Connacht v Stad Francais Digital Match Programme

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PRESIDENT’s
WELCOME
On behalf of everyone
at Connacht Rugby, I am
delighted to welcome you to
The Sportsground for today’s
Heineken Champions Cup fixture
between Connacht and Stade
Francais.
Champions Cup games at The Sportsground
are always really special occasions, and today
promises to be no different. It is particularly
special to once again have this fixture in front
of you, our loyal supporters, after a season of
behind-closed-doors games in Europe.
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I’m sure like me when you think about
European games on College Road, your mind
casts back to a whole host of memorable
days. That opening fixture against Toulouse
when over 9,000 of you crammed into the
stadium. That historic first win over Harlequins.
The victory over Toulouse just a few months
after winning the Guinness PRO12, and then
a few weeks later Jack Carty slots over an
incredible last minute conversion for the win
over Wasps. Who could also forget the game
against Gloucester two years ago, when the
team came back from 10 points down with 5
minutes to go to claim the win?
We all hope today’s game will add to that list,
albeit we welcome a very strong team and a
proud French club in Stade Francais. I’d like to
welcome all their players, coaches and wider
management group to the West of Ireland, and
we hope you have a safe and healthy journey
home.
It’s not lost on any of us how fortunate we are
that, amidst the ongoings COVID-19 concerns,
we are still able to fulfil these fixtures, and
even better play them in front of 100%
capacity crowds. Other sectors unfortunately
have suffered, and we all sincerely hope that
things will return back to normal for them as
soon as possible. In the meantime, I’d strongly
encourage all attending fans to do their bit
at the ground today. Most important to wear
your mask at all times, but also make use of
the sanitisation station and be mindful of those
around you. If you all play our part then days like
today can continue long into the season.
On the Club & Community scene, this Monday is
a significant day with the 2021/22 Schools Cup
and Bank of Ireland Junior Cup Draw, which
will be broadcast live on the Connacht Rugby
YouTube page from 7pm. In normal times we’d all
come together here in The Sportsground for us,
but this will be an excellent alternative that will
allow people all across the province to watch the
draws unfold. My thanks as always to the Club
& Community for the trojan work they do every
year to make these competitions a reality, and
I’d like to wish all the competing clubs, schools
and players every successf in the months ahead.
Connacht Abu!
Ann Heneghan
President, Connacht Rugby

Chairman welcome message
Heineken Champions Cup Rounds 1&2 2021/22
semi-finals, will guarantee a further series of
compelling fixtures culminating in the 2022 final
at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on Saturday,
28 May. In addition, three clubs from each pool will
qualify for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge
Cup.
A special mention must go to Stade Toulousain
who made history last season when they lifted the
trophy in such fine style for a record fifth time, and
to the supremely-talented Antoine Dupont who
became the first French player to be awarded the
Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy as EPCR European
Player of the Year.
A warm welcome to this match in the
2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup season
as we look forward once again to elite
clubs and top players producing the
brilliance and drama which have for
long been the trademarks of our truly
world-class tournament.
Following the new EPCR agreement which
was concluded last April, we are now entering
an exciting era for Heineken Champions Cup
rugby and with stadiums across Europe opening
up to fans once again, we will see a return
to the traditional passion and colour which
have characterised the competition since its
inception in 1995.
The 24-club format with two pools of 12 has
been retained, and following two rounds of
matches this month, and two in January, the
eight highest-ranked clubs in each pool will
qualify for the knockout stage.
An innovative Round of 16 with home and away
legs, and then traditional quarter-finals and
We are delighted to be joined on the journey to
the Marseille finals by our long-standing title
partner, Heineken, and we also extend the hand
of welcome to our newest official partner, DHL,
who will provide customised logistics solutions for
both the Heineken Champions Cup and the EPCR
Challenge Cup. We would also like to thank Tissot,
the Financial Times, Gilbert and Kappa for their
continuing support.
We recognise the superb coverage provided by
our TV partners BT Sport, beIN SPORTS, France
Télévisions, Channel 4 and Virgin Media whose
output is complemented by the wide range of linear
and OTT platforms which broadcast the Heineken
Champions Cup globally.
The elite clubs in this season’s tournament have a
total of 38 European titles between them so we are
certain of top-quality entertainment from the kickoff
to the final whistle.
On behalf of everyone at EPCR, enjoy the match
and best wishes to you, the fans, as well as to your
club’s players and staff for what promises to be
another memorable Heineken Champions Cup
season.
Yours in rugby,
Dominic McKay,
EPCR Chairman (interim)

