2024–25 Connacht Rugby season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2024–25 season is Connacht Rugby's fourth season in the United Rugby Championship, their 31st season of professional rugby and their 137th season of representative rugby since the foundation of the Connacht Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, the club also participated in the 2024-25 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

UnionIRFU
NicknameThe Westerners
Founded1888; 138 years ago (1888)
LocationGalway, Ireland
Quick facts Union, Nickname ...
Republic of Ireland Connacht Rugby
UnionIRFU
NicknameThe Westerners
Founded1888; 138 years ago (1888)
LocationGalway, Ireland
RegionConnacht
Ground(s)The Sportsground, Galway
6,170 (under development)
MacHale Park, Mayo
25,000
CEOWillie Ruane
CoachPeter Wilkins
CaptainCian Prendergast
LeagueUnited Rugby Championship
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.connachtrugby.ie
← 2023–24 2025–26 →
Close

Connacht had a reduced capacity of 6,170 at The Sportsground this season as expansion works are carried out. For the first time, Connacht hosted one of their home matches, against Munster at the 25,000-seat MacHale Park gaelic games stadium in Castlebar, County Mayo.

Connacht Rugby drew an average home attendance of 7,133 in the 2024-25 URC season.[1]

Senior squad

For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers § Connacht.
More information Connacht Rugby United Rugby Championship squad ...
Connacht Rugby United Rugby Championship squad[a]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players including 7s.
* 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.[2]
  1. [a]
    Taking into account signings and departures ahead of 2024–25 season as listed on List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers.
Close

Academy squad

More information Connacht Rugby Academy squad ...
Connacht Rugby Academy squad[a]

Props

  • Ireland Billy Bohan (1)
  • Ireland Fiachna Barrett (2)

Hookers

  • Ireland Matthew Victory(2)

Locks

  • None currently named

Back row

  • Ireland Max Flynn (1)
  • Ireland Eanna McCarthy (1)

Scrum-halves

  • Ireland Tomás Farthing (1)

Fly-halves

  • Ireland Seán Naughton (2)
  • Ireland Harry West (3)

Centres

  • Ireland John Devine (3)
  • Ireland Daniel Hawkshaw (3)
  • Ireland Shane Mallon (3)

Wings

  • Ireland Finn Treacy (2)

Fullbacks

  • Ireland James Nicholson (2)
(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.[3][4]
  1. [a]
    Taking into account signings and departures ahead of 2024–25 season as listed on List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers.
Close

Transfers

United Rugby Championship


Main table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Leinster (CH) 18 16 0 2 542 256 +286 79 35 11 1 76 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
2 Bulls (RU) 18 14 0 4 542 361 +181 71 44 9 3 68
3 Sharks 18 13 0 5 436 402 +34 55 59 7 3 62
4 Glasgow Warriors 18 11 0 7 468 327 +141 70 40 10 5 59
5 Stormers 18 10 0 8 507 418 +89 66 57 11 4 55 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
6 Munster 18 9 0 9 444 429 +15 67 59 11 4 51
7 Edinburgh 18 8 1 9 471 407 +64 66 57 9 6 49
8 Scarlets 18 9 1 8 427 382 +45 50 52 6 4 48
9 Cardiff 18 8 1 9 409 477 −68 63 65 10 3 47 Qualification for the 2025–26 Challenge Cup
10 Benetton 18 9 1 8 393 478 −85 50 65 7 1 46
11 Lions 18 8 0 10 402 440 −38 53 60 5 3 40
12 Ospreys 18 7 1 10 437 454 −17 60 63 6 4 40
13 Connacht 18 6 0 12 420 472 −52 64 62 9 6 39
14 Ulster 18 7 0 11 414 506 −92 59 72 5 5 38
15 Zebre Parma 18 5 1 12 302 503 −201 38 72 3 4 29
16 Dragons 18 1 0 17 335 637 −302 43 92 1 4 9
Close
Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 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.[24]

