2016–17 Connacht Rugby season

The 2016–17 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's sixteenth season competing in the Pro12, and the team's twenty-first season as a professional side. It was Pat Lam's fourth and final season in charge of the side.

Connacht

2016–17 season
Head coach	Pat Lam
Chief executive	Willie Ruane
Captain	John Muldoon
Pro12	8th
Champions Cup	Pool stage (3rd)
Top try scorer	All: Niyi Adeolokun (8)
Top points scorer	All: Craig Ronaldson (100)
Highest home attendance	8,091 v Toulouse 15 October 2016
Lowest home attendance	4,091 v Zebre 3 March 2017
Average home attendance	6,386
Home colours Away colours
← 2015–16 2017–18 →

Connacht finished the season in eight place in the league. As well as playing in the Pro12, Connacht competed in the Champions Cup in Europe, finishing third in their pool, level on points with Toulouse, who advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best runners-up. The second-tier side the Connacht Eagles competed in the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup, finishing bottom of their pool.

Background

Connacht started the season with a new coaching team. Backs and kicking coach Andre Bell left his role to return to his family in New Zealand.^[1] Head performance analyst and assistant attack coach Conor McPhillips took over coaching of the backs, while the team's former head coach Eric Elwood took over coaching kicking.^[2] The close season also saw the departure of the side's all-time record try-scorer Fionn Carr who scored 42 tries over two spells with the province.^[3] During the off-season, the team's homeground, the Galway Sportsground underwent renovations with the addition of a seated stand increasing its capacity to 8,100.^[4]

Coaching and management team

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Individuals may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Role	Name	Union
Chief executive	Willie Ruane[5]	Ireland
Head coach	Pat Lam[6]	Samoa[lower-alpha 1]
Team manager	Tim Allnut[7]	New Zealand
Forwards Coach	Jimmy Duffy[8]	Ireland
Backs Coach	Conor McPhillips[9]	Ireland
Skills Coach	Dave Ellis Mossy Lawler[10]	Ireland
Kicking Coach	Eric Elwood[9]	Ireland
Head Performance Analyst	Simon Kavanagh[9]	Ireland
Head of Fitness	Paul Bunce[11]	New Zealand
Academy manager	Nigel Carolan[12]	Ireland
Connacht Eagles Coach	Mossy Lawler[10]	Ireland
Consultant Coach	Nathan White[10]	Ireland

Players

Senior playing squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Shane Delahunt Hooker Ireland Dave Heffernan Hooker Ireland Tom McCartney Hooker New Zealand John Andress Prop Ireland Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland Denis Buckley Prop Ireland Conor Carey Prop Ireland JP Cooney Prop Ireland Ronan Loughney Prop Ireland Peter McCabe Prop Ireland Dominic Robertson-McCoy* Prop New Zealand Ivan Soroka Prop Ireland Andrew Browne Lock Ireland James Cannon* Lock England Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland Ben Marshall Lock Ireland Danny Qualter Lock Ireland Quinn Roux Lock Ireland Lewis Stevenson Lock Ireland James Connolly Flanker Ireland Naulia Dawai Flanker Fiji Nepia Fox-Matamua Flanker New Zealand Jake Heenan* Flanker New Zealand Rory Moloney Flanker Ireland Seán O'Brien Flanker Ireland Eoghan Masterson Number 8 Ireland Eoin McKeon Number 8 Ireland John Muldoon (c) Number 8 Ireland

Player Position Union Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland John Cooney Scrum-half Ireland Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Marnitz Boshoff Fly-half South Africa Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland Steve Crosbie Fly-half Ireland Shane O'Leary* Fly-half Canada Bundee Aki Centre New Zealand Tom Farrell Centre Ireland Eoin Griffin Centre Ireland Rory Parata Centre Ireland Peter Robb Centre Ireland Craig Ronaldson Centre Ireland Niyi Adeolokun Wing Ireland Matt Healy Wing Ireland Stacey Ili Wing New Zealand Cian Kelleher Wing Ireland Danie Poolman* Wing South Africa Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland Tiernan O'Halloran Fullback Ireland Josh Rowland Fullback Ireland

• Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*
• Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold
• Irish Provinces were limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player"). Connacht Rugby is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement

