2018–19 Connacht Rugby season

The 2018–19 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's eighteenth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-third season as a professional side. It was Andy Friend's first season in charge of the side.

Connacht

2018–19 season
Head coach	Andy Friend
Chief executive	Willie Ruane
Captain	Jarrad Butler
Pro14	3rd, Conf. A (play-off quarter-finals)
Challenge Cup	Quarter-finals
Highest home attendance	8,129 v Leinster 29 September 2018 8,129 v Ulster 28 December 2018 8,129 v Munster 5 January 2019
Lowest home attendance	4,056 v Zebre 8 September 2018
Average home attendance	5,876
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2017–18 2019–20 →

In the regular season, Connacht were in Conference A of the Pro14. The team finished third in their conference, qualifying for the play-offs for the first time since the 2015–16 season where they were beaten by Ulster in the quarter-final. As well as playing in the Pro14, the team competed in the Challenge Cup in Europe. They qualified as one of the best runners up from a pool including Bordeaux, Perpignan and Sale Sharks to reach the quarter-finals, where they again met Sale. A 20–10 defeat saw the team eliminated in the last eight.

In addition to the league and European competitions, the Connacht Eagles development side competed in two new competitions. The first was the Celtic Cup, which saw them play against other Irish provinces' development teams and sides from Wales. The Eagles finished bottom of the Irish conference the inaugural edition of this tournament. The second competition was the Cara Cup, which involved the Irish provinces and the New England Free Jacks, a newly established Major League Rugby side. The Eagles won both of their games, beating Ulster and the Free Jacks.

Background

Following the removal of head coach Kieran Keane one year into a three-year deal, Andy Friend was hired as his replacement.[1] The team also have a new captain for the season, following the retirement of John Muldoon, the province's most-capped player.[2] In August 2018, Jarrad Butler was named as his replacement.[3]

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[4]	Ireland
Team Manager	Tim Allnutt[5]	New Zealand
Head Coach	Andy Friend[1]	Australia
Forwards Coach	Jimmy Duffy[6]	Ireland
Backs Coach	Nigel Carolan[7]	Ireland
Defence Coach	Peter Wilkins[8]	England
Head Performance Analyst	Simon Kavanagh[9]	Ireland
Head of Strength and Conditiong	David Howarth[10]	Australia
Strength and Conditioning Coach	Johnny O'Connor[11]	Ireland
Academy Manager	Eric Elwood[12]	Ireland
Connacht Eagles Coach	Mossy Lawler[13]	Ireland

Players

Senior playing squad

The Connacht senior squad for 2018–19 was:[14][lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]

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 Dave Heffernan Hooker Ireland Tom McCartney* Hooker New Zealand Jonny Murphy Hooker Ireland Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland Denis Buckley Prop Ireland Conor Carey Prop Ireland Peter McCabe Prop Ireland Conán O'Donnell Prop Ireland Dominic Robertson-McCoy* Prop New Zealand James Cannon* Lock England Peter Claffey Lock Ireland Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland Joe Maksymiw* Lock England Quinn Roux Lock Ireland Gavin Thornbury Lock Ireland Jarrad Butler (captain) Back row Australia James Connolly Back row Ireland Robin Copeland Back row Ireland Colby Fainga'a Back row Australia Cillian Gallagher Back row Ireland Eoghan Masterson Back row Ireland Eoin McKeon Back row Ireland Seán O'Brien Back row Ireland

Player Position Union Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland Angus Lloyd Scrum-half Ireland Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Conor McKeon Scrum-half Ireland James Mitchell* Scrum-half England Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland David Horwitz Fly-half Australia Craig Ronaldson Fly-half Ireland Bundee Aki Centre Ireland Tom Daly[lower-alpha 1] Centre Ireland Tom Farrell Centre Ireland Kyle Godwin Centre Australia Eoin Griffin Centre Ireland Peter Robb Centre Ireland Niyi Adeolokun Wing Ireland Stephen Fitzgerald[lower-alpha 2] Wing Ireland Matt Healy Wing Ireland Cian Kelleher Wing Ireland Rory Scholes Wing Ireland Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland Tiernan O'Halloran Fullback Ireland

• Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold
• Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*
• Irish Provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").[18] Connacht is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement.[19]
• Notes:

1. Tom Daly joined Connacht on loan from Leinster in December 2018 for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.[15]
2. Stephen Fitzgerald joined Connacht on a three-month loan from Munster in December 2018,[16] which was later extended to last until the end of the season.[17]

Academy squad

The Connacht academy squad for 2018–19 was:[20]

