DB CONvSTO URC Digital Match Programme

PRESIDENT’s
WELCOME
THank You To Our Partners for
their continued support
Hello everyone,
I am delighted to introduce today’s
matchday programme for our historic
BKT United Rugby Championship
fixture against DHL Stormers at
Dexcom Stadium.
Today is an occasion that will live long
in the memory for lots of reasons. We
have players potentially making their
debuts, others we are saying goodbye
to, we say goodbye to our beloved Clan
Stand as we know it, and above all else
it’s a massive game in the context of our
season.
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Firstly let me say a few words on the
11 players who will be leaving us in the
summer. They have all made enormous
contributions to the club and they
should be very proud of their efforts
to help our club and province go from
strength to strength. They will always
be welcome back to Dexcom Stadium
and I hope all our fans in attendance will
hang around after full-time to say a fond
farewell in our usual presentation on the
field.
A special word of thanks has to go to
Tiernan O’Halloran on the occasion
of his final home game for his home
province. What he has achieved in his 15
years is nothing short of incredible, and
we all owe him a debt of gratitude for
what he has done for Connacht Rugby
and rugby in Connacht.
Speaking of goodbyes, today as you
know is the last fixture in front of the
Clan Stand as we know it. It has been
the heartbeat and home of many of our
season ticket holders for many years,
and it will be a bittersweet moment when
we all leave the stand for the final time.
However, great plans are afoot, so I’d
ask you not to be too despondent. The
new North Stand replacing it will be a new
home fitting of our aspirations in the years
and decades ahead.
On a personal note this is my last home
fixture as President of this great club, and
I can honestly say I’ve loved every minute
of it. From travelling around Connacht
meeting clubs and schools, to travelling
around Europe and beyond with the Pro
team, it’s clear to me that the future of
rugby in Connacht is brighter than ever
before.
A huge thank you to everyone I have met
along the way.
Finally a welcome to our visitors the
Stormers from Cape Town this afternoon.
We hope you enjoy your trip to the West
and we’re glad you brought the nice
weather with you!
Enjoy the game.
Connachta Abú!
Michael O’Hehir
Connacht Rugby President, 2023/24
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TIERNAN O’HALLORAN
Connacht Rugby legend Tiernan
O’Halloran announced that he will
retire from professional rugby at the
end of the season, bringing to an end
a stellar 15-year career with his home
province.
One of the all-time greats for Connacht
Rugby, the full-back has made 236
appearances, scoring 48 tries in the
process. The Clifden native made his
senior Connacht debut at the age of
just 18, featuring against Olympus
Madrid in the Challenge Cup in 2009,
and has been an ever-present member
of the Pro squad since.
He has since gone on to have an
immeasurable impact on the club, and
will be forever remembered for scoring
the opening try of the 2016 Guinness
PRO12 Grand Final.
His performances over this period
also earned him the first of his six
caps for Ireland.
O’Halloran has released the following
statement:
“After 15 seasons of an absolute
dream come true I’ve decided to call
it a day on my rugby career.
I could never have imagined as a 9
year old boy starting rugby growing
up in Clifden that I would have
experienced the career I was lucky
to live!
I have so many people I’m thankful
for along the way, and I plan to thank
you all in the near future, but my
biggest appreciation has and always
will be my Mom and Dad. Both
my inspiration and super heroes
from being a toddler, you always
supported and guided me, and I
genuinely struggle to put into words
how much you mean to me and my
career. Also to my brother Cian and
sister Evanne for always being the
most supportive siblings.
To my amazing fiancée Emily and
precious son Rían, you guys have
been my rock through so much and
I cannot wait for our next chapter
as a family! To the Connacht family
(Clan), I genuinely loved every minute
of representing all of you, and I look
forward to joining you all at the new
Dexcom Stadium in the future to
cheer on the lads.
For the last 15 years I gave it my all
for that jersey. I’ve had many highs
and lows throughout the journey,
but 2016 will always be my most
memorable year!
From that amazing day in Edinburgh
to my first time representing my
country in South Africa,
I never would have got to that
point without the support of my
family, friends and teammates. I
am eternally grateful to all of the
coaches and team management I
played under throughout my career
who always supported and guided
me. A massive thanks to the medical
and S&C staff over the years who
helped me from so many injuries.
From Connemara RFC through
Garbally College and Cistercian
College Roscrea, I have embraced
every minute of living an absolute
dream, and I look forward to being a
supporter for years to come.
Connacht Abu!”