Academy squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Jack Dineen Hooker Ireland year 3 Pat O'Toole Hooker Ireland year 2 Jamie Dever Prop Ireland year 3 Conor Kenny Prop Ireland year 1 Conor Kyne Prop Ireland year 2 Saba Meunargia Prop Ireland year 3 Conán O'Donnell Prop Ireland year 2 Peter Claffey Lock Ireland year 1 Cillian Gallagher Lock Ireland year 1 Cian Romaine Lock Ireland year 2 Marc Kelly Flanker Ireland year 3 Stephen McVeigh Flanker Ireland year 3

Player Position Union Stephen Kerins Scrum-half Ireland year 1 Conor Lowndes Scrum-half Ireland year 2 Conor McKeon Scrum-half Ireland year 3 Matthew Byrne Wing Ireland year 1 Ciaran Gaffney Wing Ireland year 3 Adam Leavy Wing Ireland year 1 Ed O'Keefe Wing Ireland year 2 Cormac Brennan Fullback Ireland year 2

Senior Team Transfers

For player movement in the Pro12 leading up to the 2016–17 season, see List of 2016–17 Pro12 transfers.

Players in HK Shane Delahunt promoted from academy PR John Andress from Munster[13] PR Conor Carey from Nottingham[14] PR Peter McCabe from Munster (loan)[15] PR Dominic Robertson-McCoy from Northland[16] PR Ivan Soroka from Clontarf[17] LK James Cannon from Wasps[18] LK Lewis Stevenson from Exeter Chiefs[19] FL James Connolly promoted from academy FL Naulia Dawai from Otago[20] FL Rory Moloney promoted from academy FL Seán O'Brien promoted from academy FH Marnitz Boshoff from Lions[21] FH Steve Crosbie from Munster[15] CE Tom Farrell from Bedford Blues[22] CE Eoin Griffin from London Irish[23] CE Rory Parata promoted from the academy CE Peter Robb promoted from the academy WG Stacey Ili from Auckland[24] WG Cian Kelleher from Leinster[25] FB Josh Rowland from Ireland Sevens[26]

Players out HK Jason Harris-Wright to London Irish[27] PR Rodney Ah You to Ulster[28] PR Nathan White retired[29] LK Aly Muldowney to Grenoble[30] N8 George Naoupu to Harlequins[31] SH Ian Porter to Banbridge[32] FH AJ MacGinty to Sale Sharks[33] CE Conor Finn to Buccaneers[34] CE Robbie Henshaw to Leinster[35] CE Dave McSharry retired[36] CE Api Pewhairangi to London Broncos[37] WG Fionn Carr to Naas[38]

Results

Pro12

Main article: 2016–17 Pro12

2016–17 Pro12 watch · edit · discuss
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	Try bonus	Losing bonus	Pts
1	Munster (RU)	22	19	0	3	602	316	+286	77	34	9	1	86
2	Leinster (SF)	22	18	0	4	674	390	+284	91	47	12	1	85
3	Scarlets (CH)	22	17	0	5	537	359	+178	66	40	9	0	77
4	Ospreys (SF)	22	14	0	8	556	360	+196	74	42	10	3	69
5	Ulster	22	14	1	7	521	371	+150	68	47	6	4	68
6	Glasgow Warriors	22	11	0	11	540	464	+76	72	53	9	5	58
7	Cardiff Blues	22	11	1	10	508	498	+10	59	60	3	4	53
8	Connacht	22	9	0	13	413	498	−85	47	61	5	3	44
9	Edinburgh	22	6	0	16	400	491	−91	46	59	1	6	31
10	Benetton Treviso	22	5	0	17	316	664	−348	35	92	1	2	23
11	Newport Gwent Dragons	22	4	0	18	368	569	−201	38	71	1	6	23
12	Zebre	22	3	0	19	318	773	−455	38	105	1	6	19
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[39] number of matches won; the difference between points for and points against; the number of tries scored; the most points scored; the difference between tries for and tries against; the fewest red cards received; the fewest yellow cards received.
Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places and earn a place in the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup. Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Yellow background advances to a play-off for a chance to compete in the Champions Cup.[40] (Q) indicates team has qualified for the play-offs and has qualified for the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup.

