Connacht v Leicester Tigers Digital Match Programme

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Chairman welcome message
Heineken Champions Cup Rounds 3&4 2021/22
In addition, the three clubs ranked ninth to 11th in
each pool will have the opportunity to compete
for silverware by qualifying for the knockout
stage of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
We are delighted to be joined on this season’s
journey to Marseille by our long-standing title
partner, Heineken, as well as by our newest official
partner, DHL, who are providing customised
logistics solutions for both the Heineken
Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup,
and we would also like to thank Tissot, the
Financial Times, Gilbert and Kappa for their
continuing support.
A warm welcome to this Heineken
Champions Cup pool stage match
as we anticipate once again elite
clubs and top players producing
the brilliance and drama which have
for long been the trademarks of our
truly world-class tournament.
The two fixtures this month will determine the
eight clubs in each pool which will qualify for
the knockout stage and continue on the road
to the Marseille finals weekend, so the stakes
are high.
We can then look forward to an innovative
Round of 16 with home and away legs, followed
by traditional quarter-finals and semi-finals
which will guarantee a further series of
compelling matches culminating in the 2022
showpiece final at the Stade Vélodrome on
Saturday, 28 May.
We acknowledge the superb coverage provided
by our TV partners BT Sport, beIN SPORTS,
France Télévisions, Channel 4, Virgin Media, S4C
and Sky Italia whose output is complemented
by the wide range of linear and OTT platforms
which broadcast the Heineken Champions Cup
globally.
We recognise that these are particularly
challenging times for players, club staff and
supporters, however, rest assured that we are
continuing to work with the leagues and unions
so that as many fixtures as possible can be
played safely.
We remain optimistic that this season’s
tournament will be completed successfully, and
on behalf of all 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
a compelling conclusion to the pool stage.
Yours in rugby,
Dominic McKay,
EPCR Chairman (interim)

PRESIDENT’s
WELCOME
As President of Connacht Rugby
I am delighted to welcome you to
The Sportsground for today’s
pivotal Heineken Champions
Cup fixture between Connacht
and Leicester Tigers.
Today is arguably the biggest day of the season
so far and one that could go down in the history
books if the results go Connacht’s way. In the
25+ years of the famous competition, never
before has a team from the West reached the
knockout stages of Europe’s premiere club
rugby tournament. While a win today wouldn’t
mathematically make it a guarantee, it would be
a huge step towards making a last 16 place a
reality. On behalf of all the supporters I wish
all the players and management the very best
of luck.
I think we can all agree there’s a real sense of
momentum about the team right now. The gritty
win over Munster on New Year’s Day followed
two very encouraging performances in Europe,
and while the result didn’t go our way against
Leinster, we also had the incredible attacking
display in the pouring rain and wind against
Ospreys back in November. After the up-anddown
results of the first few months, it seems
that things are really starting to take shape and
it’s very exciting to witness it.
Things are just as positive off-the-field, with a
rake of new player contract announcements
earlier this week and, from what I understand,
more to follow in the weeks ahead. It’s a real
seal of approval not just for how the squad
are playing but the Connacht pathway system
for those like Dylan Tierney-Martin and Caolin
Blade who have come through the ranks.
Of course it is a shame that the crowd today
won’t be as packed as we all would’ve hoped
for, but I’m sure those lucky enough to have
tickets will shout and cheer twice as loud. If
you’re watching from home we hope you do the
same!
On the domestic rugby front the decision was
taken to postpone adult fixtures for a week given
the current climate, but it was encouraging to
hear about games returning this weekend. I would
ask everyone who is involved in their local clubs
to take extra precaution and ensure our games
can continue to be played in a safe and enjoyable
manner.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to pay a
particular word of thanks to our Operations
department and the COVID-19 Working Group
at Connacht Rugby. There have been particularly
tough challenges over the past few weeks given
the number of cases in the community, but it’s a
testament to them and the players that Connacht
have continued to be able to fulfil fixtures. Every
Connacht supporter thanks you for your efforts.
Finally I would like to welcome our visitors from
Leicester to the West of Ireland for today’s
game. I understand many supporters from the
area have travelled to the game as well, although
unfortunately many have also had to make new
arrangements due to the restrictions. Where ever
you are we hope you enjoy the game, and I’d like
to wish the Leicester players and management a
safe journey back home to England.
Connacht Abu!
Ann Heneghan
President, Connacht Rugby

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THE BIG MATCH
PREVIEW
Head coach Andy Friend says his
Connacht side’s performance
against Leicester Tigers in last
month’s Heineken Champions
Cup game at Welford Road has
given them the confidence they
can go one further and defeat
the English Premiership tabletoppers
this coming Saturday
at 3:15 PM at The Sportsground.
boost their chances of qualifying for the second
round of the Champions Cup for the first time in
the club’s history.
Connacht’s win over Munster in their last outing
in the United Rugby Championship will, the
Australian said, have prepared the squad – given
the Southern provinces and the English team’s
similarities in the style of play – for the oncoming
physical onslaught this weekend.
“We’re of the belief that we can win this game.
That’s our intention: to go and win it,” he said.
#KEEPPERFORMING
Despite coming out on the wrong end of a
29-23 scoreline in Leicester, the Westerners –
who had a losing bonus point to show for their
efforts – put in a solid performance throughout,
against a team who only tasted their first
defeat of the season in all competitions last
weekend.
Friend believes that his team can take the
positive learnings from the first leg in England
– where their attack caused the hosts
headaches – and apply them this Saturday in
Galway, where a win for the home team would
“It will be very similar. They play a very similar
game style, Leicester as do Munster. There’s a lot
of contestable kicking, there’s a big pack coming
at you from scrum and from maul. They like to
win penalties and either kick three points or kick
to the corner. They’re very similar on that front.”
The key to any victory, according to the former
Australian Seven coach, is Connacht being true
to their style of play and imposing it on the
opposition, while also improving in their setpiece
to provide their attack with the platform to
hotos © Pressesports