COACHES PREVIEW
Foucs now turns to the Stormers
this weekend at Dexcom Stadium.
“We are playing one of the best
teams in the URC, a team that is
extremely dangerous in attack
but also one of the best dominant
tackling teams”
“Last season they beat us in the
semi-final so we know all about
their qualities”
“They are coming with all their
Springboks. It’s our last home game
in front of the Clan Stand as it is so
there is a lot of noise around this
one”
“For us as a group we have to remain
totally focused on what we need to
do”
After defeat to Munster in
Thomond Park last weekend
Connacht are now in a position
where a win is a must if they hope
to be in with a chance of making
the playoffs of the BKT United
Rugby Championship this season.
This Saturday Stormers come to
Dexcom Stadium where the South
African side will still have hope of
climbing into the top four. The match
will be the final game in front of the
Clan Stand before redevelopment
begins.
Speaking ahead of the game to
the media was Head Coach Pete
Wilkins who was first asked about
the fitness of Mack Hansen.
“I don’t expect Mack to be available
this weekend”
“He’s 90% there in his return to
fitness but his shoulder isn’t at the
point yet where we can be confident
in the live contact side of things”
Wilkins spoke about the defeat down
in Limerick last Saturday.
“After such a disappointing
performance, a disappointing
scoreline in what was a enormous
game for us away to Munster, of
course it was a blow at this stage of
the season. We aren’t hiding away
from that performance, as coaches
and players we know we didn’t
perform on the day”

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Player PREVIEW
“I just love playing and being out
on the pitch with the lads”
“The big games like these are the
games you want to play in”
“There’s a buzz in these games that
just give you that extra kick”
“From previous interpro derbies
you have to take a quick moment
and look around just to see what
size the crowd is”
“I know it gets said a lot but a full
house at The Sportsground and
the crowd doing their thing really
makes you think you’re plaiying in
front of three or four times more
people in he stands than what there
is”
The last five meeting between these
two teams have seen very little in
the outcome and no doubt today’s
game will be a huge battle.
“Munster are coming up here as
defending champions”
“They have a lot of injuries but they
have a strong squad and players just
waiting to take their chance”
“We’re confident against any team
we play but we also respect every
team we play”
Having joined in the 2022/23
season, Shamus Hurley-Langton
has become a fan favourite
around The Sportsground and a
coach and players dream to work
with during his time out west.
Also known as ‘Moose’, our kiwi
flanker continues to grow in the
green jersey.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here”
“I came over here wanting to
play but I knew I needed to prove
myself and take my chance when
it came”
“That drive still continues for me
though”
“Each week I need keep proving
myself and make sure I perform
when I get the chance”
“We have a lot of quality players in
the back row and that really helps
the competition and keeping us all
on our toes”
Having played 28 times for
Connacht so far and scoring five
tries (three this season), Moose is
looking forward to this inetrpro
derby on New Years Day.

of the reaching the playoffs alive.
PLAYER PREVIEW
“It was hugely disappointing, to not
even come away with a bonus point
made it that bit tougher”
“We had our review on the game
now we just need to put our best
foot forward for this weekend”
After a number of weeks out injured
Byron Ralston made his return to
the Connacht starting team last
Saturday down in Thomond Park
where the winger scored two tries.
Byron has been a constant pick
when available this season, the 24-
year old has played every minute
in the games he’s played, bar one
game where he recieved a yellow
card.
He was chatting to media ahead of
Saturday’s game against Stormers
at Dexcom Stadium.
“It’s a very exciting week, not just
for the 23 and coaches but the
whole Connacht community”
“Last home game of the season, last
time in front of the Clan Stand and
with still a lot to play for”
“For us as players we just need to go
out and do our job which is during
those 80 minutes on the pitch”
“The 80 minutes are the most
important thing for us but we know
on the day there will be a lot going
on”
Last weekend was defeat for
Connacht down in Limerick and one
which left the players wanting to right
the wrongs and keep their chances
With only two games remaining in
the BKT United Rugby Championship
the importance of winning this
weekend is huge and with that adds
pressure. Byron believes this is a
squad well able to handle any type
of pressure.
“Look back to last season, with the
final eight games of the season
everyone said we needed to win at
least six of those games to reach
the top eight and that’s what we
did”
“We had a massive game up in
Kingspan Stadium against Ulster
which we won, that is a high pressure
game for everyone and we showed
what we were about and you look
in the dressing room and see those
same guys”
“The best thing about this weekend
is we are at home in front of our
fans”

Pro team PROFILES
bundee
aki
Centre
jack
aungier
Prop
finlay
bealham
Prop
Caolin
blade
Scrum Half
shayne
bolton
Back Three
Paul
boyle
Back Row
denis
buckley
Prop
Eoin
de buitlear
Hooker
matthew
burke
Prop
Jarrad
Butler
Back Row
Jack
carty
Out Half
santiago
cordero
Back Three
tom
daly
Centre
peter
dooley
Prop
OISIN
DOWLING
Second Row
jordan
duggan
Prop
tom
farrell
Centre
CATHAL
FORDE
Centre

Pro team PROFILES
jj
hanrahan
Out Half
mack
hansen
Back Three
David
hawkshaw
Out Half /
Centre
dave
heffernan
Hooker
SHAMUS
HURLEY-
LANGTON
Back Row
sam
illo
Prop
sean
jansen
Back Row
shane
jennings
Centre/
Back Three
Joe
joyce
Second Row
Diarmuid
Kilgallen
Back Three
oisin
mccormack
Back Row
Michael
Mcdonald
Scrum Half
Tadhg
mcelroy
Hooker
Liam
Mcnamara
Back Three
oran
mcnulty
Back Three
DarragH
Murray
Second Row
Niall
Murray
Second Row
SEAN
O’BRIEN
Back Row