Heineken Welcome Message
Heineken Champions Cup Rounds 1&2 2021/22
Welcome to Round 1 of the
Heineken® Champions Cup
2021/2022. The start of a new
season of Heineken® Champions
Cup rugby always brings great
excitement and anticipation
for what awaits between now
and the end of May. All teams
start out with hopes and
dreams of making the final in
Marseilles and what promises
to be a fantastic festival of
rugby. We at HEINEKEN Ireland
are immensely proud to be title
sponsor of Europe’s leading
club rugby competition, a
tournament that conjures up so
many truly memorable sporting
occasions, forever etched in
the folklore of Irish sport and
I have no doubt, more memories
will be made in this new season.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
Every great match
starts with 0.0
What makes this season even more
special is that it truly marks the return
of the big match day occasion that we have
all missed so much over the past couple of
seasons. It was testament to the great work
of EPCR and the players and officials of all
the participating teams, that the past two
Heineken® Champions Cup seasons were
completed, albeit in a truncated manner.
However, what was abundantly clear is that
matchday is nothing without fans in stadia.
It really is fantastic that all fans will again get
to enjoy rugby around Europe this season;
be it live in stadia or in their local bar over
a refreshing Heineken® with friends. The
pandemic has impacted us all in so many ways,
but sport has been a real beacon of hope, a
source of great enjoyment and comfort to so
many. Long may it continue to be.
I wish all teams participating in this season’s
competition good luck and success. It goes
without saying that we in HEINEKEN Ireland will
keep a particularly close eye on the results of
Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. I wish
them all well in Round 1 & 2 as they take on quality
English and French opposition.
Enjoy the games and as always please do socialise
responsibly.
Maarten Schuurman
Managing Director, HEINEKEN Ireland.
CY
CMY
K

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THE BIG MATCH
PREVIEW
beat them. The most important thing there is to
not give them the ins via their set-piece. If we
can do that and play the rugby we know we can
play, we will give them some troubles.”
Meanwhile, tighthead prop Jack Aungier says the
decision to renew his contract with Connacht
was an “easy” decision to make.
The 23-year-old joined the Westerners from
Leinster in the summer of 2020 and has since
been a regular feature in matchday squads,
impressing with his combative style of play.
With plenty of game time, Aungier – the former
Suttonians club man – has enjoyed his rugby and
this was a key factor in his decision to continue
plying his trade at the Sportsground as well as
being able to compete at the highest level of
club rugby, the Heineken Champions Cup.
“I suppose it was a pretty easy one,” the forward
said of his decision to pen a new deal.
“I came up here and got an opportunity straight
away. The COVID break was tough, but I played
13/14 games last year and I was pretty much
involved all the time.
The 24-year-old former St Michael’s student
joined the Westerners in the summer of 2020
and has impressed with his physicality in the
forward pack.
Despite some injury set-backs, Dowling feels
settled in the squad and is looking forward to
contributing on the pitch going forward.
“Similar to Jack, I’m really delighted to have
gotten the opportunity to come up here last
year,” the former Irish underage international
said.
“I’m really happy to be signing on. I got to play
a good bit more rugby this year and last year as
well, so, yeah, it was a pretty easy decision.”
Head coach Andy Friend
says his squad are looking
forward to the challenge of
hosting Stade Francais in the
Heineken Champions Cup at the
Sportsground on Sunday at 1PM.
The Westerners were defeated by Leinster in an
interpro in the United Rugby Championship last
time out, but the Australian – who was happy
with elements of his team’s performance – says
the squad have drawn a line under the loss and
all their focus is on Sunday’s European clash.
The contest at the set-piece will be a determining
factor in who wins, Friend says, but the home
team’s priority for their continental opener will
be ensuring they are at their best and that they
can execute their own game plan, rather than
adapting to try and counter their opponents.
“They have a very dominant set-piece platform
to launch from. In that La Rochelle game(last
weekend’s French league clash) and others,
when they get that right, they get good energy
off that,” the former Australian sevens coach said.
“Our scrum is going to be really important, as is our
maul. They have brilliant individuals, so we need to
be aware of the threat those individuals will throw
at us.
“But more importantly, and like we have been
focusing on in the last four or five games, it’s about
us and what we do. We’re aware of the threats they
have there, we need to get parity in those key areas.
“When we have got the ball, we can play our style,
we believe we can cause them some issues. And
when we don’t have the ball, we need to make sure
we’re working collectively rather than individually.”
In the midst of a ten-week block of games, Friend
believes that squad rotation and depth – either
making substitutes in-game or naming changed
starting teams – will be key in keeping the squad
fresh and competitive.
“It will take a 23 to be able to beat them on the
weekend, “ he said.
“All 23 will have to be at their best if we do want to
“I’m really enjoying it up here and I’m delighted
to sign for another two years and it was a pretty
easy decision, really.”
Connacht reshuffled their coaching team over
the pre-season with Mossy Lawler and Cullie
Tucker promoted from the academy ranks and
Dewald Senekal joining as forward’s coach from
the French Top 14.
Aungier says that he has enjoyed working with
Senekal – the South African native – and learning
from a coach with a French and South African
interpretation of forward play.
“He’s been very good,” the prop said of the
forward’s coach.
“I’ve learned a lot from him. He’s probably got a
few new ideas around the scrum and line out that
you wouldn’t see as much in Ireland, it’s probably
more French or South African. He’s been a really
good addition. Our maul defence has been really
good this year and our scrum has been pretty
solid. He’s brought a lot to the party.”
Similarly, second row Oisin Dowling is delighted
in joining Aungier in signing a fresh deal with
Connacht.