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 Dylan Tierney (year 1) Hooker Ireland Matthew Burke (year 2) Prop Ireland Conor Kenny (year 3) Prop Ireland Niall Murray (year 1) Lock Ireland Paul Boyle (year 2) Back row Ireland Joshua Dunne (year 1) Back row Ireland Cian Huxford (year 1) Back row Ireland Sean Masterson (year 2) Back row Ireland Mikey Wilson (year 1) Back row Ireland

Player Position Union Stephen Kerins (year 3) Scrum-half Ireland Colm Reilly (year 1) Scrum-half Ireland Luke Carty (year 2) Fly-half Ireland Conor Dean (year 1) Fly-half Ireland Conor Fitzgerald (year 1) Fly-half Ireland Kieran Joyce (year 2) Centre Ireland Sean O'Brien (year 1) Centre Ireland Mark Balaski (year 1) Wing Ireland Conor Hayes (year 1) Wing Ireland Oran McNulty (year 1) Wing Ireland Colm de Buitléar (year 2) Fullback Ireland

Senior team transfers

For player movement in the Pro14 leading up to and during the 2018–19 season, see List of 2018–19 Pro14 transfers.

Players in HK Jonny Murphy from Rotherham Titans[21] PR Conán O'Donnell promoted from Academy[22] LK Peter Claffey promoted from Academy[22] LK Joe Maksymiw from Leicester Tigers[23] BR Robin Copeland from Munster[24] BR Colby Fainga'a from Melbourne Rebels[25] BR Cillian Gallagher promoted from Academy[22] SH Angus Lloyd from Clontarf[26] FH David Horwitz from Melbourne Rebels[27] CE Tom Daly from Leinster (loan)[28] CE Kyle Godwin from Brumbies[29] WG Stephen Fitzgerald from Munster (loan)[30]

Players out HK Pat O'Toole to San Diego Legion[31] PR JP Cooney retired[32] PR Denis Coulson to Lansdowne[33] LK Andrew Browne retired[34] BR Naulia Dawai to Otago[35] BR Jake Heenan to Bristol Bears[36] BR John Muldoon retired[37] FH Steve Crosbie to Old Belvedere[33] FH Andrew Deegan to Western Force[38] CE Pita Ahki to Toulouse[39] WG Cormac Brennan released[40] WG Stacey Ili to Hawke's Bay[41] WG Rory Scholes to Brive[42]

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

Results

Pro14

Main article: 2018–19 Pro14

2018–19 Pro14 Table
Conference A
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	PTS
1	Glasgow Warriors (RU)	21	16	0	5	621	380	+241	83	48	15	2	81
2	Munster (SF)	21	16	0	5	612	348	+264	82	44	11	2	77
3	Connacht (QF)	21	12	0	9	475	394	+81	60	55	7	6	61
4	Ospreys (PO)	21	12	0	9	445	404	+41	53	47	6	4	58
5	Cardiff Blues	21	10	0	11	497	451	+46	60	58	7	7	54
6	Cheetahs	21	8	1	12	541	606	−65	80	80	9	3	46
7	Zebre	21	3	0	18	260	640	−380	35	85	5	2	19
Conference B
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	PTS
1	Leinster (CH)	21	15	1	5	672	385	+287	95	49	12	2	76
2	Ulster (SF)	21	13	2	6	441	424	+17	58	54	6	1	63
3	Benetton (QF)	21	11	2	8	474	431	+43	62	55	6	3	57
4	Scarlets	21	10	0	11	510	470	+40	68	54	7	5	52
5	Edinburgh	21	10	0	11	431	436	−5	52	59	6	5	51
6	Dragons	21	5	1	15	339	599	−260	37	84	1	3	26
7	Southern Kings	21	2	1	18	385	735	−350	54	107	5	7	22
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[43] 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 indicates teams that compete in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup (excluding South African teams who are ineligible) Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup Yellow background indicates the loser of the play-off between the two fourth-ranked European teams in each conference, that earned a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup. Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup. (CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (QF) Losing quarter-finalists. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners.