3 September 2016 17:15

Connacht	5–41	Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Adeolokun 32' m	Report	Try: Seymour (2) 10' m, 36' m Hogg 45' c Swinson 52' c Puafisi 58' c Lamont 70' c Con: Pyrgos (3/5) Clegg (1/1) Pen: Pyrgos (1/1) 24'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,063 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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10 September 2016 19:35

Connacht	11–32	Ospreys (1 BP)
Try: McKeon 57' m Pen: Carty (2/2) 20', 46'	Report	Try: Webb (2) 29' c, 74' c Ardron 71' m Hassler 77' c Con: S. Davies (3/4) 29', 74', 77' Pen: S. Davies (2/2) 5', 63'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,749 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

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17 September 2016 18:05

Zebre	Postponed	Connacht

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

After 40 minutes of play, the match was "abandoned due to adverse weather conditions causing considerable risk to both the players and spectators". Zebre were leading 22–10 (3 tries to 1) when the match was abandoned. A rescheduled fixture was played on 1 April 2017.^[41][42]

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24 September 2016 19:35

Scarlets	17–8	Connacht
Try: Li. Williams (2) 36' c, 66' c Con: Patchell (2/2) 36', 66' Pen: Patchell (1/1) 71'	Report	Try: Adeolokun 22' m Pen: Carty (1/1) 40'

Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 5,630 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

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30 September 2016 19:35

(1 BP) Connacht	28–15	Edinburgh
Try: Adeolokun 9' c Roux 36' m Kelleher 45' m Robb 73' m Con: Carty (1/4) Pen: Carty (2/2) 17', 23'	Report	Try: Gilchrist 19' c Allen 70' m Con: Tovey (1/2) Pen: Tovey (1/1) 5'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,771 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

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7 October 2016 19:35

(1 BP) Connacht	30–25	Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Carty 2' c Kelleher (2) 23' m, 52' m Connolly 25' c Con: Carty (2/4) Pen: Carty (2/2) 37', 59'	Report	Try: Gilroy 33' m Best 41' c Payne 44' c Con: Jackson (2/3) Pen: Jackson (2/2) 5', 65'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,194 Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU)

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29 October 2016 17:15

Leinster	24–13	Connacht
Try: Byrne 49' Daly 75' c Con: Nacewa (1/2) 76' Pen: Nacewa (4/4) 23', 32', 38', 58'	Report	Try: Delahunt 80' c Con: Carty (1/1) 80' Pen: Ronaldson (2/2) 4', 13'

RDS Arena Attendance: 18,200 Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

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4 November 2016 19:15

Newport Gwent Dragons	21–16	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Hewitt (2) 14' c, 46' c Con: O'Brien (2/2) 14', 46' Pen: O'Brien (1/1) 21' Drop: O'Brien (2/2) 36', 52'	Report	Try: Adeolokun 69' c Con: Carty (1/1) 69' Pen: Carty (3/3) 25', 39', 59'

Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,522 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

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25 November 2016 19:35

Connacht	18–7	Cardiff Blues
Try: Cooney 15' c Aki 56' m Con: Cooney (1/2) 16' Pen: Cooney (2/2) 40', 49'	Report	Try: James 17' c Con: Shingler (1/1) 18'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,190 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

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3 December 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Connacht	47–8	Benetton Treviso
Try: McCartney (2) 14' c, 32' c Poolman 26' c Buckley 38' c Cooney 50' c Heffernan 55' m Carty 74' c Con: Cooney (4/4) 14', 26', 32', 38' Boshoff (1/1) 50' Carty (1/2) 74'	Report	Try: Flammini 67' c Con: McKinley (1/1) 5'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,903 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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23 December 2016 19:35

Ulster	23–7	Connacht
Try: McCloskey 26' c Ross 52' c Con: Jackson (2/2) 28', 53' Pen: Jackson (3/3) 20', 36', 67'	Report	Try: Carty 55' Con: Carty (1/1) 56'

Kingspan Stadium Attendance: 17,613 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

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31 December 2016 17:30

(1 BP) Connacht	9–16	Munster
Pen: Carty (3/4) 30', 50', 76'	Report	Try: Marshall 56' c Con: Keatley (1/1) 57' Pen: Keatley (2/3) 2', 39' Drop: Keatley (1/2) 68'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,090 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

