Andy Friend: Final game at home

12 April 2023

Andy Friend: Final game at home

Saturday will be our final home game of the season as we welcome Cardiff to The Sportsground for Round 17 of the BKT United Rugby Championship, kick-off is 7:35pm.

The game will also be Andy Friend's last game in charge at home after five seasons at the club and he spoke about how he's feeling ahead of it.

"I haven't given it a great deal of thought to be honest"

"My brother is coming over from Australia, he said to me three months ago that its a bit of a pisser I haven't been over to Connacht and sorry I won't be able to get there"

"I said thats a choice you've made there mate and then next thing he rang me saying righto I'm coming"

"My two boys have been here as well as my folks in my first season but its the first time my brother is coming so that will special"

"This Saturday isn't about me or anyone else leaving, its about us a collective trying to get another win and stay in that top eight of the URC"

A lot has happened in these five season under Andy and its a club that will always be close to his heart.

"We hope the Glasgow game isn't our last, we want to go as far as we can but look when the time does come I will miss this place"

"My wife Kez and I were talking about this the other day that this is the longest I lived anywhere other than the first five years of my life when I was born in Canberra"

"I've never lived anywhere longer than five years"

"There's a real attraction to Galway, to Connacht, to this club and we have loved our time here but all good things come to an end"

"It isn't the end yet though as we have plenty more work to do"

This week Jack Carty, Finlay Bealham, Denis Buckley and Jarrad Butler were all back training after recent injuries and are avaialble for selection this weekend.

"Training has been good this week with those men back, experienced and skilfull players which will improve any team so we're delighted to have them back"

"There seems to be more calmness and steadiness with the group"

Connacht and Cardiff are both in contention of making the playoffs and an added bonus of playing Champions Cup rugby next season is also alive. Andy spoke about how his team go about these remaining fixtures.

"We've been saying for six weeks that these games are knockout rugby so we take each game as it comes"

"Bar the game away to Benetton in the Challenge Cup I think we've been delivering with our performances"

"We sit sixth in the table but we need to win on the weekend because we don't want to drop below that"

"At this stage of the season its about being comfortable with our game and making sure we deliver this weekend"

The Connacht team for Saturday will be named on Friday.

Tickets for the game can be got HERE