2014–15 Connacht Rugby season

The 2014–15 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's fourteenth season competing in the Pro12, and the team's nineteenth season as a professional side. It was also Pat Lam's second season in charge of the side.

2014–15 Connacht Rugby season

Ground(s)	Galway Sportsgrounds (Capacity: 7,800)
CEO	Willie Ruane
Coach(es)	Pat Lam
Captain(s)	John Muldoon
Most appearances	George Naoupu (28)
Top scorer	Jack Carty (119)
Most tries	Matt Healy (9)
Pro12 Challenge Cup	7th Quarter-finals
1st kit 2nd kit 3rd kit
← 2013–14 2015–16 →

As well as playing in the Pro12, Connacht competed in the newly established Rugby Challenge Cup, having played in the now-defunct Heineken Cup the previous season. The second tier side, the Connacht Eagles, competed in the 2014–15 British and Irish Cup.

Season

Background

The 2014–15 season saw the Heineken Cup replaced by the 20 team Rugby Champions Cup and the creation of this competition meant the Pro12 standings would have a greater impact on European qualification. Under the previous format, the Pro12 provided a minimum of ten teams, with Scotland and Italy providing two teams each, and Ireland and Wales both providing three.

The new system saw one place now being reserved for the highest finishing Pro12 team from each of four participating countries, along with three other qualifiers based solely on league position, for a total of seven teams. The other teams were to be entered in the new second tier competition, the Rugby Challenge Cup. This meant Connacht were no longer required to finish ahead of another Irish province or rely on an Irish victory in a European tournament to qualify for the top tier of European rugby.

The final tournament spot in the 2015–16 Rugby Champions Cup was decided by a playoff involving the Pro12's highest finishing team that is not already qualified, along with the seventh highest finishing clubs from France's Top 14 and the English Premiership.[1]

On the player front, Connacht entered the season with a new captain following the forced retirement of Craig Clarke due to persistent concussions.[2] They will also be without the playing services of former captain and centurion Gavin Duffy, whose contract was not renewed the previous season. It was later announced that he was taking up a role with the province's commercial team.[3]

Due to their 10th-place finish in the 2013–14 Pro12, Connacht were entered into the 2014–15 Rugby Challenge Cup, which replaced the European Challenge Cup, a competition Connacht hadn't competed in since the 2010–11 season. The draw for the Challenge Cup pool stages took place on 10 June 2014, with Connacht named in the same group as Exeter Chiefs, Bayonne and La Rochelle.[4]

September

Connacht opened the season with victories at home against Newport Gwent Dragons and away to Edinburgh.[5][6] The team then beat provincial rivals Leinster at home, the 10–9 win giving Connacht their first inter-provincial victory since beating Leinster in the same fixture in the 2012–13 season.[7] Connacht experienced their first defeat of the season in the next round, losing to Glasgow Warriors in their final game of the month.[8][9]

October

Following their opening defeat of the season to Glasgow, Connacht opened the month of October with a draw at home to Cardiff Blues the following week,[9] but were able to return to winning ways before the first break for European matches, beating Benetton Treviso 6–9 in Italy.[10] Connacht opened their 2014–15 Challenge Cup campaign at the Sportsgrounds on 18 October with a 48–12 bonus point victory over Top 14 side La Rochelle.[11] The following week, however, saw the province beaten 33–13 away to Exeter Chiefs.[12] Connacht's first game after the European break saw them beaten 26–11 in Wales by the Ospreys on Halloween night.[13]

November

A break in the league for the November internationals meant that Connacht didn't play a competitive match in the month until 21 November. When they returned to action, Connacht picked up a comfortable bonus point victory over Zebre at home, posting a final score of 43–3.[14] The team followed this with a 14–8 win against 6th place rivals Scarlets at the Sportsgrounds to keep their unbeaten home record intact.[15]

December

Connacht opened the month of December with a crucial double-header against Bayonne in the Challenge Cup, and won the first of these games comfortably, picking up a bonus point in a 42–19 victory to narrow the gap to Exeter Chiefs.[16] Connacht named an entirely new team for the return leg, and despite being 11 points down in the second half, the team fought back to win 27–29, with academy scrum-half Caolin Blade scoring both tries.[17]

