1 year ago 
It’s week 3 of pre-season training at The Sportsground where the squad are continuing preparations for their ‘Return To Rugby’.
A squad of 41 are training across two groups, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with new signings Ben O’Donnell and Abraham Papali’i to arrive later in the summer.
One new arrival who is among the squad is Alex Wootton, with the winger continuing his integration with the playing squad.
Check out some of the best pics below.
The Connacht pro squad endured the West of Ireland weather for the last time this week as they stepped up their preparations for Sunday’s clash with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
The squad begin their travels to South Africa tomorrow for a Thursday arrival, in what will be their third trip to the country since the inclusion of the two sides to the Guinness PRO14 in 2017.
Check out some of the best pics from this morning’s session here.
With just a six-day turnaround before the Gloucester return fixture, the squad held a gym session at The Sportsground this morning before returning to on-pitch matters tomorrow.
Join them for a simply must-win game in Europe this Saturday!
Check out the best pics from yesterday’s disappointing Heineken Champions Cup defeat to Gloucester here.
Don’t forget the return fixture takes place this Saturday at The Sportsground in a simply must-win game. You can book your spot in the link below.
Following Sunday’s vital Heineken Champions Cup win over Montpellier at The Sportsground, the Connacht players were back in training yesterday as attention turns to a clash with another French outfit.
Andy Friend’s side take on Toulouse, a side they are no strangers of in the competition, with the game taking place at the Stade Ernest-Wallon this Saturday (k/o 1pm Irish time).
Ahead of the game the squad held a light training session yesterday as they juggle a 6-day turnaround.
Check out some of the best pics below:
With only days remaining until the historic first visit of the Toyota Cheetahs to the Sportsground. Preparations are well underway as the players have been put through their paces. There is a confident mood in the camp following our recent run of results but everyone is aware of the threat posed by the Cheetahs.
After losing their opening two games, the Cheetahs have gone on a good run which has seen them sitting in third place in Conference A and are one of the top try scoring teams in the championship with 27 tries.
This form hasn’t gone unnoticed by backs coach Nigel Carolan who is fully aware of the threat they pose.
“When the lost their first two games some people started writing them off immediately, but I noticed the likes of Rassie Erasmus, who would know them better than most, predicted this improvement. They were well beaten against Ulster and Munster when they fell apart, but they had a great win at home to Leinster and that really kick started their season. They are a really attacking, exciting team and we will need to be at our best to beat them.”
Following his match winning try last weekend, Tom Farrell is also conscious of that attacking style and the challenge that will pose from a defensive point of view:
“We have had a good look at them and looked at plenty of footage of them and they are a really attacking team. They love to run with the ball and score tries and they have scored plenty of them so far. We will really need to put in a big defensive display and prevent them getting a foot hold. We did well in defence in the win against Munster, but we also made mistakes, so we were left with plenty to work on”.
Tickets for the game are still available with only a handful of spots remaining in the Main Terrace.
Check out some of the pictures from preparations at the Sportsground this week.