2020–21 Connacht Rugby season

The 2020–21 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's twentieth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-fifth season as a professional side. It was Andy Friend's third season in charge of the side.

Connacht
2020–21 season
Head coachAndy Friend
Chief executiveWillie Ruane
CaptainJarrad Butler
Pro142nd, Conf. B
Pro14 Rainbow Cup6th
Champions CupPool stage (10th)
Challenge CupRound of 16
Top try scorerAll: Alex Wootton (11)
Top points scorerAll: Jack Carty (131)
Average home attendanceN/A
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2019–20

In addition to the Pro14, Connacht competed in the European Champions Cup. This was confirmed in August 2020, as the tournament was expanded to 24 teams on a one-season basis.[1] The Champions Cup pool stage finished prematurely after just two rounds. As one of the bottom eight teams at that point, Connacht were entered into the Challenge Cup in the round of 16 where they were beaten by the Leicester Tigers.

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[2]  Ireland
Team Manager Tim Allnutt[3]  New Zealand
Head Coach Andy Friend[3]  Australia
Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy[3]  Ireland
Backs Coach Nigel Carolan[3]  Ireland
Defence Coach Peter Wilkins[3]  England
Senior Video Analyst Simon Kavanagh[3]  Ireland
Head of Strength and Conditiong David Howarth[3]  Australia
Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach Johnny O'Connor[3]  Ireland
Academy Manager Eric Elwood[4]  Ireland

Players

Senior playing squad
Connacht Rugby Pro14 squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
ST denotes a short-term signing at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[3]

    Academy squad
    Connacht Rugby Academy squad

    Props

    • Ireland Charlie Ward (1)

    Hookers

    • Ireland Declan Adamson (2)
    • Ireland Eoin de Buitléar (1)
    • Ireland Dylan Tierney-Martin (3)

    Locks

    • Ireland Darragh Murray (1)
    • Ireland Cian Prendergast (1)

    Back row

    • Ireland Ciaran Booth (1)
    • Ireland Donnacha Byrne (1)
    • Ireland Hubert Costello (1)
    • Ireland Joshua Dunne (3)
    • Ireland Óisín McCormack (2)

    Scrum-halves

    • None

    Fly-halves

    • Ireland Cathal Forde (1)

    Centres

    • Ireland Shane Jennings (2)
    • Ireland Seán O'Brien (3)

    Wings

    Fullbacks

    (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
    * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
    Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[4][5]

      Senior team transfers
      For player movement in the Pro14 from the mid-season hiatus to the end of the 2020–21 season, see List of 2020–21 Pro14 transfers.

      Unlike most seasons, where the bulk of transfers occur during the summer pre-season the 2019–20 season saw two separate periods of major transfer activity. Many moves scheduled to happen at the end of the season instead took place during the extended hiatus from March to August 2020. Despite these moves technically happening during the previous season, they are included in the transfers listed here.

      • Player's name in italics indicates a transfer that took place after the start of the season

      Results

      Pro14
      Main article: 2020–21 Pro14
      2020–21 Pro14 Table
      Conference A
      Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
      1Ireland Leinster (CH) 161402576285+291823314171
      2Ireland Ulster 161402469263+20665348064
      3Wales Ospreys 16808301318-1734391336
      4Scotland Glasgow Warriors 166010335377-4240472430
      5Wales Dragons 166010215394-7936502329
      6Italy Zebre 164012237508-27122690117
      Conference B
      Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
      1Ireland Munster (RU) 161402413250+16349267264
      2Ireland Connacht 16808396353+4353367645
      3Wales Scarlets 16808319333-1436383439
      4Wales Cardiff Blues 16808265284-1930323136
      5Scotland Edinburgh 165110247344-9729431429*
      6Italy Benetton 160115252415-1643453167*
      * Cancelled fixture: Edinburgh awarded four match points.
      If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[19]
      1. number of matches won
      2. the difference between points for and points against
      3. the number of tries scored
      4. the most points scored
      5. the difference between tries for and tries against
      6. the fewest red cards received
      7. the fewest yellow cards received
      Green background indicates teams that will compete in the Pro14 Final, and also earn a place in the 2021–22 European Champions Cup

      Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2021–22 European Champions Cup
      Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2021–22 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
      (CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners.