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7 January 2017 13:30

(1 BP) Ospreys	29–7	Connacht
Try: Baker 11' c Cracknell 13' c Smith 56' c Beck 79' m Con: S. Davies (3/3) 12', 14', 57' Pen: S. Davies (1/1) 44'	Report	Try: O'Brien 75' c Con: Cooney (1/1) 77'

Liberty Stadium Attendance: 6,669 Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

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12 February 2017 17:05

(1 BP) Cardiff Blues	13–19	Connacht
Try: N. Williams 28' c Con: Anscombe (1/1) 28' Pen: Anscombe (2/2) 12', 20'	Report	Try: Healy 39' c Con: Cooney (1/1) 39' Pen: Cooney (2/2) 44', 64' Ronaldson (1/1) 80' Drop: O'Halloran (1/1) 78'

BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 4,300 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

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18 February 2017 19:35

(1 BP) Connacht	14–9	Newport Gwent Dragons (1 BP)
Try: O'Halloran 5' c Blade 13' c Con: Ronaldson (2/2) 5', 13'	Report	Pen: O'Brien (3/3) 18', 42', 53'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,190 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

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26 February 2017 13:30

Benetton Treviso	19–34	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Buondonno 37' m Sperandio 70' c Odiete 75' c Con: Tebaldi (1/1) 37' Buondonno (1/1) 75' c	Report	Try: Blade 27' c Bealham 31' c Ronaldson 47' c O'Halloran 60' c Con: Ronaldson (3/3) 27', 31', 47' Carty (1/1) 60' Pen: Ronaldson (2/2) 15', 21'

Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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3 March 2017 19:35

(1 BP) Connacht	33–3	Zebre
Try: Adeolokun 8' c Dawai 26' m Muldoon 61' c Penalty try 66' c Stevenson 75' c Con: Cooney (1/2) 8' O'Halloran (1/1) 61' Ronaldson (1/1) 75'	Report	Pen: Palazzani (1/1) 45'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,091 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

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25 March 2017 17:15

(1 BP) Glasgow Warriors	35–24	Connacht
Try: Flynn 11' c Russell 49' c Price 54' c Lamont 77' m Con: Russell (3/3) 12', 50', 54' Pen: Russell (2/2) 7', 36' P. Horne (1/1) 74'	Report	Try: Adeolokun 4' m Muldoon 29' c Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 30' Pen: Ronaldson (3/4) 19', 48', 66' J. Cooney (1/1) 76'

Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 7,351 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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1 April 2017 15:30

Zebre	25–22	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Minnie 24' c Boni 41' m Padovani 66' c Con: Canna (2/3) 26', 67' Pen: Canna (2/3) 7', 31'	Report	Try: Ili 1' m Ronaldson 13' c Rowland 78' c Con: J. Cooney (1/2) 14' Ronaldson (1/1) 79' Pen: J. Cooney (1/2) 47'

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

• Game rescheduled from 17 September 2016.

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7 April 2017 19:35

(1 BP) Edinburgh	19–22	Connacht
Try: Penalty try 63' c Watson 66' c G. Bryce 73' m Con: Weir (2/3) 63', 67'	Report	Try: E. McKeon 29' c Con: Crosbie (1/1) 30' Pen: Crosbie (5/5) 8', 26', 36', 49', 60'

New Myreside Attendance: 3,189 Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

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15 April 2017 19:35

Connacht	24–37	Leinster (1 BP)
Try: Poolman 18' c Heffernan 49' m Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 18' Pen: Ronaldson (4/4) 1', 12', 28', 40'	Report	Try: Kirchner 6' m A. Byrne 10' c O'Loughlin 34' m Ruddock 52' c B. Daly 68'c Con: R. Byrne (3/5) 10', 53', 68' Pen: R. Byrne (2/2) 20', 76'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,090 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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29 April 2017 20:00

Connacht	8–30	Scarlets (1 BP)
Try: Ronaldson 58' m Pen: Boshoff (1/1) 11'		Try: McNicholl 4' c S. Evans (2) 14' m, 26' m L. Williams 31' m van der Merwe 78' m Con: Patchell (1/5) 5' Pen: Patchell (1/1) 66'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,290 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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6 May 2017 17:15

