Connacht 2022/23

[sunshiner1]

Having watched the game a few things struck me. Murray was having a great game and they pulled him off early in the second half. He was having a field day disrupting the Stormers line-out so why take him off? Dowling didn't have a bad game but he didn't have a great game either.

Blade was struggling throughout the game because of the Stormers rush defence and also not having a good performance. You have Marmion on the bench who is veteran and can actually add value to the team out there yet they left it late in the day to bring him on. Why? Especially with a ten that's having a stinker.

TOH was TOH. Some things he did well other times he was caught out and putting pressure on the team because of his mistakes. What was even more frustrating was 11 to 14 were having a superb game.

Carty as everyone knows by now stank up the place. What's frustrating about it is Friend knows he can be like this but hasn't done anything about in terms of finding an alternative for him. Fitzgerald has been released (who I didn't really rate anyway) and Daly has barely played at all since December (showing in his performance as well) and no one else has got a look in.

Could Jennings or one of the other backs be the solution? Who knows since they have never got gametime. Shouldn't Friend or someone else in the Connacht branch make it a priority to find someone for the academy or bring someone in? Bad management can have many forms and this is one of them.

[sunshiner1]

Connacht Rugby are delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Sexton to next season’s Professional coaching team.
Sexton will assume the role of Assistant Attack Coach, working with Head Coach Pete Wilkins, who will retain overall responsibility for Connacht Rugby’s attack next season.
Sexton currently works within the Connacht Rugby academy as an Elite Player Development Officer in addition to his role as Attack Coach for the last two Grand Slam winning Ireland U-20 teams.
The appointment of Mark Sexton completes the new coaching ticket for Connacht Rugby next season.

[cormac]

Connacht have signed JJ Hanrahan

[enby]

Now that's a good signing for both club and player. I know it probably won't happen but it would be gas if he suddenly played out of his skin and ended up making the Irish squad. The reaction down south would be an entertaining spectacle

[Ruckedtobits]

Connacht have signed JJ Hanrahan

That could be a good signing for Connacht. Always believed Hanrahan needs a strong Coach and a ready supply of go forward ball. He hasn't played too often with winning packs in his pro career and this might be a good opportunity for him.

[ronk]

Now that's a good signing for both club and player. I know it probably won't happen but it would be gas if he suddenly played out of his skin and ended up making the Irish squad. The reaction down south would be an entertaining spectacle

The guy had potential but he's now failed and had to move 5 times in his career.

He's been signed as a flaky cheap backup 10 with positional flexibility for a club built around a flaky 10 who's club captain.

This time he's been more unlucky as he had hip surgery just as Welsh Rugby finances hit the fan.

That said he's a 30 year old with 200+ pro appearances in spite of injury troubles and he's a clear upgrade on Fitzgerald.

[sunshiner1]

by ronk

The guy had potential but he's now failed and had to move 5 times in his career.

He's been signed as a flaky cheap backup 10 with positional flexibility for a club built around a flaky 10 who's club captain.

This time he's been more unlucky as he had hip surgery just as Welsh Rugby finances hit the fan.

That said he's a 30 year old with 200+ pro appearances in spite of injury troubles and he's a clear upgrade on Fitzgerald.

You nailed it. Hope he can put some pressure on Carty and give them time to bring through someone else. He's IQ and won't be on huge money.

[ronk]

by ronk

The guy had potential but he's now failed and had to move 5 times in his career.

He's been signed as a flaky cheap backup 10 with positional flexibility for a club built around a flaky 10 who's club captain.

This time he's been more unlucky as he had hip surgery just as Welsh Rugby finances hit the fan.

That said he's a 30 year old with 200+ pro appearances in spite of injury troubles and he's a clear upgrade on Fitzgerald.

You nailed it. Hope he can put some pressure on Carty and give them time to bring through someone else. He's IQ and won't be on huge money.

Don't see either happening. They're built around Carty, JJ lost outhalf battles against inferior players.

Hawkshaw still has potential but now he's been moved down the squad rotation at a time when he needed gametime. Same for Forde, but more narrowly.

If JJ isn't ahead of them at this stage of his career, it'll be a failed signing.

[neill_m]

Connacht Rugby are delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement with sportswear brand Macron to become the club’s Official Kit Partner in a long-term, multi-year partnership.

The partnership will begin for 2023/24 and will see Macron become Connacht Rugby’s official kit suppliers for all Men’s, Women’s and Age Grade teams.

The brand new Connacht Rugby Home jersey - the first to be designed by Macron - will be revealed later this summer, with the Away and European jerseys to follow later in the year.

Based in Bologna in Italy, Macron is one of the largest premier sports kit manufacturers in Europe, and supply apparel to numerous professional teams across a range of sports. They already have a strong presence in European rugby, as official kit partner to the Scottish, Welsh and Italian Rugby Unions, and a number of teams in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

They also have a number of major clients in football, including Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, and a host of clubs in the English Football League.