The Irish Times

URC preview: Seven changes to Connacht team to face Lions in South Africa

Connacht’s leading try scorer in the competition Mack Hansen swaps wing for fullback

Fri Apr 22 2022 - 14:58

Cullen ready to juggle playing resources for South African trip

Leinster coach bearing in mind upcoming Champions Cup test against Leicester

Mon Apr 18 2022 - 01:02

Friend calls for Connacht response after ‘embarrassing’ defeats

Hansen and Bealham back for province ahead of URC trip to face Benetton

Wed Mar 30 2022 - 06:00

Connacht’s Butler focuses on URC meeting in ‘bizarre’ Leinster series

Captain keen to bounce back from ‘embarrasing’ defeat to Edinburgh against champions

Tue Mar 22 2022 - 18:22

Ulster enjoy bonus-point win as Robert Baloucoune grabs double against Connacht

Connacht’s hopes hit by two yellow cards as poor run continues for Andy Friend’s side

Fri Feb 04 2022 - 22:44

Connacht looking to add to historic Champions Cup progress with win in Paris

Toulouse’s Covid forfeit against Cardiff puts Andy Friend’s side into last 16 ahead of Stade game

Fri Jan 21 2022 - 17:28

Alex Wootton making the most of more playing time at Connacht

‘We are still gaining experience. Looking back to last year our squad is a lot more experienced’

Thu Dec 30 2021 - 06:00

Connacht face huge task against Tigers side enjoying purple patch

English side on 12-game winning streak ahead of Sunday’s clash

Sun Dec 19 2021 - 07:00

Connacht dominate Stade Francais to kick off European campaign in style

Bonus point win comes with six tries and a rock solid defence in a famous Galway win

Sun Dec 12 2021 - 17:54

Caolin Blade returns as Connacht brace for Bulls battle

South African side arrive in Galway smarting from their thrashing at the hands of Leinster

Tue Sept 28 2021 - 16:38

Connacht face tough opener against Cardiff side packed with internationals

Andy Friend wants his side to be adaptable against sides with more firepower

Thu Sept 23 2021 - 16:54

Rainbow Cup: Leinster, Glasgow and Connacht name their teams

Andrew Porter is among another six players recalled to Leinster’s matchday squad

Thu Jun 03 2021 - 13:36

John O'Sullivan: Picking an Irish Pro14 team of the season

Stats point towards some players more than others but there are more factors than that

Thu May 20 2021 - 07:37

Connacht target rare win across the water to secure European quarter-final spot

Andy Friend optimistic his province can produce third win against a Premiership side

Sat Apr 03 2021 - 01:00

Gordon D’Arcy: I do not hate this Munster team – that should worry their supporters

The clarity that Leinster displayed in the Pro 14 Final was down to superior coaching

Wed Mar 31 2021 - 06:00

Edinburgh stun Connacht in final play at a sodden Sportsground

Nathan Chamberlain crosses at the last to deny Andy Friend’s side a hard-fought win

Sat Mar 13 2021 - 22:24

Connacht mix things up for visit of Edinburgh

Cian Prendergast and centre Sean O’Brien are both handed their first starts

Fri Mar 12 2021 - 12:43

Connacht agree contracts extensions with 21 players

Ireland internationals Dave Heffernan, Ultan Dillane, Finlay Bealham and Jack Carty sign deals

Thu Mar 11 2021 - 17:17

Rugby Stats: Loss of summer tour will cut off vital opportunity for young Irish talent

Ireland tours during a Lions summer have unearthed many a star in the past

Thu Mar 11 2021 - 06:00

Pro14: Munster-Connacht rivalry set to take on a sharper edge

Johann van Graan’s side eyeing place in final as Andy Friend’s squad travel in expectation

Fri Mar 05 2021 - 11:01

Connacht back to winning ways at the Sportsground

Alex Wootton inspires bonus point win over Cardiff with Jack Carty pulling strings

Sat Feb 20 2021 - 22:27

Ospreys come from behind as Connacht’s home woes continue

Andy Friend’s side lose a fourth-consecutive fixture in Galway as Rhys Webb impresses

Sun Jan 24 2021 - 19:31

Almost all of Munster’s internationals back for clash with Connacht

Game may come down to which of Hanrahan or Carty is the most composed place kicker

Sat Jan 09 2021 - 06:00

Andy Friend wants Connacht to transfer road form to Sportsground for Munster clash

Coach wants side to follow up brilliant away win over Leinster as they look to close gap

Wed Jan 06 2021 - 06:00

Connacht’s fire burns bright in the ice as they end Leinster’s 26-match streak

Jack Carty notches 25 points as men from the West deliver stirring performance in Dublin

Sat Jan 02 2021 - 22:29

John Muldoon’s return to the West reawakens tribal memories

As the Pat Lam circus rolls into the Sportsground, Muldoon is savouring coming home

Sun Dec 20 2020 - 08:00

Connacht come within a score of massive upset against Racing 92

Irish province had an opportunity to take full points with the last play of the game

Sun Dec 13 2020 - 20:10

Connacht use visit of Benetton to give as many players as possible match time

Italians travel to Galway without the 10 internationals named in Franco Smith’s Azzurri team to face Wales

Thu Dec 03 2020 - 20:51

Connacht come out on top in nine-try clash with Edinburgh

They took full five points from Scottish capital for first time since Pro12 winning year

Sun Oct 25 2020 - 22:51

Sloppy Connacht second best in defeat to Cardiff Blues

Visitors lost Finlay Bealham and Dave Heffernan to injuries in the first 20 minutes

Sat Oct 10 2020 - 22:11

Connacht too sharp for Ulster in bonus point victory

Bundee Aki marked his 100th Connacht appearance with a try at the Aviva Stadium

Sun Aug 23 2020 - 19:51

McFarland and Ulster approaching Connacht clash as ‘a win-and-in’

Andy Friend’s new-look side out to make their own statement on Sunday

Sat Aug 22 2020 - 06:00

Ian Madigan in line for Ulster debut as Aki reaches milestone

New Ulster signing to start among the replacements along with Alby Mathewson

Fri Aug 21 2020 - 14:05

Friend impressed with Arnold’s hunger as Connacht prepare for restart

‘He is still hungry and wants to put on the Ireland jersey’

Wed Jul 29 2020 - 06:00