Regular season

1 September 2018 15:00

(1 BP) Connacht	26–27	Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Kelleher 14' c Bealham 21' c Con: J. Carty (2/2) 16', 22' Pen: J. Carty (4/5) 11', 34', 40', 42'	Report[44]	Try: Seymour 1' m Turner 17' c Wilson 31' m Ashe 64' c Con: P. Horne (1/3) 18' Hogg (1/1) 65' Drop: Hogg (1/1) 73'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,329 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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8 September 2018 17:15

(1 BP) Connacht	32–13	Zebre
Try: Boyle (2) 8' c, 20' c Blade 47' m Griffin 59' m Adeolokun 69' m Con: J. Carty (2/5) 8', 21' Pen: J. Carty (1/2) 2'	Report[45]	Try: Bisegni 78' c Con: Brummer (1/1) 78' Pen: Canna (2/2) 25', 52'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,056 Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)

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14 September 2018 19:35

Edinburgh	17–10	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Van der Merwe 25' c Schoeman 55' c Con: Van der Walt (2/2) 26', 55' Pen: Van der Walt (1/1) 41'	Report[46]	Try: Adeolokun 61' c Con: J. Carty (1/1) 62' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 75'

Murrayfield Stadium Attendance: 5,239 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

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22 September 2018 17:15

Connacht	33–20	Scarlets
Try: Farrell 4' c Kelleher 25' c Adeolokun 74' c Con: J. Carty (3/3) 5', 26', 76' Pen: J. Carty (4/4) 16', 40', 62', 69'	Report[47]	Try: McNicholl 28' c Prydie 71' c Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 8' Patchell (1/1) 71' Pen: Halfpenny (2/2) 8', 20'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,839 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

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29 September 2018 17:15

Connacht	3–20	Leinster
Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 2'	Report[48]	Try: Ringrose 40' c Cronin 55' c Con: Sexton (2/2) 41', 56' Pen: Sexton (2/2) 34', 40'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,129 Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

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5 October 2018 19:35

(1 BP) Ulster	15–22	Connacht
Try: Stockdale 23' m Timoney 79' c Con: Cooney (1/2) 79' Pen: Cooney (1/2) 52'	Report[49]	Try: O'Halloran 5' c Aki 72' m Con: J. Carty (1/2) 6' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 67'

Kingspan Stadium Attendance: 13,109 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

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26 October 2018 20:05

(1 BP) Ospreys	22–17	Connacht (1BP)
Try: Giles (2) 1' m, 8' m H. Morgan 51' c D. Evans 79' m Con: S. Davies (1/4) 52'	Report[50]	Try: Aki 64' c Butler 69' c Con: J. Carty (2/2) 66', 71' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 12'

Brewery Field, Bridgend Attendance: 5,122 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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3 November 2018 17:15

(1 BP) Connacht	33–12	Dragons
Try: Cannon 23' c Leader 26' m Fainga'a 29' c McCartney 39' c Farrell 69' c Con: Horwitz (3/4) 24', 30', 40' J. Carty (1/1) 70'	Report[51]	Try: Amos 56' m Basham 80' c Con: Tovey (1/2) 80'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,146 Referee: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

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25 November 2018 15:00

Southern Kings	14–31	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Banda 27' c Dukisa 50' c Con: Banda (2/2)	Report[52]	Try: Kelleher 10' c Penalty try 35' Healy 39' c Boyle 61' c Con: Carty (2/2) 11', 40' Horwitz 61' Pen: Carty (1/1) 4'

NMU Stadium Attendance: 3,207 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

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1 December 2018 17:00

(1 BP) Cheetahs	17–21	Connacht
Try: Jaer 30' m Dweba 35' m S. Venter 71' c Con: Schoeman (1/1) 72'	Report[53]	Try: Farrell 5' c Thornbury 27' m Con: J. Carty (1/2) 7' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 21' Horwitz (2/2) 57', 64'

Toyota Stadium Attendance: 3,270 Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

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22 December 2018 19:45

(1 BP) Leinster	33–29	Connacht (2 BP)
Try: O'Brien 11' c M. Kearney 43' m Cronin 69' c Leavy 71' c Porter 80' c Con: Byrne (4/5) 11', 69', 72', 80'	Report[54]	Try: Kelleher 5' m Leader 22' c J. Carty 33' c Blade 47' c Con: J. Carty (3/4) 23', 34', 48' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 63'

RDS Arena Attendance: 16,790 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

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28 December 2018 19:35

Connacht	21–12	Ulster
Try: Delahunt 12' c Aki 19' c Blade 42' c Con: J. Carty (3/3) 13', 21', 44'	Report[55]	Try: Kernohan 32' c Murphy 67' m Con: Cooney (1/2) 33'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,129 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

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5 January 2019 19:35

(1 BP) Connacht	24–31	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Farrell 9' c Kelleher 41' c J. Carty 72' c Con: J. Carty (3/3) 11', 42', 72' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 40'	Report	Try: P. O'Mahony 16' c Goggin (2) 24' c, 48' c Carbery 63' c Con: Carbery (4/4) 17', 25', 49', 64' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 56'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,129 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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26 January 2019 17:15

Cardiff Blues	8–7	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Lane 24' m Pen: Shingler (1/2) 11'	Report	Try: Boyle 74' c Con: C. Fitzgerald 75'

Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 5,673 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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16 February 2019 17:30

Connacht	25–17	Cheetahs
Try: Farrell 24' c McCartney 45' c Butler 78' m Con: J. Carty (2/3) 26', 47' Pen: J. Carty (2/2) 16', 72'	Report	Try: Maxwane 10' c Fouché 20' m S. Venter 59' m Con: Schoeman (1/3) 12'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,933 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

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22 February 2019 19:35

(1 BP) Glasgow Warriors	43–17	Connacht
Try: G. Horne 0' c Swinson 30' c Stewart (2) 38' c, 44' c Nairn (2) 66' c, 72' m Con: Thomson (5/6) 1', 31', 38', 45', 67' Pen: Thomson (1/1) 16'	Report	Try: S. Fitzgerald 21' m Boyle 61' m Daly 69' c Con: Godwin (1/2) 70'

Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 7,246 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

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2 March 2019 14:45

(1 BP) Connacht	46–5	Ospreys
Try: Farrell 1' c Healy 24' c Marmion (2) 29' c, 50' c McCartney 69' c Con: Godwin (4/4) 1', 25', 31', 52' Pen: Godwin (2/2) 12', 15'	Report	Try: Aubrey 15' m

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,117 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

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22 March 2019 19:35

(1 BP) Connacht	29–14	Benetton
Try: Blade ' c Healy (2) 29' c, 68' m J. Carty ' c Con: Godwin (2/2) 17', 30' J. Carty (1/2) 80' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 63'	Report	Try: Rizzi 37' c Duvenage 55' c Con: Rizzi (2/2) 38', 56'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,106 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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6 April 2019 17:30

(1 BP) Zebre	5–6	Connacht
Try: Bellini 41'm	Report	Pen: J. Carty (2/2) 5', 21'

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

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13 April 2019 15:00

(1 BP) Connacht	29–22	Cardiff Blues (1 BP)
Try: Blade 11' c Thornbury 26' c J. Carty 49' c Healy 72' m Con: J. Carty (3/4) 11', 27', 50' Pen: J. Carty (1/3) 46'	Report	Try: Lane 19' c Turnbull 70' c Harries 79' m Con: Anscombe (2/3) 20', 71' Pen: Anscombe (1/1) 52'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,229 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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27 April 2019 19:35

Munster	27–14	Connacht
Try: Beirne 30' c Haley 36' c Hanrahan 74' c Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) 31', 37' Hanrahan (1/1) 75' Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 20', 56'	Report	Try: Bealham 23' McKeon 70' c Con: Dean (2/2) 24', 70'

Thomond Park Attendance: 19,999 Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Play-offs

4 May 2019 17:35

Ulster	21–13	Connacht
Try: Timoney 14' m Coetzee 77' c Con: Burns (1/1) 78' Pen: Cooney (3/3) 4', 40', 61'	Report	Try: Aki 54' c Con: J. Carty (1/1) 55' Pen: J. Carty (2/3) 29', 67'

Kingspan Stadium Attendance: 15,215 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Challenge Cup

Main article: 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup

Pool 3

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Sale Sharks (3)	6	4	0	2	196	108	88	27	12	4	2	22
Connacht (6)	6	5	0	1	146	120	26	19	14	2	0	22
Bordeaux Bègles	6	2	1	3	137	171	–34	17	23	1	1	12
Perpignan	6	0	1	5	117	197	–80	13	27	0	1	3

13 October 2018 15:00

Connacht	22–10	Bordeaux Bègles
Try: Godwin (2) 13' c, 45' c Bealham 66' m Con: J. Carty (2/3) 14', 46' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 23'	Report[56]	Try: Amosa 52' c Con: Meret (1/1) 53' Pen: Meret (1/1) 40'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,878 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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20 October 2018 15:00

(1 BP) Sale Sharks	34–13	Connacht
Try: Ashton (3) 36' c, 56' c, 63' c Beaumont 53' c Con: De Klerk (4/4) 38', 54', 57', 65' Pen: De Klerk (2/2) 19', 27'	Report[57]	Try: Delahunt 30' c Con: C. Fitzgerald (1/1) 32' Pen: C. Fitzgerald (2/2) 1', 16'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 4,249 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

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8 December 2018 15:00

Connacht	22–10	Perpignan
Try: Leader 9' c Aki 19' c Godwin 77' m Con: Horwitz (2/2) 10', 20' C. Fitzgerald (0/1) Pen: Horwitz (1/2) 44'	Report[58]	Try: Leiataua 65' c Con: Bousquet (1/1) 66' Pen: Bousquet (1/1) 47'

