Search Results for 'Cian Prendergast'

Linley MacKenzie

Irish Rugby hit the headlines for the all the wrong reasons this week when Connacht Women were forced to change beside a rubbish strewn area for their final interprovincial against Ulster in Energia Park.

As a new-look Connacht takes shape for the coming season, head coach And Friend has had plenty of time to think about how to achieve on-field success. Day 11 of a 14 day quarantine in a hotel in Australia, Connacht Rugby coach Andy Friend is counting down the hours before being released. It is the first time he has been 'home' in three years - Covid having stymied any plans to visit family and friends. So when he signed a new contract to stay on at the Galway Sportsground for another two seasons, it was a stipulation that he be able to head home this summer.

Connacht, in producing a 26-19 bonus-point home victory, showcased the best of attack and defence in each half for a positive end to their season.

It is not every season, year or decade that Connacht head to Thomond Park and return with a win. That they did on Friday evening for the first time since Pat Lam's tenure and only the third time in history, says something about this squad's developing confidence and tenacity.

Connacht will be using Monday's final PRO14 fixture against the Scarlets in Wales (8pm) as a benchmark for their upcoming European challenge against Leicester.

"Marching in the right direction" is Connacht coach Andy Friend's description of recent results against Munster.

Andy Friend’s Connacht and Pat Lam’s Bristol go head-to-head in a showdown which will determine which team is likely to progress in the newly structured Champions Cup this Covid season.

It was inevitable. When both Connacht and Bristol Bears qualified for the Champions Cup, it seemed predestined the two clubs would end up squaring up to each other.

It was inevitable. When both Connacht and Bristol Bears qualified for the Champions Cup, it seemed predestined the two clubs would end up squaring up to each other.