Pro team PROFILES
bundee
aki
Centre
sammy
arnold
Centre
jack
aungier
Prop
finlay
bealham
Prop
Caolin
blade
Scrum Half
shayne
bolton
Centre
Paul
Boyle
Back Row
denis
buckley
Prop
matthew
burke
Prop
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Jarrad
Butler
Back Row
jack
Carty
Out Half
tom
daly
Centre
shane
delahunt
Hooker
Ultan
Dillane
Second Row
oisin
dowling
Back Row
jordan
duggan
Prop
Tom
Farrell
Centre
Leva
Fifita
Second Row

Pro team PROFILES
Conor
Fitzgerald
Out Half
mack
hansen
Out Half / Back
Three
Matt
healy
Back Three
dave
heffernan
Hooker
sam
illo
Prop
kieran
marmion
Scrum Half
eoghan
Masterson
Back Row
Sean
Masterson
Back Row
greg
Mcgrath
Prop
Oran
Mcnulty
Back Three
Jonny
Murphy
Hooker
Niall
Murray
Second Row
Ben
O’Donnell
Back Three
Tiernan
O’Halloran
Back Three
Conor
Oliver
Back Row
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Abraham
Papali’i
Back Row
John
Porch
Back Three
Cian
Prendergast
Back Row

Pro team PROFILES
Colm
reilly
Scrum Half
peter
robb
Centre
Dominic
Robertson-
Mccoy
Prop
Peter
Sullivan
Back Three
Gavin
Thornbury
Second Row
Dylan
Tierney-Martin
Hooker
Alex
Wootton
Back Three
20 CONNACHT RUGBY