thrive.
“We need to play us. We need just to be us. We
need to be better in our set-piece, in terms
of our scrum. We got caught last time not
chasing our weight after the hit, so we got to
make sure we do that and not give them easy
go-forward ball on the scrum.
“But I do believe we have a pack that can do
that for us. I think our bench is going to be
really important this week. We just need to go
back and play our brand of rugby and I think if
we can do that we will cause some headaches.”
Premiership team play.
“We were over there and we feel like we should
have won that game and we felt we weren’t
at our best when we were over there. We’re
confident going into this weekend that we can
win this game. We feel we have the right game
plan to win it. We know what’s coming and we
welcome it with open arms.”
Conor Oliver, meanwhile, says he is loving his
rugby at the moment.
The 26-year-old former Munster former backrow
joined Connacht in July 2020 and has
since become a key figure in the forward pack.
With his fitness, bravery in the tackle, and
breakdown threat, Oliver has excelled this
season and he attributes this to his enjoyment
of the style of play the Westerners utilize and
his familiarity with the game plan, which has
grown over time.
“I’m loving it at the moment, that’s why I’m
performing as well,” the Dublin native said.
“When anyone enjoys something, you’re going
to perform better. I like the way we play, I feel
it does suit me.
“Last season I wasn’t performing to the level
I knew I could or wanted to and I feel I have
been long enough here that I understand the
way we want to play Rugby and I think I’m
fitting in well into that kind of brand.”
The openside, who started in the 29-23 reversal
at Welford Road, expects the Leicester Tigers
to bring a high degree of physicality when they
visit the Sportsground on Saturday for the
round three clash.
However, Oliver – who says Connacht could
have won the round two meeting in England –
believes the Westerners’ squad are confident
that they can earn a victory, based on their
faith in their game plan.
“We know what’s coming,” he said of the
physically dominant game the Engish

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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Official Health and Wellbeing Partner
to Connacht Rugby
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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OF CONNACHT RUGBY
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
TIETIE
TUIMAUGA
Prop
Alex
Wootton
Back Three
20 CONNACHT RUGBY

Five players renew contracts at Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby are delighted
to announce that five Pro
players have signed contract
extensions, with Caolin Blade,
Tom Farrell, Oran McNulty,
Conor Oliver and Dylan Tierney-
Martin all committing their
futures to the province.
The announcement is further good news
for the club, on the back of contract
extensions for five other players before
Christmas.
Monivea native Caolin Blade has made
139 appearances for his home club since
his debut in 2014. Having previously been
called up to a number of Ireland squads,
the scrum-half then made his international
debut against USA during the 2021 Summer
Internationals. He has signed a one-year
extension.
Tom Farrell joined Connacht in January
2017 and has become a fan favourite with
his exciting style of rugby from outside
centre. Farrell has penned a two-year
deal and has played 67 times for the club,
scoring 16 tries.
Conor Oliver has made a big impact
at Connacht Rugby since his arrival in
the summer of 2020. He has made 30
appearances so far, including starts in 8 of
Connacht’s 10 games so far this season,
earning plaudits for his performances at
openside flanker. He has also penned a
two-year extension.
Full-back Oran McNulty has also signed
a two-year extension. He first joined the
Connacht Academy in 2018, having come
through the Irish Exiles programme. An
Ireland U20 international, McNulty has
played five times for the province and
scored his first senior try against Ospreys
last November.
Dylan Tierney-Martin is another product
of the Connacht pathway system, having
played his club & school rugby with The Bish
and Galway Corinthians RFC. The hooker
has signed a one-year extension and made
his senior away to Scarlets at the tail-end
of last season’s Guinness PRO14.
Connacht Head Coach Andy Friend says
today is another positive step for the club:
“I’m really pleased that the five men have
all agreed to continue their time here at
Connacht. They’re each at different stages
of their careers – Caolin is a Connacht
native who has come through the system
to become a centurion which is a testament
to the type of player he is, Tom and Conor
are heading into the prime of their careers
and will keep getting better, and Oran and
Dylan are still starting out on their journeys
and will continue to develop and grow.
We’re building something really positive
at Connacht Rugby and today’s news
reaffirms that for us. Our contracting is
progressing very well and we’ll be making
further announcements in the coming
weeks.”

4 CONNACHT RUGBY

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

If exceptional tries are what you like, you can
always count on ASM Clermont Auvergne wing,
Damian Penaud, to deliver. Fans witnessed
some great scores in Round 1 of the Heineken
Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup
including Penaud’s spectacular effort against
Ulster Rugby.
“Great break from JJ Hanrahan to expose the
opposition front row and beat him one-on-one,
followed by a perfectly-timed pass to Penaud,
who has the kick accuracy, speed and a worldclass
finish to score a superb try,” was how BT
Sport’s Sam Waburton described the score.
Warburton’s verdict, combined with the public’s
votes, determined the winner, and although
Penaud fully deserved the accolade, it was
a close call between his effort and Anthony
Jelonch’s memorable try for Stade Toulousain
against Cardiff Rugby.
For the sixth season in a row, the Try of the
Round activation is launched on the Monday
after each round, and fans will also be able to
vote for the Try of the Season immediately after
the Finals Weekend next May.
Cheslin Kolbe won the award for the best try
last season, Juan Imhoff topped the poll in
2019/20, then it was Maxime Médard in 2018/19,
Tadhg Beirne in 2017/18, and first of all, Nick
Abendanon back in 2016/17.
Who will succeed all these great names of
European club rugby? You can make the
difference by voting for your favourite!
EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR

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