early to avoid disappointment as the game seems certain to be a sellout. Tickets can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie or from the offices in the Connacht Branch on College Road.

Connacht:

Gavin Duffy ©, Fetu’u Vainikolo, Eoin Griffin, Dave McSharry, Tiernan O’Halloran, Miah Nikora, Frank Murphy, Ronan Loughney, Adrian Flavin, Peer Borlase, Michael Swift, Mick Kearney, Dave Heffernan, Rau Ofisa, George Naoupu

Replacements:

Ethienne Reynecke, Denis Buckley, Stewart Maguire, John Muldoon, Eoghan Grace, Dave Moore, Matthew Jarvis, Henry Fa’afili

Scarlets:

Dan Newton, Liam Williams, Gareth Maul ©, Adam Warren, Andy Fenby, Stephen Jones, Liam Davies, Rhodri Jones, Emyr Phillips, Deacon Manu, Lou Reed, Aaron Shingler, Josh Turnbull, Johnathan Edwards, Kieran Murphy

Replacements:

Kirby Myhill, Phil John, Peter Edwards, Dominic Day, Matt Gilbert, Gareth Davies, Nick Reynolds, Viliame Longi

Pictures (C) www.inpho.ie /Huw Evans

Galway native Ronan Loughney will earn his 100^th cap for Connacht when he lines out against the Scarlets tonight.

27 year old Loughney earned his first cap for the Province in 2005 and has played a part in some of Connacht’s biggest games to date including the 2010 Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Toulon and the historic first win in the Heineken Cup this season against Harlequins.

His dedication and commitment to Connacht is evident by reaching this milestone as one of the youngest players in the clubs history

As just reward for his consistently impressive performances for Connacht, Ronan was called into the Ireland training setup this season and earned his first Ireland Wolfhounds cap against the England Saxons last January.

Despite being a loosehead prop by trade a lack of cover at tighthead this season presented the opportunity for him to expand his skills set and under the guidance of Dan McFarland Ronan has excelled in his new role as the anchor of the scrum. It is this versatility, coupled with his raw strength and power that has brought him to the attention of the National selectors.

A ferocious ball carrier with the pace of a back-rower, Loughney is noted as one of the strongest members in the squad and continues to excel in one of the toughest positions on the field. Off the pitch though Ronan is known for his creativity and business acumen, combining his sculpting skills with his keen interest in photography to set up his own photographic business (www.photoboothoccasions.com) with former Connacht scrumhalf Conor O’Loughlin.

Connacht Academy stars included in lineup to face the Scarlets

Connacht Rugby have announced the team that will face the Scarlets this Friday (Parc y Scarlets 19.30)

There are a number of personnel changes to the starting team with Brett Wilkinson and Mike McCarthy unavailable due to their involvement with the National side.

This gives Peter Borlase his first taste of Connacht Rugby at tighthead prop while Ronan Loughney, earning his 100^th cap for the province, moves back to loosehead prop.

There is a first cap for Academy backrower Dave Heffernan. The 6’1, 104kg former Ireland U20 has played in all of Connacht’s ‘A’ games this season and has impressed with outstanding performances for Buccaneers RFC in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League. 20 year old Ballina born Heffernan joined the Connacht Academy this season having transferred his studies from UCD to NUIG and is known for his ferocious ball-carrying and workrate across the park.

Dave joins fellow year one Academy star Mick Kearney in the forwards. Mick has featured in nine of Connacht’s matches so far and the versatile Irish Colleges secondrow has certainly made an impression this season with big performances including those against Leinster, the Ospreys and 3 appearances in the Heineken Cup.

Eoin Griffin and Dave McSharry renew the centre partnership last seen in action in Connacht’s Heineken Cup match against Gloucester while Miah Nikora replaces this injured Niall O’Connor at outhalf.

Speaking about the inclusion of three academy players (Heffernan, Kearney and Buckley) Academy Manager Nigel Carolan said:

“It’s great to see the guys getting the reward for their hard work and dedication. Eric (Elwood) has always said that if players are good enough and patient enough they’ll get their chances so it’s great to see these opportunities open up for them.”

Connacht v Scarlets (Par y Scarlets, Friday 27^th February – KO 19.30)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Fetu’u Vainikolo

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Dave McSharry

11 Tiernan O’Halloran

10 Miah Nikora

09 Frank Murphy

01 Ronan Loughney

02 Adrian Flavin

03 Peter Borlase

04 Michael Swift

05 Mick Kearney

06 Dave Heffernan

07 Ray Ofisa

08 George Naoupu

16 Ethienne Reynecke

17 Denis Buckley

18 Stewart Maguire

19 John Muldoon

20 Eoghan Grace

21 Dave Moore

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Kyle Tonetti

Pictured above:Academy star Dave Heffernan in Connacht 'A' action (C) www.inpho.ie