Pro team PROFILES
tiernan
o’halloran
Back Three
conor
oliver
Back Row
john
porch
Back Three
Cian
prendergast
Back Row
Byron
Ralston
Centre/Back
Three
Colm
Reilly
Scrum Half
Official partners
Dominic
Robertsonmccoy
Prop
ANDREW
SMITH
Back Three
Gavin
Thornbury
Second Row
of Connacht Rugby
Dylan
Tierney-martin
Hooker
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Pro team MANAGEMENT
ACADEMY MANAGEMENT
Tim
Allnutt
Director of
Rugby
Operations
pete
wilkins
Head Coach
Colm
tucker
Scrum &
Contact Coach
Eric
Elwood
Academy
Manager
ANdrew
Browne
Elite Player
Development
Officer
MORGAN
Codyre
Elite Player
Development
Officer
JOHN
MULDOON
Lineout &
Maul Coach
Mark
sexton
Assistant Attack
& Skills Coach
Scott
Fardy
Defence
Coach
Mervyn
Murphy
Provincial Talent
Coach
Sebastian
Delport
Provincial Talent
Coach
Andrew
Murphy
Head of Athletic
Development
Simon
Kavanagh
Senior
Video Analyst
Mikey
KIELY
Head of Athletic
Performance
David
Hanly
Head of
Physiotherapy
Mark
Gallagher
Lead
Physiotherapist
Alan
Doonan
Performance
Analyst
niall
brady
Performance
Nutritionist
Martin
Joyce
Logistics
Manager
Gavin
Rackard
Performance
Nutritionist
Barry
o’BRIEN
Senior S&C
Coach
Micheal
Devane
S&C
Coach
lARISSA
MULDOON
Female
Provincial
Talent Coach
ANN
CAFFREY
Female Athletic
Development
Coach
michael
o’driscoll
S&C
Coach
Oisin
O’Dalaigh
Asst.
Performance
Analyst
Kevin
O’Brien
Physiotherapist
Aidan
O’Flynn
Personal
Development
Chloe
Mccrann
Rugby
Operations
Executive
Deirdre
Lyons
Player
Development
Manager
mitchell
ward
Physiotherapist
Stephen
Long
Communications
Manager
deirdre
lyons
Player
Development
Manager

ACADEMY PROFILES
fiachna
barrett
Prop
john
devine
Centre
Matthew
devine
Scrum Half
Connacht rugby
business club
hugh
gavin
Centre
daniel
hawkshaw
Centre
shane
mallon
Back Three
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Back Three
james
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Centre
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matthew
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Hooker
charlie
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Prop
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Out Half
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CLUB & COMMUNITY
Henry O’Toole of Connemara RFC
was inaugurated as this year’s IRFU
Boots Award winner at a function
last Friday, 10th May at the Station
House Hotel in Clifden.
When the legendary Willie John
McBride retired from playing rugby
in 1980, one of the last matches he
played in was against Arklow RFC.
After the game, instead of hanging
up his boots, he presented his
famous footwear to the Arklow club
as a memento of the occasion.
In memory of Willie John’s
outstanding contribution to Irish
Rugby, and in particular to Junior
Rugby, it was decided to honour “Mr.
Boots” by presenting an annual award
to a person who, in the opinion of the
adjudicators, has rendered long and
outstanding service to Junior Rugby
in Ireland. A silver badge suitably
inscribed, is presented to each year’s
winner at a dinner.
Dick Smyth of Thomond was the very
first recipient in 1981. Forty more
have followed in the footsteps of
Dick Smyth, and Henry O’Toole of
Connemara RFC is a most worthy
successor.
The Boots Award recognises Henry’s
contribution and work in coaching
and playing for Connemara RFC,
playing for Corinthians and playing
for Connacht in the 1980s and early
1990s. He was a speedy full back,
and played in a Final Irish trial in late
1980s. Henry has also coached the
Connacht Juniors.
In 1985 at Lansdowne Road Connacht
beat Leinster for the first time since
1955 and Henry (who was a goal
kicker in those days) scored all of
Connacht’s nine points. The following
season, he was in the Connacht side
that defeated Munster in Thomond
Park- Connacht’s first ever victory
at the ground. Henry returned to his
home club of Connemara RFC in the
early 1990s and has played, coached
and has volunteered at all levels
since then.
Congratulations to Henry on
receiving this prestigious award – he
has given extraordinary service not
just to Connemara RFC, but also
to both Connacht and Irish Rugby.
Henry follows in a line of great
Connacht winners such as Paddy
Beatty (Our Lady’s Boys Club), Frank
Petit (Creggs RFC), Padraic McGann
(Monivea RFC), John Carr (Tuam
RFC), Padraic Concarr (Monivea
RFC), Adrian Leddy (Creggs RFC),
Mick Grealish (Our Lady’s Boys Club)
and John Martin (ARCB/University
of Galway). It’s an illustrious club,
some with us and others no longer,
and it is an honour fully deserving of
Henry’s contribution to the game.
The national Boots Award Committee
consists of Padraic McGann, Ross
Workman and John West.

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