After the two European matches, Connacht finished 2015 with two provincial derbies in a row over the Christmas period. Connacht lost the first of these matches against Leinster in Dublin.[18] This loss was followed by a narrow away defeat to Ulster on St. Stephen's Day in the last match of the calendar year.[19]

January

On New Year's Day, Connacht picked up where they had left off in 2014, with another league match against Irish opposition. In the final derby of this period, Connacht managed to pick up a win, beating Munster 24–16.[20] Following this high however, Connacht were beaten at home for the first time in the season, losing 13–16 to Edinburgh.[21] The poor form was carried into Europe as Connacht lost another home match in quick succession, being beaten 24–33 by the Exeter Chiefs.[22] The team was able to recover the following week to beat La Rochelle and secure a place in the knock-out stage of the competition.[23]

February

There were no games in the opening weekend of the month as the 2015 Six Nations Championship was taking place. On 15 February Connacht returned to league action, suffering a 32–14 loss away to Scarlets.[24] The following week, Connacht were away to another Welsh side, this time facing Newport Gwent Dragons, and recovered from the previous week's disappointment to emerge 25–30 winners.[25]

March

Connacht opened the month of March with bonus point victory over Benetton Treviso, crushing the Italians 53–5.[26] On 6 March, Connacht faced Cardiff Blues away ahead of a tough series of matches against teams in the play-off places, making the game important in the qualification for the 2015–16 Rugby Champions Cup. Connacht were beaten 18–17 by a late try, after the referee controversially gave a penalty against Connacht with the game in overtime after Cardiff appeared to have knocked the ball on. In the aftermath of the game, Pat Lam criticised touch judge Leighton Hodges and lodged a complaint with the league.[27] Lam was later charged with misconduct for his comments.[28] In spite of Lam's comments and the misconduct charge, Hodges refereed Connacht's next match, away to Munster in Thomond Park, where Connacht were beaten 42–20.[29]

April

The team's first match in April was a Challenge Cup quarter-final against Gloucester in Kingsholm Stadium. After going in 14–0 down, Connacht held the hosts scoreless in the second half and pulled themselves back into the match with a penalty try. They couldn't make up the deficit however, and Connacht were knocked out of the Cup by 14–7.[30]

In their return to the Pro12, Connacht suffered their second home league defeat of the season, this time to Ulster. After another poor first half performance, Connacht went in 17–0 down, only to earn a losing bonus with a final score of 20–27.[31] Another home defeat followed, with the team shipping five tries against Glasgow Warriors in a 13–31 defeat, leaving the team in danger of finishing behind Edinburgh in 8th place and missing not only automatic qualification for the Champions Cup, but also the chance at a play-off for the final spot.[32]

May

Connacht were able to start the month with their first win since 1 March, beating Zebre 10–40 in Italy, to earn a try bonus and leave themselves with a chance of reaching the Champions Cup. In the final round of the regular season, on 16 May, Connacht faced Ospreys, while their rivals for the Champions Cup places, Scarlets and Edinburgh, faced Benetton Treviso and Leinster respectively. Connacht picked up a losing bonus, while Scarlets won and Edinburgh were beaten by 13, leaving Connacht in 7th place, their highest finish in a regular league season, but just short of qualification to the Champions Cup.

Connacht proceeded to a play-off involving Bordeaux Bègles, the 7th placed team in the 2014–15 Top 14 season, and Gloucester the 2014–15 Rugby Challenge Cup winners. Connacht played Gloucester away on 24 May for the chance to face Bordeaux. Connacht were leading 18–25 in the final minutes of the game, but a controversial penalty decision from Romain Poite gave Gloucester a try-scoring opportunity and sent the match to extra time, after which Gloucester emerged 40–32 victors.[33]

Coaching and Management Team

Role	Name	Nationality
Head Coach	Pat Lam[34]	Samoa[lower-alpha 1]
Assistant Coach	Dan McFarland[34]	England
Backs/Kicking Coach	Andre Bell[35]	New Zealand
Skills Coach	Dave Ellis[34]	New Zealand
Chief Executive	Willie Ruane[36]	Ireland
Team Manager	Tim Allnut[34]	New Zealand
Academy Manager/ Eagles Head Coach	Nigel Carolan[34]	Ireland
Resource Coach(es)	Cory Browne[34] Jimmy Duffy[34]	New Zealand  Ireland
Head of Fitness	Paul Bunce[37]	New Zealand
Performance Analyst	Conor McPhillips[34]	Ireland
Head Physio	Gavin Malouf[34]	Australia