(1 BP) Munster	50–14	Connacht
Try: Earls 8' c O'Donoghue 27' c Conway (2) 33' c, 54' c Cronin 43' c Saili 70' c Oliver 80' m Con: Keatley (6/7) 8', 28', 34', 44', 54', 70' Pen: Keatley (1/1) 25'		Try: Kelleher 51' c Dawai 64' c Con: Ronaldson (2/2) 52', 65'

Thomond Park Attendance: 18,567 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

Champions Cup

Main article: 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup

Pool 1

Team v t e	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Wasps (5)	6	4	1	1	210	112	+98	28	13	3	1	22
Toulouse (7)	6	3	1	2	164	91	+73	22	10	2	2	18
Connacht	6	4	0	2	188	118	+70	26	15	2	0	18
Zebre	6	0	0	6	90	331	−241	11	49	0	0	0

15 October 2016 17:30

Connacht	23–21	Toulouse (1 BP)
Try: Adeolokun 20' m O'Halloran 58' m Aki 66' c Con: Ronaldson (1/1) 66' Pen: Carty (2/3) 25', 29'	Report	Try: David 34' m Doussain 37' c Con: Bézy (1/2) 37' Pen: Bézy (2/4) 7', 11' Fritz (1/1) 13'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,091 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

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23 October 2016 16:15

Zebre	7–52	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: D'Apice 61' c Con: Padovani (1/1) 61'	Report	Try: Ili (3) 10' c, 41' c, 79' c Carty 13' c Penalty try 52' c Kelleher (2) 53' c, 74' m Carey 55' m Con: Ronaldson (6/8) 10', 13', 41', 52', 53', 79'

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

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11 December 2016 13:00

(1 BP) Wasps	32–17	Connacht
Try: Beale 6' c Hughes 43' c Launchbury 62' c Bassett 72' m Con: Gopperth (3/4) 7', 44', 63' Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 22', 35'	Report	Try: Marmion 24' c Parata 45' c Con: Carty (2/2) 25', 46' Pen: Carty (1/3) 18'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 13,364 Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (FFR)

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17 December 2016 17:30

Connacht	20–18	Wasps
Try: Poolman 39' c Dawai 80' c Con: Carty (2/2) 40', 80' Pen: Carty (2/3) 8', 31'	Report	Try: Simpson 13' c Bassett 72' m Con: Gopperth (1/2) 13' Pen: Gopperth (2/3) 53', 67'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,090 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) (for Jérôme Garcès (FFR))

Assistant referee Mathieu Raynal replaced the original referee Jérôme Garcès on the 73rd minute of the game after pulling a hamstring.

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14 January 2017 13:00

(1 BP) Connacht	66–21	Zebre
Try: Healy (2) 1' c, 41' c Cooney 18' c O'Halloran (2) 23' c, 43' c Bealham 27' c Marmion (2) 36' m, 54' c Ronaldson 39' c Blade 66' m Con: Cooney (8/10) 2', 19', 23', 29', 40', 42', 44', 55'	Report	Try: Meyer 6' c Ruzza 11' c Bellini 62' c Con: Canna (3/3) 7', 12', 62'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,607 Referee: Tom Foley (RFU)

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22 January 2017 16:15

Toulouse	19–10	Connacht
Try: Fickou 5' c Bonneval 17' c Tekori 46' m Con: Doussain (2/3) 6', 18'	Report	Try: Muldoon 53' c Con: Ronaldson (1/1) 54' Pen: Ronaldson (1/2) 33'

Stadium Municipal Attendance: 12,023 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

Champions Cup play-offs

Main article: 2017–18 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs

Semi-final

20 May 2017 16:00 BST

Northampton Saints	21–15	Connacht
Try: Mallinder 1' c Groom 56' m Con: Mallinder (1/2) 2' Pen: Mallinder (3/3) 15', 23', 70'	Report	Try: Adeolokun 4' c Heffernan 61' m Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 4' Pen: Ronaldson (1/1) 28'

Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

FB 15 Ahsee Tuala  78' RW 14 Ben Foden OC 13 Nafi Tuitavake IC 12 Luther Burrell  23' LW 11 George North FH 10 Harry Mallinder SH 9 Nic Groom  67' N8 8 Louis Picamoles OF 7 Teimana Harrison  58' BF 6 Jamie Gibson 78' to 80' RL 5 Christian Day  64' LL 4 Courtney Lawes TP 3 Kieran Brookes  62' HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c)  59' LP 1 Alex Waller  62' Replacements: HK 16 Mike Haywood  78' PR 17 Campese Ma'afu  62' PR 18 Gareth Denman  62' LK 19 Api Ratuniyarawa  64' FL 20 Tom Wood  58' SH 21 Lee Dickson  67' FH 22 Sam Olver CE 23 Rory Hutchinson  23' Coach: Jim Mallinder

FB 15 Tiernan O'Halloran RW 14 Niyi Adeolokun OC 13 Danie Poolman IC 12 Craig Ronaldson LW 11 Cian Kelleher  3' FH 10 Jack Carty SH 9 Kieran Marmion  66' N8 8 John Muldoon (c) OF 7 Jake Heenan  56' BF 6 Seán O'Brien RL 5 James Cannon  51' LL 4 Quinn Roux TP 3 Finlay Bealham  68' HK 2 Dave Heffernan LP 1 Denis Buckley Replacements: HK 16 Shane Delahunt PR 17 JP Cooney PR 18 Conor Carey  68' LK 19 Ultan Dillane  51' FL 20 Naulia Dawai  56' SH 21 Caolin Blade SH 22 John Cooney  66' WG 23 Matt Healy  3' Coach: Pat Lam

Notes

1. New Zealand-born and qualified for Samoa, Lam has represented both countries, but last played rugby for Samoa.

References

1. "My job in Connacht: Andre Bell, Backs & kicking coach". Irish Independent. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
2. "Connacht suffer major blow as backs coach Bell opts to return to New Zealand". Irish Independent. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
3. "Carr and Muldowney among players leaving Connacht at end of season". The42. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
4. "A new seated stand is in place at the Sportsground for Connacht's upcoming season". The42. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
5. "Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
6. "Connacht confirm new three-year contract for head coach Pat Lam". Sky Sports. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
7. "'I just came over here to visit my brother and I never left'". Irish Independent. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
8. "Jimmy Duffy is new Connacht forwards coach". RTÉ Sport. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
9. "Conor McPhilips to replace Andre Bell as Connacht backs' coach". Irish Times. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
10. "Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season". The42. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
11. "New Head Of Fitness And Increased Funding For Connacht". Irish Rugby. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
12. "Coach Profiles: Nigel Carolan". Irish Rugby. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
13. "Injury-ravaged Connacht make 4 changes ahead of meeting with table toppers Munster". The42. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017. New recruit John Andress is named on the bench after the prop agreed a short-term contract, as Lam trues to manage numerous injury setbacks to his squad.
14. "Connacht sign Nottingham prop Conor Carey". Nottingham Rugby. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
15. "Connacht add three to senior squad amidst injury crisis". Newstalk. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
16. "Pat Lam's Connacht sign Irish-qualified tighthead Robertson-McCoy". The42. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
17. "Connacht announce 4 contract extensions plus the addition of a Ukrainian-born prop". The42. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
18. "Connacht sign Wasps second-row James Cannon". Breaking News. 29 September 2016.
19. "Connacht to sign former Exeter Chiefs lock Lewis Stevenson". Planet Rugby. 8 August 2016.
20. "Connacht confirm signing of Fiji international back row Dawai". The42. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
21. "Connacht sign South Africa and Lions fly-half Marnitz Boshoff". RTÉ Sport. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
22. "Connacht bring Irish centre Farrell home from England". The42. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
23. "London Irish centre Eoin Griffin resigns with Connacht next season". RTÉ Sport. 14 December 2015.
24. "Connacht sign Auckland utility back Stace Ili". The42. 14 September 2016.
25. "Leinster fullback Cian Kelleher signs for Connacht next season". Sky Sports. 3 May 2016.
26. "Connacht sign Ireland Sevens winger Josh Rowland". Sky Sports. 14 July 2016.
27. "London Irish to sign Connacht hooker Jason Harris-Wright". Planet Rugby. 4 August 2016.
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