Connacht 2012-2013

[John123]

I'm not saying he hasn't been heard of, I'm saying he is COMPLETELY unknown at senior level.

[megladon]

Poolman could be a really great signing for the westies,potential 13 this lad,has good hands and loves to tackle,defo one to watch out for

[Pony]

Thinking long term. He has signed a 3 year deal, at the end of which he is IQ. A 26 y.o. IQ centre/wing with 3 years Pro12/HEC experience!!!! He could be very attractive to Ulster and Munster then.

[McCloud]

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Friday, July 13, 2012, 12:26
Connacht to face English duo




Rugby: Connacht have announced that we will be playing two pre-season games against English Premiership opposition in preparation for the upcoming 2012/13 season.


First up will be the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday, August 11th (2.0) to be followed a week later by a clash with Harlequins at the Stoop, Saturday, August 18th (2.45). The fixtures will provide Connacht coach Eric Elwood his first chance to blend in the new summer signings and development players into the squad.


Exeter Chiefs will make their debut in the Heineken Cup, where they have been pitted against champions Leinster, Clermont Auvergne and the Llanelli Scarlets. Last season they performed consistently throughout the year, and finished just outside the play-off positions in fifth place in the Aviva Premiership, the only team outside of the top four to win more games than they lost.


Club captain Tom Hayes, brother of former Munster and Ireland prop John, is one of three Irish players on the books. Outhalf Gareth Steenson hails from Dungannon and is in his third season at the club. This summer the Chiefs signed centre Ian Whitten from Ulster.


Harlequins are familiar opposition to all Connacht fans. The pre-season game will be the first of at least three fixtures against Conor O'Shea’s side as they are once again in the same Heineken Cup pool. The Stoop was the venue for Connacht’s first ever Heineken Cup match where the hosts were put to the pin of their collar, but late penalties from Nick Evans saw Connacht denied a losing bonus point.


The home game will live long in the memory of all Connacht supporters, as a first ever win in the competition was achieved in atrocious weather conditions in January. Following their European elimination, Harlequins lost only two more games in the Premiership as they were crowned league champions for the first time in their history with a 30-23 victory over the Leicester Tigers.

[ormond lad]

I know this was mentioned elsewhere but il put it up here anyway JP Cooney has signed a development contract for the coming season. Great to see another Tipp man on a contract. Good player, always 1 of the best on the pitch from when he was playing underage in Thurles to the past few seasons in Garryowen

[Milester]

I know this was mentioned elsewhere but il put it up here anyway JP Cooney has signed a development contract for the coming season. Great to see another Tipp man on a contract. Good player, always 1 of the best on the pitch from when he was playing underage in Thurles to the past few seasons in Garryowen

What age is he?

[Sea_point]

Full Squad Details for 2012-13

Talented club players given chance to shine at Connacht
http://www.connachtrugby.ie/20120802...ne-at-connacht

Three talented All Ireland League players have been given the opportunity to display their talents at Connacht Rugby after being awarded development contracts with the province. Brian Murphy, Matt Healy and JP Cooney have been drafted in as Head Coach Eric Elwood puts the finishing touches to the 2012/13 squad.

With the first block of pre-season training finished and the season almost upon us the squad is taking shape in more ways than one. Last year saw a new look Connacht team with 16 players joining the club but the season ahead will see a much more settled Connacht side take to the pitch.

Connacht’s participation in the British & Irish cup, the Heineken Cup and the RaboDirect PRO12 has led to considerable investment in players and a number of astute signings have bolstered the squad in key areas. There have also been several internal promotions from the Connacht Academy to the senior setup highlighting the commitment of the club in developing it’s own indigenous players.

Connacht put together some extraordinary performances last season, finishing eighth in the league and toppling Aviva Premiership winners Harlequins in the Heineken Cup, and the future looks even brighter for the western club. Season ticket sales have soared and overtaken last year’s record breaking figure already and crowds are expected to flock to the Sportsground to see the new recruits in action.

As well as seasoned campaigners such as John Muldoon, Michael Swift and Johnny O’Connor, Connacht fans will have the opportunity to see Scottish international Dan Parks, Heineken Cup finalists Nathan White and Willie Faloon and the Stormers Danie Poolman line out in the green of Connacht this season.