Players

Senior Playing Squad

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

Player Position Union Jason Harris-Wright Hooker Ireland David Heffernan Hooker Ireland Seán Henry Hooker Ireland Tom McCartney Hooker New Zealand Rodney Ah You Prop Ireland Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland Denis Buckley Prop Ireland JP Cooney Prop Ireland Ronan Loughney Prop Ireland Nathan White* Prop New Zealand Mick Kearney Lock Ireland Aly Muldowney* Lock England Danny Qualter Lock Ireland Quinn Roux Lock South Africa Michael Swift* Lock England Andrew Browne Flanker Ireland Mata Fafita* Flanker Tonga Willie Faloon Flanker Ireland Jake Heenan Flanker New Zealand John Muldoon (c) Flanker Ireland Eoin McKeon Number 8 Ireland George Naoupu Number 8 New Zealand

Player Position Union John Cooney Scrum-half Ireland Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Ian Porter Scrum-half Ireland Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland Miah Nikora* Fly-half New Zealand Craig Ronaldson Fly-half Ireland Bundee Aki Centre New Zealand Conor Finn Centre Ireland Robbie Henshaw Centre Ireland Dave McSharry Centre Ireland Shane O'Leary* Centre Canada Niyi Adeolokun* Wing Nigeria Fionn Carr Wing Ireland Matt Healy Wing Ireland Tiernan O'Halloran Wing Ireland Danie Poolman Wing South Africa Shane Layden Fullback Ireland Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland Mils Muliaina Fullback New Zealand

• Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*
• Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold

Academy Squad

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

Player Position Union Shane Delahunt Hooker Ireland year 1 Jack Dineen Hooker Ireland year 1 Jamie Dever Prop Ireland year 2 Saba Meunargia Prop Ireland year 2 Jacob Walshe Prop Ireland year 2 Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland year 3 Seán O'Brien Lock Ireland year 2 James Connolly Flanker Ireland year 2 Marc Kelly Flanker Ireland year 1 Rory Moloney Flanker Ireland year 2 Eoghan Masterson Number 8 Scotland year 2

Player Position Union Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland year 2 Conor McKeon Outside-half Ireland year 1 Rory Parata Centre Ireland year 2 Peter Robb Centre Ireland year 1 Ciaran Gaffney Wing Ireland year 1 David Panter Fullback England year 2

Preseason Transfers

For player movement in the Pro12 leading up to the 2014–15 season, see List of 2014–15 Pro12 transfers.

Players In HK Tom McCartney from Blues[40] PR Finlay Bealham promoted from academy[41][42] LK Quinn Roux from Leinster (loan)[43] SH John Cooney from Leinster (loan)[43] SH Ian Porter from Ulster[44] FH Jack Carty promoted from academy[45] CE Bundee Aki from Chiefs CE Conor Finn promoted from academy[42] CE Shane O'Leary from Grenoble[44][46] WG Niyi Adeolokun from Dublin University[47] FB Shane Layden promoted from academy[47] FB Darragh Leader promoted from academy[42] FB Mils Muliaina from Chiefs[48]

Players Out HK James Rael to Lansdowne[49] PR Brett Wilkinson retired[50] LK Craig Clarke retired[51] LK Dave Nolan to Bourgoin[52] FL Aaron Conneely to Lansdowne[49] SH Frank Murphy retired[53] SH Paul O'Donohoe retired[54] FH Dan Parks retired[55] CE Eoin Griffin to London Irish[56] CE Brian Murphy to Galwegians[57] CE Kyle Tonetti retired[58] FB Gavin Duffy to Mayo Football[59]

Playing Kit

Connacht's official kit supplier for the season was Australian manufacturer BLK sport, who announced a comprehensive four-year agreement to supply the full range of apparel for all of Connacht Rugby's representative teams and support staff in 2013.[60]

