Champions Cup play-off push

Don’t miss your final chance to see Connacht at the Sportsground in the PRO12 this season, get your match ticket for Saturday night here. 

With a place in the top eight secured, the focus now is on building momentum ahead of the play-off semi-final next month away to either French or English opposition.

In-form Scarlets will provide a formidable challenge but Connacht have lost just twice in Galway since mid-September with the home crowd roaring the Westerners to nine wins in their last 11 home games.

Last time out, Connacht played some scintillating rugby in a thrilling encounter against Leinster but the visitors were clinical on the night and took every chance that came their way to record a 37-24 victory.

Following the Scarlets clash, Connacht are on the road to Thomond Park for the final PRO12 game of the season on Saturday, May 6 (5.15pm).

We have a once in a lifetime prize to give away – a one-off, specially embroidered, signed Connacht jersey to mark captain John Muldoon’s 300th Connacht appearance. Click here for more details.

The 20th place in the Champions Cup will be decided by a series of play-off matches that will include the following clubs:

• The seventh-ranked club from the Premiership, or the winner of the Challenge Cup if from the Premiership and not already qualified for the Champions Cup.

• The seventh-ranked club from the TOP 14, or the winner of the Challenge Cup if from the TOP 14 and not already qualified for the Champions Cup.

• The clubs that finish 7th and 8th in the Guinness PRO12.

19/20/21 May

Play-off 1: Aviva Premiership (seventh-ranked club) v Guinness PRO12 (Team that finish 8th – Cardiff Blues or Connacht)

Play-off 2: TOP 14 (seventh-ranked club) v Guinness PRO12 (Team that finish 7th – Cardiff Blues or Connacht)

The Premiership and TOP 14 clubs will have home advantage.

26/27/28 May

Play-off Final: winner Play-off 1 v winner Play-off 2 (The winner of Play-off 1 will have home advantage).

The winner of the Play-off final will take the 20th place in the 2017/18 Champions Cup.

Connacht’s possible play-off semi-final opponents

France: Lyon Olympique, Stade Francais, Pau, Castres, Bordeaux-Begles, Brive, Toulouse, Racing 92, Toulon.

England: Harlequins, Gloucester, Northampton, Newcastle, Bath.

Connacht’s semi-final opponents will either be decided following the completion of the PRO12, Top14 and Premiership on Saturday, May 6, or after the European Challenge Cup final between Stade Francais and Gloucester on Friday, May 12.

See our latest squad update here and the match preview for Connacht v Scarlets here.

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