The latest additions to the squad include former Leinster and Bristol hooker Jason Harris-Wright, Lansdowne RFC’s flying winger Matt Healy, centre Brian Murphy from Galwegians and Garryowen’s Bateman Cup winning prop, JP Cooney. They will join some of Connacht’s brightest young talents when Connacht kick start their RaboDirect PRO12 campaign in early September.
Head Coach Eric Elwood is delighted with the way the squad has taken shape saying:

“The new guys have slotted into our setup very nicely. Tom (McLoughlin) is putting the squad through a tough preseason programme which should see us in good shape come the start of the season. It’s an exciting time for everyone with our second year in the Heineken Cup and competing in the British & Irish Cup for the first time. It’s great to see the Academy players coming through and integrating into the senior squad.”

“We went through some major restructuring last season and we still finished in our highest ever league position so we’re all looking forward to what we can achieve this year.”

Connacht Rugby squad 2012/13
New Arrivals in Bold

Props:
Brett Wilkinson, Ronan Loughney, Denis Buckley, Rodney Ah You, Nathan White, JP Cooney

Hookers:
Adrian Flavin, Ethienne Reynecke, Jason Harris Wright

2^nd Rows:
Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, Andrew Browne, Dave Nolan, Dave Gannon, Mick Kearney

Back Rows:
John Muldoon, Johnny O’Connor, Willie Faloon, TJ Anderson, Eoghan Grace, Eoin McKeon, George Naoupu

Scrum-halves:
Frank Murphy, Dave Moore, Paul O’Donohoe

Out-halves:
Miah Nikora, Matthew Jarvis, Dan Parks

Centres:
Eoin Griffin, Kyle Tonetti, Danie Poolman, Dave McSharry, Brian Murphy, Mata Fafita

Wingers:
Mark McCrea, Fetu’u Vainikolo, James Loxton, Matt Healy

Fullbacks:
Gavin Duffy, Tiernan O’Halloran

Players out:
Ray Ofisa, Henry Fa’afili, Brian Tuohy, Dermot Murphy, Jamie Stephens, Keith Matthews, Dylan Rogers, Stewart Maguire

[Mcork]

Interesting. Connachts downfall has always been depth of quality. They'd get a bit of a run and then injuries would crucify them. Have they got some squad depth this season? Is a top half of the table finish beyond them?

[ormond lad]

What age is he?

22

[The Outlaw]

Interesting. Connachts downfall has always been depth of quality. They'd get a bit of a run and then injuries would crucify them. Have they got some squad depth this season? Is a top half of the table finish beyond them?

Bit of depth. Debatable whether we could finish 6th or up. But we should be more competitive this year. Pack has been considerably upskilled

[Tifa]

Great to see Mata in there - about time

[Munsterboy]

Great to see Mata in there - about time

Who he?

[Sea_point]

Tonga centre that has been playing for Sligo for a couple of seasons. More than likely only B&I squad material, anything else is a bonus....

[garryowen2323]

Thoguht Shane Layden might have got a call-up. Still recovering from him injury I suppose

[Sea_point]

Thoguht Shane Layden might have got a call-up. Still recovering from him injury I suppose

Ah no he's only Year 2 Academy, sure he hasn't made any sort of breakthrough into the Seniors yet to be looking for a development or full contract. B&I cup this year will be a big opportunity for all the Academy lads to make a case for themselves. If they get an opportunity at Seniors they need to take it with both hands if they want to fast-track themselves.

[porterbelly]

Great to see Mata in there - about time

Massive specimen. Could do damage, but it's a monumental step up in class for him to adapt to.

Already one injury, Dave Nolan broke his leg a couple of weeks ago (again) and will miss his 3rd season in a row through injury

Heard a couple of rumblings from the camp. Rodney is in his best shape every, has really got his act together and has put in a good pre season. Nathan White has been very impressive and is showing alot of leadership and very good with the young players. Dave Heffernan, 21 year old Ballina flanker has also impressed and can make a breakthough this year.

Danie Poolman had his 1st training session today

[joconnell]

Nathan white's a huge loss for Leinster - brilliant player and a lovely guy, will add to any team he visits.