Connacht's main shirt sponsors were Irish sporting retailer Lifestyle Sports. Lifestyle Sports signed a four-season deal with the province, to will see their logo feature on the jersey until the end of the 2017–18 season, taking over from the previous season's sponsors Mazda Ireland.[61]

Results

Pro12

Main article: 2014–15 Pro12

Pro12 Table
	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Difference	Tries For	Tries Against	Try Bonus	Losing Bonus	Points
1	Glasgow Warriors (CH)	22	16	1	5	540	360	+180	63	33	9	0	75
2	Munster (RU)	22	15	2	5	581	367	+214	68	31	8	3	75
3	Ospreys (SF)	22	16	1	5	546	358	+188	53	30	6	2	74
4	Ulster (SF)	22	14	2	6	524	372	+152	59	34	6	3	69
5	Leinster	22	11	3	8	483	375	+108	54	39	8	4	62
6	Scarlets	22	11	3	8	452	388	+64	43	39	4	3	57
7	Connacht	22	10	1	11	447	419	+28	49	48	3	5	50
8	Edinburgh	22	10	1	11	399	419	−20	41	48	3	3	48
9	Newport Gwent Dragons	22	8	0	14	393	484	−91	38	55	4	6	42
10	Cardiff Blues	22	7	1	14	430	545	−115	46	57	3	2	35
11	Benetton Treviso	22	3	1	18	306	641	−335	34	81	2	3	19
12	Zebre	22	3	0	19	266	639	−373	27	80	0	3	15
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[62] 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 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup. Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places, that earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup. The top team from each country will qualify. Yellow background indicates the team that advances to a play-off semi-final against Aviva Premiership side Gloucester, who qualified for the play-off as the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup winners.[63] Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

6 September 2014 17:00

Connacht	16–11	Newport Gwent Dragons (1 BP)
Try: E. McKeon 9' m Poolman 54' m Pen: Leader (2/3) 15', 51'	Report	Try: Cudd 23' m Pen: Tovey (2/3) 30', 75'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,123 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

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12 September 2014 19:35

(1 BP) Edinburgh	13–14	Connacht
Try: du Preez 40' c Con: Heathcote (1/1) Pen: Heathcote (2/3) 3', 9'	Report	Try: Faloon 75' m Pen: Leader (3/5) 23', 37', 55'

Murrayfield Stadium Attendance: 3,777 Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU)

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19 September 2014 19:35

Connacht	10–9	Leinster (1 BP)
Try: Marmion 54' c Con: Carty (1/1) Pen: Carty (1/2) 21'	Report	Pen: Madigan (3/4) 2', 11', 15'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,917 Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)[64]

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26 September 2014 19:35

(1 BP) Glasgow Warriors	39–21	Connacht
Try: Hogg (2) 19' c, 46' m Pyrgos 36' c Van der Merwe 61' c Bennett 74' c Con: Weir (4/5) Pen: Weir (2/2) 30', 71'	Report	Try: McSharry 23' c Leader 56' c penalty try 68' c Con: Porter (3/3)

Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 5,821 Referee: Claudio Blessano (FIR)

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3 October 2014 19:35

Connacht	24–24	Cardiff Blues
Try: Henshaw 31' c Marmion 42' c White 46' c Con: Ronaldson (3/3) Pen: Ronaldson (1/1) 6'	Report	Try: A. Thomas 19' c Cook 69' c Andrews 78' c Con: Patchell (3/3) Pen: Patchell (1/1) 36'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,247 Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)

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10 October 2014 20:00

(1 BP) Benetton Treviso	6–9	Connacht
Pen: Hayward (2/3) 6', 38'	Report	Pen: Ronaldson (3/5) 17', 30', 67'

Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 3,025 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

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31 October 2014 19:35

Ospreys	26–11	Connacht
Try: Hassler 48' c Roberts 61' c Con: Davies (2/2) Pen: Davies (4/6) 4', 51', 56', 66'	Report	Try: E. McKeon 77' m Pen: Ronaldson (2/5) 36', 46'

Liberty Stadium Attendance: 6,010 Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

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21 November 2014 19:35

(1 BP) Connacht	43–3	Zebre
Try: Poolman 27' m Kearney 46' c penalty try 61' c Jo. Cooney 65' m Carty 68' c Con: Porter (1/2) Nikora (1/1) Carty (1/2) Pen: Porter (4/6) 13', 19', 34', 38'	Report	Pen: Odiete (1/2) 17'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,486 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