        Regular season
        3 October 2020
        17:15
        Connacht Ireland28–24Scotland Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Craig Evans
        10 October 2020
        19:35
        (1 BP) Cardiff Blues Wales29–7Ireland Connacht
        Rodney Parade
        Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
        25 October 2020
        19:35
        (1 BP) Edinburgh Scotland26–37Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
        Murrayfield
        Referee: Adam Jones
        14 November 2020
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht Ireland14–20Wales Scarlets
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Sam Grove-White
        22 November 2020
        15:30
        Zebre Italy12–47Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
        Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
        Referee: Daniel Jones
        4 December 2020
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht Ireland31–14Italy Benetton
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Eoghan Cross
        27 December 2020
        19:35
        Connacht Ireland19–32Ireland Ulster
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Sean Gallagher
        2 January 2021
        19:35
        (1 BP) Leinster Ireland24–35Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
        RDS Arena
        Referee: Chris Busby
        9 January 2021
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht Ireland10–16Ireland Munster
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Frank Murphy
        24 January 2021
        15:00
        (1 BP) Connacht Ireland20–26Wales Ospreys (1 BP)
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Frank Murphy
        5 February 2021
        19:35
        Dragons Wales20–30Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
        Rodney Parade
        Referee: Craig Evans
        20 February 2021
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht Ireland32–17Wales Cardiff Blues
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Andrew Brace
        26 February 2021
        17:30
        (1 BP) Benetton Italy17–19Ireland Connacht
        Stadio Comunale di Monigo
        Referee: Marius Mitrea
        5 March 2021
        19:35
        Munster Ireland20–17Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
        Thomond Park
        Referee: Chris Busby
        13 March 2021
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht Ireland14–15Scotland Edinburgh
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Chris Busby
        22 March 2021
        20:00
        (1 BP) Scarlets Wales41–36Ireland Connacht (2 BP)
        Parc y Scarlets
        Referee: Ben Whitehouse

        Rainbow Cup
        Main article: Pro14 Rainbow Cup
        Pro14 Rainbow Cup
        Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
        1Italy Benetton541012578+4714102022**
        2Ireland Munster540117075+952383120
        3Scotland Glasgow Warriors5401121117+417153019
        4Ireland Leinster530212487+3719102115
        5Wales Cardiff Blues5302124123+116162115
        6Ireland Connacht5302109133–2415182014
        7Wales Scarlets5122110115–513152113*
        8Wales Ospreys521210388+1514112111**
        9Scotland Edinburgh5113126140–1418192210
        10Ireland Ulster511385116–311218228*
        11Wales Dragons5104117156–391422217
        12Italy Zebre500588174-861023033
        * Cancelled fixture: Scarlets awarded four match points.
        ** Cancelled fixture: Benetton awarded four match points.
        If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[20]
        1. number of matches won;
        2. the difference between points for and points against;
        3. the number of tries scored;
        4. the most points scored;
        5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
        6. the fewest red cards received;
        7. the fewest yellow cards received.
        Green background (row 1) is the play-off places and earn a place in the final against the 1st placed Rainbow Cup SA team.

          League stage
          23 April 2021
          20:15
          (2 BP) Ulster Ireland24–26Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
          Ravenhill Stadium
          Referee: Andrew Brace
          8 May 2021
          19:35
          Connacht Ireland21–50Ireland Leinster (1 BP)
          Galway Sportsgrounds
          14 May 2021
          18:00
          (1 BP) Munster Ireland20–24Ireland Connacht
          Thomond Park
          29 May 2021
          18:15
          Benetton Italy20–12Ireland Connacht
          Stadio Comunale di Monigo
          4 June 2021
          18:00
          (1 BP) Connacht Ireland26–19Wales Ospreys (1 BP)
          The Sportsground

          Champions Cup
          Main article: 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup

          Pool B
          Team
          		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
          France Lyon 22008310+731211010
          France Racing 92 22007529+461142010
          France Toulouse 22005722+35832010
          Ireland Munster 22006038+2255008
          France Clermont 21018277+5118206
          England Bristol Bears 21016569-499206
          England Exeter Chiefs 21014228+1464105
          England Gloucester 21014889-41612105
          Ireland Ulster 20025667-1179123
          Ireland Connacht 20024053-1358011
          England Harlequins 20021470-5629000
          Scotland Glasgow Warriors 2002070-70010000