[ormond lad]

Connacht v US Collegiate All American XV saturday 3pm in sportsground
www.connachtclan.com
15 Alex O’Meara
14 Steve Macauley
13 Conor Finn
12 Tadhg Leader
11 Matt Healy
10 Darragh Leader
9 Chris Lilly
1 JP Cooney
2 Kurt Haupt
3 Jamie Dever
4 Danny Qualter
5 Jonathan Gardiner
6 Dave Heffernan
7 Aaron Conneely
8 Danny Kenny

[Sea_point]

Connacht team to face Exeter Chiefs tomorrow afternoon

Connacht announce team to face Exeter in first of pre-season fixture

Connacht Rugby have announced the team that will face the Exeter Chiefs tomorrow in the first of the pre-season fixtures. The game will take place at 2pm at Sandy Park.

These fixtures are a great opportunity for Eric Elwood to blend the new summer signings and development players into the squad. Tomorrow’s line up sees a blend of youth and experience picked from a large squad and offers Eric Elwood and his management team the chance to try out a number of different combinations.

Included in the line-up for tomorrow, academy prop and former Irish U20s International Finlay Bealham earns his first start for the province in the front row.

Newly signed Brian Murphy will start at inside centre, having joined from Ulster Bank AIL club side Galwegians. Murphy was voted the iRadio Senior Club Player of the Year having performed consistently over the course of the season.

Tiernan O’Halloran, who featured predominantly on the wing last season, will move to Full-Back position.

Scrum-half Kieran Marmion had a very successful Ireland U20s campaign in the Junior World Championship and will be looking to stake his claim for the highly competitive number nine position from the bench.

Also in the replacements line up is Buccaneers player Robbie Henshaw. The talented centre has been a vital member of Nigel Carolan’s Academy.


Head Coach Eric Elwood is eagerly looking forward to the first game of the new season. “Pre-season training has being going very well and the players are itching to kick off with the new season. Our new guys have settled in excellently and we’re ready for the challenge Exeter pose as a very strong side.”

This season will be Exeter Chiefs debut season in the Heineken Cup, where they have been pitted against Leinster, Clermont Auvergne and the Llanelli Scarlets. Last season they performed consistently throughout the year, and finished just outside the play-off positions in fifth place in the Aviva Premiership, the only team outside of the top four to win more games than they lost. Club captain Tom Hayes, brother of former Munster and Ireland prop John, is one of three Irish players on the books.

The game kicks off at 2pm tomorrow 11th August. Follow Connacht Rugby on Facebook and Twitter and we will keep you up to date with the scores as they happen.

This game is followed a week later by a clash with old time rivals Harlequins at the Stoop on Saturday 18th at 2.45pm.




Connacht XV

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 James Loxton
13 Kyle Tonetti
12 Brian Murphy
11 Fetu’u Vainikolo
10 Miah Nikora
9 Dave Moore

1 Finlay Bealham
2 Adrian Flavin
3 Peter Reilly
4 Michael Swift
5 David Gannon
6 Andrew Browne
7 Eoghan Grace
8 George Naoupu


Replacements (from): Jason Harris Wright, Dennis Buckley, JP Cooney, Mick Kearney, Thomas Anderson, Willie Faloon, Eoghan McKeon, Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty, Mark McCrae, Mata Fifita, Robbie Henshaw, Matthew Jarvis

Exeter side:

Exeter Chiefs:
Dollman; Tatupu, Naqelevuki, Whitten, Jess; Steenson, Thomas;
Moon, Whitehead, Tui, Hayes, Hanks, White, Scaysbrook, Baxter

[porterbelly]

Beat Exeter 8-6 in Sandy Park, try from Vainikolo.

Full strength Exeter side or the next best thing so very impressive considering we had an academy and sub academy prop starting and no McCarthy, Muldoon, Johnny O Connor, Loughney, Wilkinson, White, Griffin, McSharry, Poolman, Parks, Frank Murphy and Reyneke in the squad.

Very impressive, hopefully indicates there's a bit of depth there this year, great defensive performance by all accounts

[The Outlaw]

you dont have to be a good team to tackle properly. Something Bradley never really embraced.

[McCloud]

Dave Nolan out for possible the season with a broken leg.

[Benji]

Dave Nolan out for possible the season with a broken leg.

Hi had no luck. To have that happen once is a tough time but twice.
Best of luck to him

[McCloud]

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Thursday, August 16, 2012, 16:10


Connacht make changes for Stoop




Rugby: Connacht coach Eric Elwood has announced a team to face perennial rivals Harlequins at the Stoop this Saturday (2.45). The second and final pre-season friendly gives the squad an opportunity to build on last week’s 8-6 win over the Exeter Chiefs.