Galway Sportsground Attendance: 5,011 Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

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14 December 2018 19:00

Perpignan	21–36	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Farnoux 7' m Leiataua 41' m Fainga'anuku 46' m Con: Jackson (0/3) Pen: Jackson (1/1) 12' Ecochard (1/1) 59'	Report[59]	Try: O'Brien (2) 19' c, 34' m Heffernan 25' c Healy 67' c Kelleher 68' c Con: C. Fitzgerald (2/3) 20', 25' J. Carty (2/2) 68', 70' Pen: C. Fitzgerald (1/2) 40'

Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 5,166 Referee: Ian Tempest (RFU)

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12 January 2019 15:00

Connacht	20–18	Sale Sharks (1 BP)
Try: Godwin 19' c Mitchell 21' c Con: J. Carty (2/2) 20', 22' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 12' Horwitz (1/1) 71'	Report[60]	Try: Ashton 39' c De Klerk 49' m Con: De Klerk (1/2) 40' Pen: De Klerk (2/2) 61', 64'

Galway Sportsground Attendance: 6,229 Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)

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19 January 2019 15:00

(1 BP) Bordeaux Bègles	27–33	Connacht (1 BP)
Try: Amosa 23' c Poirot 38' c Serin 48' c Con: Meret (3/3) 24', 40', 49' Pen: Meret (2/2) 15', 26'	Report[61]	Try: Healy (2) 9' m, 70' c Roux 18' c O'Halloran 34' c J. Carty 77' c Con: Horwitz (2/3) 19', 35' J. Carty (2/2) 71', 78'

Stade Chaban-Delmas Attendance: 11,899 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

Pool winners and runners-up rankings

Rank	Pool Leaders	Pts	Diff	TF
1	Clermont	30	187	44
2	La Rochelle	24	134	32
3	Sale Sharks	22	88	27
4	Worcester Warriors	22	25	19
5	Harlequins	21	66	23
Rank	Pool Runners–up	Pts	Diff	TF
6	Connacht	22	26	19
7	Bristol Bears	21	159	42
8	Northampton Saints	21	155	42
9	Benetton	20	65	23
10	Ospreys	13	36	18

Quarter-finals

29 March 2019 19:45 GMT UTC+0

Sale Sharks (3)	20–10	(6) Connacht
Try: McGuigan 9' c Solomona 14' c Con: MacGinty (2/2) 10', 16' Pen: MacGinty (2/2) 28', 33'	Report[62]	Try: Godwin 67' c Con: Leader (1/1) 68' Pen: J. Carty (1/2) 7'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 4,649 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

References

1. "Andy Friend confirmed as new Connacht head coach". Irish Independent. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
2. "The end of an era: John Muldoon bids fond farewell to Connacht". Irish Times. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
3. "Back row Jarrad Butler succeeds Muldoon as Connacht captain". The42. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
4. "Connacht appoint Willie Ruane as new CEO". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
5. "'I just came over here to visit my brother and I never left'". Irish Independent. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
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13. "Former Irish international added to the Connacht coaching ticket for the remainder of the season". The42. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
14. "Connacht Rugby | Senior Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
15. "Connacht bolster backline options with loan signing of Leinster's Daly". The42. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
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17. "Connacht keen to make Fitzgerald's loan from Munster a long-term deal". The42. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
18. "Not all rules are made to be broken". Irish Independent. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2018. Ireland's set-up demands a maximum of five NIEs - one of whom is a project player
19. "Foreign stars hit by new IRFU contract rules". The42. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2018. The changes will not apply to Connacht who recently agreed a separate programme of structural and performance development with the IRFU.
20. "Academy Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
21. "Connacht: Former Ulster hooker Jonny Murphy joins from Rotherham". BBC Sport. 16 May 2018.
22. "Three promising homegrown players sign pro contracts with Connacht". The42. 9 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
23. "Connacht Rugby have signed second row Joe Maksymiw from Leicester Tigers ahead of next season". Irish Independent. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
24. "Connacht capture Robin Copeland signature". Planet Rugby. 12 March 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018.
25. "Connacht sign Colby Fainga'a". Planet Rugby. 11 July 2018.
26. "Connacht sign former Munster scrum-half Lloyd as injury cover". The42. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
27. "Australian fly-half David Horwitz to join Connacht next season". Sky Sports. 23 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018.
28. "Connacht bolster backline options with loan signing of Leinster's Daly". The42. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
29. "Connacht to sign Brumbies centre Kyle Godwin". Planet Rugby. 20 March 2018. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018.
30. "Connacht make third short-term signing with capture of Munster's Fitzgerald". The42. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
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