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29 November 2014 19:30

Connacht	14–8	Scarlets (1 BP)
Try: Healy 48' m Pen: Carty (3/4) 19', 47', 63'	Report	Try: Robinson 3' m Pen: S. Shingler (1/2) 1'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,631 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)

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19 December 2014 19:35

Leinster	21–11	Connacht
Try: Jennings 12' m Kirchner 78' c Con: Gopperth (1/2) Pen: Gopperth (3/3) 16', 41', 49'	Report	Try: Naoupu 73' m Pen: Carty (2/3) 31', 40'

RDS Arena Attendance: 16,007 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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26 December 2014 18:45

Ulster	13–10	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Gilroy 19' c Con: Jackson (1/1) Pen: Jackson (2/4) 14', 62'	Report	Try: Muldowney 66' c Con: Carty (1/1) Pen: Carty (1/1) 4'

Kingspan Stadium Attendance: 17,107 Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

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1 January 2015 17:00

Connacht	24–16	Munster
Try: Marmion 29' c Ronaldson 42' c Muldowney 60' c Con: Ronaldson (1/1) Leader (2/2) Pen: Nikora (1/1) 55'	Report	Try: P. O'Mahony 10' c Con: Keatley (1/1) Pen: Keatley (3/3) 7', 15', 38'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 7,745 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

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9 January 2015 19:35

(1 BP) Connacht	13–16	Edinburgh
Try: penalty try 37' c Con: Nikora (1/1) Pen: Nikora (2/3) 23', 40'	Report	Try: Denton 16' c Con: Hidalgo-Clyne (1/1) Pen: Hidalgo-Clyne (3/4) 44', 49', 70'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,267 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)

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15 February 2015 12:45

(1 BP) Scarlets	32–14	Connacht
Try: Tagicakibau 23' m Robinson 27' c J. Williams 33' c J. Davies 50' c Con: S. Shingler (3/4) Pen: S. Shingler (2/2) 13', 17'	Report	Try: Adeolokun 72' m Pen: Carty (3/3) 4', 39', 47'

Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

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22 February 2015 16:00

(1 BP) Newport Gwent Dragons	25–30	Connacht
Try: Amos (2) 32' m, 80' c Dixon 65' c Con: Prydie (2/3) Pen: Prydie (2/2) 4', 39'	Report	Try: Ronaldson 7' c Masterson 22' c Kearney 75' c Con: Carty (2/2) Leader (1/1) Pen: Carty (1/3) 11' Leader (2/2) 57', 60'

Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,180 Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)

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1 March 2015 17:15

(1 BP) Connacht	53–5	Benetton Treviso
Try: O'Halloran 5' c Heenan 45' c Healy (2) 51' c, 72' c Buckley 54' c Muldowney 67' m Poolman 79' c Con: Ronaldson (6/7) Pen: Ronaldson (2/2) 14', 31'	Report	Try: Christie 34' m

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 3,880 Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

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6 March 2015 19:35

Cardiff Blues	18–17	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Tuculet (2) 56' m, 80' c Con: Patchell (1/2) Pen: Patchell (2/2) 24', 64'	Report	Try: Heenan 5' c Muldowney 70' c Con: Ronaldson (2/2) Pen: Ronaldson (1/1) 22'

Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 5,624 Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)

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28 March 2015 17:15

(1 BP) Munster	42–20	Connacht
Try: B. Holland 12' c Casey 55' c Zebo 63' c Smith 72' c Hurley 74' c Earls 79' c Con: Keatley (3/3) Hanrahan (3/3)	Report	Try: Nikora 68' c O'Leary 78' c Con: Nikora (2/2) Pen: Carty (2/3) 1', 45'

Thomond Park Attendance: 18,762 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)

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11 April 2015 14:40

(1 BP) Connacht	20–27	Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Healy 44' c O'Halloran 70' c Con: Nikora (1/1) Carty (1/1) Pen: Nikora (1/1) 51' Carty (1/1) 62'	Report	Try: Ludik 4' m Bowe (2) 31' m, 56' m Gilroy 34' c Best 64' m Con: Pienaar (1/5)