Elwood has opted to make nine changes from the side that started against Exeter with a view to assessing his options ahead of the opening Magners League game in a fortnight. Fetu’u Vainikolo, Miah Nikora, George Naoupu and Michael Swift have been introduced to the starting team while Tiernan O’Halloran and Andrew Browne demonstrate their versatility by switching positions


The match presents a good opportunity to blood more of the Academy players. Robbie Henshaw starts at outside centre after coming on in Sandy Park last week, while Kieran Marmion will make his first senior start for Connacht at scrum half.


Kieran played a pivotal role for Ireland at the IRB Junior World Championship, starting four of their five games en route to a highest ever finish of fifth in the tournament.


Some of the close season signings also get their first start in Connacht colours. Mata Fifita and JP Cooney, graduate from club rugby, introduced at inside centre and tight-head respectively. Former Leinster hooker Jason Harris-Wright starts in a young front row – average age just over 22 – joined by Cooney and Denis Buckley.


Former Ulster openside flanker Willie Faloon also makes his debut. The other personnel changes see John Muldoon come into the side at blindside and Matthew Jarvis at fullback.


Elwood admitted: “I have a lot of confidence in this week’s selection. ‘Quins are always an important game for us, one we look forward to, and we’ll be looking to recreate the physicality and passion previously shown against this side when we meet them throughout the season.


Harlequins are familiar opposition to all Connacht fans. This pre-season game on Saturday is the first of at least three fixtures against Conor O’Shea’s side as they teams meet in the Heineken Cup. Following the Harlequins encounter, Connacht will have a two week break before the first game of the RaboDirect PRO12 season. The Cardiff Blues will be the visitors to the Sportsground.


Connacht: M Jarvis; T O’Halloran, R Henshaw, M Fifita, F Vainikolo; M Nikora, K Marmion; JP Cooney, J Harris Wright, D Buckley; M Swift, A Browne; J Muldoon, W Faloon, G Naoupu. Replacements: F Bealham, A Flavin, Kearney, D Gannon, J O’Connor, E McKeon, D Moore, J Carty, C Finn, J Loxton, M McCrea.

[McCloud]

Elwood sweats on Parks fitness
Tuesday August 28 2012


Former Scotland out-half Dan Parks is in a race against time to be fit to make his Connacht debut against old club Cardiff Blues on Saturday.


The 34-year-old, the record points scorer in the Pro12, is struggling with a calf injury which forced him to miss both of Connacht's pre-season games.


Parks spent the past two seasons with Cardiff Blues, scoring 236 of the 1,341 points he has amassed in the competition, having been with Glasgow for seven seasons.


Connacht coach Eric Elwood said that he would wait until the last moment before finalising his side to give Parks and several other doubtful players every chance of being fit.


Another new signing, former Leinster prop Nathan White, is also doubtful along with hooker Ethienne Reynecke, prop Rodney Ah You and centres Kyle Tonetti and Dave McSharry.


"It is a huge match for us and we want to get our season off to the best possible start, but we know Cardiff will be coming here eager to impress their new coach Phil Davies."


Elwood is helped by the availability of Irish squad members Ronan Loughney, Gavin Duffy and Mike McCarthy, although loosehead prop Brett Wilkinson will sit this one out under the player welfare management plan.


Elwood must plan without three hamstring victims -- Jason Harris-Wright, Paul O'Donoghue and Eoin McKeown.


Irish Independent

[garryowen2323]

-- Jason Harris-Wright.

Everytime I see his name I read it as Jason Jones-Hughes and start shuddering!

[Waterfordlad]

Westies down 3-13 middle of second half. Jones got try for Cardiff

[scotscor]

weshties lose, sounds like they had plenty of ball, but couldnt hold it

[The Outlaw]

weshties lose, sounds like they had plenty of ball, but couldnt hold it

Awful performance to be honest. At least 12-15 knock ons. Little direction at half-back.

Pack won plenty of ball. Backs couldnt use it. Our theme song. I just dont know whether Elwood is capable of giving us a framework within to play with.

Where as Munster at least seem to be trying to play according to a style which may take a few months. We have no distinct pattern of play in my view.

Worrying times ahead. We've a decent squad there now and the ould platitudes really dont wash anymore.

[Mcork]

Another false dawn? Another winnable game lost by inability to use the ball constructively by the sounds of it.