          [21]

          13 December 2020
          16:15
          (1 BP) Racing 92 France26–22Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
          Try: Colombe 6' c
          Beale 17' c
          Taofifénua 24' m
          Bird 51' c
          Con: Machenaud (1/1) 7'
          Iribaren (2/3) 19', 52'          		ReportTry: Healy 40'+1 m
          Wootton 62' c
          Oliver 76' c
          Con: Daly (2/2) 63', 76'
          Pen: Carty (1/1) 12'
          Paris La Défense Arena
          Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
          20 December 2020
          17:30
          Connacht Ireland18–27England Bristol Bears (1 BP)
          Try: O'Halloran 57' c
          Porch 75' m
          Con: Carty (1/2) 58'
          Pen: Carty (2/2) 40'+2, 67'          		ReportTry: Byrne 35' m
          Holmes 48' c
          O'Conor 51' c
          Lloyd 72' m
          Con: Sheedy (2/4) 49', 52'
          Pen: Sheedy (1/1) 79'
          The Sportsground
          Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

          Challenge Cup
          Main article: 2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup

          Round of 16
          3 April 2021
          20:00 BST
          Leicester Tigers England48–32Ireland Connacht
          Try: Clare (2) 11' m, 65' c
          Porter 14' c
          Moroni 27' m
          Henry 31' c
          Wells 73' c
          Wiese 78' c
          Con: Henry (2/4) 15', 32'
          McPhillips (3/3) 66', 74', 79'
          Pen: McPhillips (1/1) 57'          		ReportTry: Marmion 6' m
          E. Masterson 43' c
          Wootton 56' c
          Boyle 71' c
          Con: Carty (2/3) 44', 59'
          C. Fitzgerald (1/1) 71'
          Pen: Carty (2/3) 23', 40+5'
          Mattioli Woods Welford Road
          Attendance: 0
          Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)[lower-alpha 1]

          Notes
          1. Replaced Pascal Gaüzère who was originally appointed to the fixture but changed to Jones on 26 March

          References
          1. "Connacht set to play in 24 team Champions Cup Rugby 2020/21". Sports News Ireland. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
          2. "Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
          3. "Connacht Rugby | Senior Squad". Connacht Rugby. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
          4. "Connacht Rugby | Academy Squad". Connacht Rugby. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
          5. @connachtrugby (30 August 2020). "CHANGES Matt Healy misses out so Academy player Diarmuid Kilgallen starts on the wing for his pro Connacht debut. Meanwhile Bundee Aki is named on the bench replacing Peter Robb. #MUNvCON Green circle #GuinnessPRO14" (Tweet). Retrieved 31 August 2020 – via Twitter.
          6. "Connacht announce signings of four players ahead of 2020/21 season". Connacht Rugby. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
          7. "Connacht promote six exciting academy prospects into their senior squad". The42. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
          8. "Former Ireland U20 international to provide second-row cover for Connacht". The42. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
          9. "Connacht Rugby announce signings of Ben O'Donnell and Abraham Papali'i". Connacht Rugby. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
          10. "Player Update | Alex Wootton". Munster Rugby. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
          11. "Connacht's McCartney to hang up boots". Irish Examiner. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
          12. "Connacht Rugby confirm departing players". Connacht Rugby. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
          13. "Bristol sign Niyi Adeolokun, Peter McCabe & Keiron Assiratti on short-term deals". BBC Sport. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
          14. "Joe Maksymiw: Dragons sign Wales-qualified lock from Connacht". BBC Sport. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
          15. "Connacht's Robin Copeland signs for French club on a three-year deal". The42. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
          16. "#TRANSFERT. Colby Fainga'a sera Lyonnais". Lyon OU Rugby (in French). 12 February 2020. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
          17. "A complete team-by-team guide to the 2020 Shute Shield". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020. Former Waratah Dave Horwitz also returns from overseas to start at No.10
          18. "Force confirm Godwin, Holmes signings". Rugby.com.au. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
          19. Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
          20. Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
          21. "Pool Tables". Heineken Champions Cup. EPCR. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
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