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,921 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

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25 April 2015 13:05

Connacht	13–31	Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Muldowney 53' c Con: Carty (1/1) Pen: Carty (2/5) 6', 16'	Report	Try: Matawalu (2) 24' m, 38' c Hogg 35' c Ashe 67' c Seymour 73' m Con: Russell (3/5)

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,430 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

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9 May 2015 18:30

Zebre	10–40	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Leonard 26' c Con: Orquera (1/1) Pen: Orquera (1/1) 34'	Report	Try: Jo. Cooney (2) 11' c, 35' c Healy 29' c Masterson 54' m O'Halloran 70' c O'Leary 73' c Con: Carty (3/4) C. McKeon (2/2)

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 2,680 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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16 May 2015 15:00

(1 BP) Connacht	20–24	Ospreys
Try: Masterson 53' c Buckley 80' c Con: Carty (2/2) Pen: Carty (2/2) 41', 49'	Report	Try: Biggar 15' c John 25' c Webb 27' c Con: Biggar (3/3) Pen: Biggar (1/1) 5'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,226 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

Rugby Challenge Cup

Pool 2

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Exeter Chiefs (2)	6	5	0	1	212	97	+115	26	11	4	1	25
Connacht (8)	6	4	0	2	186	144	+42	23	16	4	0	20
Bayonne	6	2	0	4	106	162	–59	10	18	0	1	9
La Rochelle	6	1	0	5	84	182	−98	10	24	0	0	4

18 October 2014 17:00

(1 BP) Connacht	48–12	La Rochelle
Try: Carty 5' c Marmion 9' m Henshaw (2) 31' c, 45' c Loughney 35' c Poolman 52' m Healy 64' c Con: Ronaldson (4/5) 5', 32', 37', 46' Porter (1/2) 65' Pen: Ronaldson (1/1) 15'	Report	Try: Cler 42' m Bouldoire 69' c Con: Le Bail (1/2) 70'

Galway Sportsgrounds, Galway Attendance: 4,735 Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

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25 October 2014 15:00

(1 BP) Exeter Chiefs	33–13	Connacht
Try: Chudley 9' c Slade 20' m Welch 40' c Ewers 46' c White 56' c Con: Steenson (4/5) 9', 40', 47', 57'	Report	Try: Carr 73' c Con: Ronaldson (1/1) 74' Pen: Ronaldson (2/2) 5', 37'

Sandy Park, Exeter Attendance: 8,484 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

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6 December 2014 17:00

(1 BP) Connacht	42–19	Bayonne
Try: Poolman (2) 19' c, 39' m Aki 60' c McSharry 69' c Faloon 72' c Con: Carty (3/4) 20', 61', 70' Ronaldson (1/1) 73' Pen: Carty (3/4) 11', 53', 59'	Report	Try: Lapeyrade 45' c Con: Otazo (1/1) 46' Pen: Bustos Moyano (4/5) 5', 14', 16', 29'

Galway Sportsgrounds, Galway Attendance: 4,425 Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

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13 December 2014 20:45

Bayonne	27–29	Connacht
Try: Vaka 3' c Ugalde 17' c Sayerse 41' c Con: Loustalot (3/3) 3', 18', 42' Pen: Loustalot (2/2) 34', 50'	Report	Try: Blade (2) 27' c, 77' c Con: Nikora (2/2) 28', 78' Pen: Nikora (5/6) 6', 30', 37', 57', 67'

Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne Attendance: 4,980 Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)

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18 January 2015 15:15

(1 BP) Connacht	24–33	Exeter Chiefs
Try: Healy (2) 5' m, 74' c Faloon 23' m Poolman 38' c Con: Carty (2/4) 39', 75'	Report	Try: Penalty Try 19' c Mumm 45' c Armand 62' c Con: Slade (3/3) 20', 46', 63' Pen: Slade (4/5) 35', 43', 57', 70'

Galway Sportsgrounds, Galway Attendance: 5,088 Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)

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24 January 2015 18:30

La Rochelle	20–30	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Penalty try 32' c, Meron 38' c Con: Barraque (2/2) 33', 39' Pen: Barraque (2/2) 9', 23'	Report	Try: Marmion 2' m McKeon 46' m Adeolokun 74' c Healy 76' c Con: Carty (2/4) 75', 78' Pen: Carty (2/3) 16', 37'

Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle Attendance: 10,068 Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)

Quarter-finals

3 April 2015 19:45

Gloucester	14–7	Connacht
Try: Sharples 20' c Meakes 30' c Con: Laidlaw (2/2) 21', 31'	Report	Try: Penalty try 65' c Con: Carty (1/1) 66'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 13,236 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

Champions Cup play-offs

Main article: 2015–16 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs

Match 1

24 May 2015 15:30 GMT

Gloucester	40−32 (a.e.t.)	Connacht
Try: Moriarty 1' c Sharples 26' m Meakes 80' c Dawidiuk 95' m May 98' c Con: Laidlaw (3/5) 1', 80', 98' Pen: Laidlaw (2/3) 19', 43' Hook (1/1) 92'	Report	Try: J. Cooney 8' c Carty 29' c Healy (2) 60' m, 92' c Con: Carty (3/4) 9', 30', 92' Pen: Carty (2/3) 7', 79'

Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester Attendance: 7,633 Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)

FB 15 Charlie Sharples  64' RW 14 Jonny May OC 13 Bill Meakes IC 12 Billy Twelvetrees (c) LW 11 Henry Purdy  50' FH 10 James Hook SH 9 Greig Laidlaw N8 8 Ross Moriarty  71'  88' OF 7 Dan Thomas  33'  44'  65' BF 6 Jacob Rowan RL 5 Tom Palmer LL 4 Tom Savage TP 3 John Afoa 33' to 43'  88' HK 2 Richard Hibbard  59' LP 1 Nick Wood  65' Replacements: HK 16 Darren Dawidiuk  59' PR 17 Yann Thomas  65' PR 18 Shaun Knight  33'  44'  88' LK 19 Elliott Stooke  71' FL 20 Lewis Ludlow  65'  88' SH 21 Dan Robson  64' FH 22 Billy Burns FB 23 Rob Cook  50' Coach: David Humphreys

FB 15 Tiernan O'Halloran  65' RW 14 Fionn Carr  75' OC 13 Robbie Henshaw IC 12 Bundee Aki LW 11 Matt Healy FH 10 Jack Carty SH 9 John Cooney  64' N8 8 Eoin McKeon  71' OF 7 Eoghan Masterson 55' to 65'  33'  44' BF 6 John Muldoon (c) RL 5 Aly Muldowney LL 4 George Naoupu  54' TP 3 Rodney Ah You  54' HK 2 Tom McCartney  70'  79'  90' LP 1 Denis Buckley 33' to 43' Replacements: HK 16 Dave Heffernan 94' to 100'  70' 79' to 90' PR 17 JP Cooney  33'  44' PR 18 Finlay Bealham  54' LK 19 Andrew Browne  54' FL 20 James Connolly  71' SH 21 Ian Porter  64' FH 22 Miah Nikora  75' CE 23 Shane O'Leary  65' Coach: Pat Lam

Awards and recognition

At the end of the 2014–15 Pro12 season, an Awards evening was held in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, with Connacht among those honoured both as a team and for individual performance.[65]

Award	Recipient
Pro12 Fair Play award	Connacht
Pro12 Dream Team	Denis Buckley
Pro12 Dream Team	Robbie Henshaw

Connacht held their own awards ceremony in May, to acknowledge the services of individual players.[66]

Award	Recipient
Players' Player of the Year	Robbie Henshaw
Fans' Player of the Year	Robbie Henshaw
Back of the Year	Matt Healy
Forward of the Year	Denis Buckley
Team Man of the Year	Aly Muldowney
Academy Player of the Year	Eoghan Masterson
Try of the Year	Kieran Marmion, v Leinster, September 2014

Connacht also had awards throughout the season for the Player of the Month, as voted by the team's supporters.[67][68][69][70][71][72]

Month	Award Winner
September 2014	Denis Buckley
October 2014	George Naoupu
November 2014	Matt Healy
December 2014	Tom McCartney
January 2015	Matt Healy
February 2015	Aly Muldowney
March 2015	Eoghan Masterson
April 2015	Rodney Ah You

Notes

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

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