THE BIG INTERVIEW
Whether it’s underage, senior, male or
female any Irish rugby squad in 2021 is
sure to feature Connacht players.
Shannon Touhey is the latest Westerners player
to earn full international honours after making
her debut for the senior team against Japan in
November.
The centre was over the moon to be selected
for her country – especially after training with
the national team for over a year without being
selected to play – and credits the platform given
to her by Connacht to fulfill her international
ambitions.
“It’s huge,” Touhey says of the opportunity
the western province provides players to be
recognised on the international stage.
“Before you would have been lucky to get
spotted, but now girls have the interpros and
you have that platform to go out there and
perform. The Irish coaches are watching and
now this year, for the first time, it was televised
as well.
“There’s huge potential there now to be spotted
through the province(Connacht).”
The back, who balances her rugby career with
camogie – where she is a goalkeeper – and her
job as a cafe manager was grateful that her first
Irish cap happened in a time when fans were
allowed into stadiums after more than a year of
empty stands due to covid restrictions.
Touhey was involved in an Irish training camp last
year, but was released back to her club without
earning a cap, but this set-back only made her
more hungry to represent her country.
To be able to sing the national anthem, knowing
that her parents and fiance were there to see it
in person, was an extremely proud moment for
the Tullamore native, whose long-term goal was
to play international rugby.
“That was one thing I always dreamed of in
the year I was in there training(with Ireland), I
always said to myself that ‘if I ever get my first
cap, I would love it to be in front of my parents,
my fiance and my friends and family,” she said.
“I do count myself as one of the lucky ones,
to be able to experience that and experience
seeing them in front of me when I was singing
the national anthem.
“It was highly emotional for me, so I do count
myself very lucky that, in covid times, I got to
have them there. I got to see them afterward
and have all the pictures taken. I count myself
very lucky in that sense. It was amazing.”
Primarily operating as an inside centre for club
and country, Touhey relishes the attacking style
of play at Connacht – the same attacking and
progressive mentality played by the men’s and
underage teams – and she feels it suits her best
characteristics as a rugby player.
The Tullamore RFC player enjoys getting her
hands on the ball and bringing other players into
play with offloads, which is a trait she admires in
Connacht’s – both men’s and women’s – game
plan.
“Yeah, I definitely think it suits me,” she says
of the tactics devised by Ross Mannion, the
women’s senior head coach, and his team of
coaches and also employed across the club at
all grades.
“I wouldn’t be a mad kicker or anything like that,
but I enjoy offloading. Even if you watch the
men’s team at the moment, their offloading is
unbelievable. As a player, I find if I get in behind
the gain line, and you’re on my shoulder I’ll give
you the ball.
“That style of play – which Connacht are playing
at the minute – that’s what I like. Break the gain
line, offload and keep going until you get to the
try line.”
Having started rugby at seventeen, Touhey
spent time playing on the sevens’ circuit before
being recommended for Connacht trials by her
Tullamore team-mate, and Connacht player, Jill
Draper.
The back initially didn’t make the grade, but
she didn’t feel deterred and she was eventually
called back into the fold with the Westerners
and is now keen to add to her
fifteen appearances with the
province after debuting in 2017.
“She(Jill Draper) said ‘look, I’m
telling you, Connacht are a big
family and I think you’ll do really
well there,” the Offaly woman said
of her team-mate encouraging
her to pursue a chance with the
Western province.
“I trialed and didn’t make it, but a
few weeks later they called. They
had an injury – and I guess Jill
put in a good word for me – so
they gave me a shot.
“JP(Walsh) and Gav Foley were
the coaches at the time and gave
me my shot and called me in. Lo
and behold, the interpros started
and there was an injury, so they
said ‘look, Shannon, we’re going
to start you against Leinster’ and
that’s where it began.”
Many more appearances in both
shades of green will sure to be
to follow for the multi-talented
Offaly native.

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4 CONNACHT RUGBY

THE GREATEST WEEKEND IN RUGBY
27-28 MAY, STADE VÉLODROME

Cheslin Kolbe last season, Juan Imhoff in 2019/20
and Maxime Médard in 2018/19. Consider the
star quality of the last three overall winners of
the Champions Try of the Round and you know
that the competition to find the best try of this
Heineken Champions Cup season will feature
some of the biggest names in the world game.
Kolbe’s was awarded the accolade in 2020/21
for a breathtaking score against Ulster Rugby in
Round 1. Taking a pass from Thomas Ramos, the
former Stade Toulousain wing beat two Ulster
defenders, kicked over another and collected
after two bounces to slide over the whitewash in
remarkable fashion.
Fans were given the opportunity to vote for
the best tries selected from Rounds 1 and 2,
the Round of 16, the quarter-finals, as well as
Juan Cruz Mallia’s score during the final at
Twickenham, before Kolbe emerged as the
overall winner.
Last season, the Champions Try of the Round
competition was largely dominated by players
from TOP 14 clubs. What will happen this
season? Which outstanding players will make
the difference? Which tries will get the fans’ vote
along with the verdict of a panel of renowned
rugby experts.
Each Monday following match weekends, a
shortlist of five tries will be selected by EPCR
and opened to public vote with fans having the
chance to win some great prizes.
This will be the perfect opportunity to watch the
best Heineken Champions Cup tries over and
over again and to vote for The One to Win.
CHAMPIONS TRY OF THE ROUND
WINNERS 2020/21
Round 1/Champions Try of the Season:
Cheslin Kolbe
Stade Toulousain v Ulster Rugby
Round 2: Alivereti Raka
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Munster Rugby
Round of 16: Antoine Dupont
Stade Toulousain v Munster Rugby
Quarter-Final: Grégory Alldritt
Stade Rochelais v Sale Sharks
EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR

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