Results

21 September 2024 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 35–33 Ireland Connacht (2 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Nankivell 28' c
Haley 31' c
Hodnett 44' c
Coombes 58' c
Daly 69' c
Con: Burns (3/3) 28', 32', 45'
Butler (2/2) 59', 70'
 Try: Ioane 13' m
B. Murphy (2) 20' c, 39' c
Hawkshaw 53' c
Forde 63' c
Con: Ioane (3/4) 21', 54', 64'
Forde 40' (1/1)
 Attendance: 15,705[25]
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
28 September 2024 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 36–30 South Africa Sharks (1 BP) The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: Heffernan (2) 3' c, 50' m
Forde 42' c
Jennings 54' c
Dowling 70' c
Con: Ioane (1/1) 4'
Forde (3/4) 43', 55', 71'
Pen: Forde (1) 79'
 Try: Esterhuizen (2) 21' c, 28' c
Grobler 37' c
Con: Masuku (3/3) 22', 30', 39'
Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2) 24', 34'
Masuku 80'+1
 Attendance: 4,217[26]
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
4 October 2024 (1 BP) Scarlets Wales 23–24 Ireland Connacht Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
19:35 Try: G. Davies (2) 21' c, 29' c
Con: Costelow (2/2) 22', 30'
Pen: Costelow (2) 42', 73'
Lloyd 52'
 Try: O'Conor 9' c
Hansen 15' c
J. Murphy 37' c
Con: Carty (3/3) 10', 16', 38'
Pen: Forde 77'
 Attendance: 5,080[27]
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
12 October 2024 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 32–27 Ireland Connacht (2 BP) Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
20:00 Try: Andrew 2' c
Postlethwaite 20' m
Cooney 27' c
McCann 49' m
Timoney 75' m
Con: Cooney (2/5) 3', 28'
Pen: Cooney 71'
 Try: Bolton 10' m
Joyce 30' m
B. Murphy 40' c
Tierney-Martin 60' c
Con: Ioane (2/4) 42', 62'
Pen: Ioane 79'
 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
19 October 2024 Connacht Ireland 12–33 Ireland Leinster (1 BP) The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: O'Brien 33' m
Forde 64' c
Con: Ioane (1/2) 64'
 Try: J. Osborne 5' c
Turner 15' c
Snyman 38' c
Deegan 45' m
A. Osborne 65' c
Con: Frawley 6' (1/1)
R. Byrne (3/4) 16', 40', 66'
 Attendance: 6,117[28]
Referee: Eoghan Cross, Ireland
26 October 2024 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 31–7 Wales Dragons The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: Boyle 5' c
Blade 19' c
Prendergast 38' m
Forde 73' c
Devine 80' m
Con: Forde (3/5) 7', 20', 74'
 Try: Basham 77' c
Con: O'Brien 78'
 Attendance: 3,128[29]
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi, Italy
30 November 2024 Connacht Ireland 14–28 South Africa Bulls (1 BP) The Sportsground, Galway  
17:30 Try: Hawkshaw 61' c
Blade 74'c
Con: Forde (2/2) 62', 75'
 Try: de Klerk 5' c
Papier 35' c
Kriel 41' c
Moodie 54' c
Con: Goosen (4/4) 6', 37', 42', 55'
 Attendance: 3.109
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
21 December 2024 Leinster Ireland 20–12 Ireland Connacht Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: A. Osbourne 19' c
Tector 26' c
Con: R. Byrne (2/2) 19', 27'
Pen: R. Byrne (2) 42', 79'
 Report Try: Dowling 52' m
Jennings 60' c
Con: Forde (1/2) 60'
 Attendance: 33,963[30]
Referee: Chris Busby (SCO)
28 December 2024 Connacht Ireland 7-17 Ireland Ulster The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: Hansen 35' c
Con: Carty (1/1) 36'
 Report Try: O'Sullivan 10' c
Timoney 54' c
Con: Doak (2/2) 11', 55'
Pen: Doak 14'
 Attendance: 6,129
Referee: Andrew Brace
24 January 2025 Glasgow Warriors Scotland 22-19 Ireland Connacht (1 BP) Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:35 Try: Cancelliere 21’
Afshar 31’
Cancelliere57’
Con: Weir (2)
Pen: Weir
 Try: Hawkshaw 18', 41
O'Conor 77'
Con: Hanrahan (2)
 Attendance: 6,277
15 February 2025 '(1 BP)' Connacht Ireland 24–19 Wales Cardiff (1BP) The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: Murphy, 7'c
Hurley-Langton, 17'c
Heffernan, 47'
Tierney-Martin, 75
Con: Ioane (2)
 Report Try: Lee-Lo, 52'c
Donnell, 63'
Braley, 69'c
Con: Sheedy (2)
 Attendance: 3,648
1 March 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 38-30 Italy Benetton The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: Treacy, 5'c
Bolton, 12' 66'
Boyle, 38'c
Hurley-Langton, 47'c
Devine, 72'c
Con: Ioane (3)
Hanrahan
 Report Try: Mendy, 19'c
Uren, 25'c
Zaron 30'c
Con: Albornoz (3)
Pen: Albornoz, 16', 34', 59'
 Attendance: 4,217
22 March 2025 (1 BP) Ospreys Wales 43-40 Ireland Connacht (2 BP) Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea  
17:15 Try: Giles, 16'c, 32'c
Hardy, 34'c
Kasende, 35'c, 56'
Walsh, 43'c
Con: Edwards (5/6)
Pen: Edwards, 4'
 Report Try: Treacy, 1'c
Hurley-Langton, 13'c, 69'
Heffernan, 47'c
O'Conor, 48'c
Murphy, 67'c
Con: Ioane (2/2)
JJ Hanrahan (3/4)
 Attendance: 3,416
29 March 2025 (2 BP) Connacht Ireland 24-30 Ireland Munster (1 BP) MacHale Park, Castlebar, County Mayo  
14:30 Try: Jansen, 21', 62'
Blade, 45'
Ioane, 73'
Con: Ioane, 45'
Hanrahan, 63'
 Report:ESPN Try: Ahern, 24',
Casey, 23'
Crowley, 51'
Barron, 59'
Con: Crowley, 52', 13'
Pen: Crowley, 7', 38'
 Attendance: 27,580
19 April 2025 (1 BP)Stormers South Africa 34-29 Ireland Connacht (2 BP) Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town  
16:00 Try: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 3', 19', 26'
Roos. 14'
Hartzenberg, 48'
Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 4', 15', 20
Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 72'
 Try: Jennings, 7', 41'
Oliver, 17'
Tierney-Martin, 36'
Murphy, 66'
Con: Carty, 8', 18'
 Attendance: 18,211
Referee: Sam Grove-White
26 April 2025 Lions South Africa 26 – 7 Ireland Connacht Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
16:00 Try: du Plessis, 14'
Pretorius, 70'
v.d. Merwe, 83'
Con: Dobela, 84
Pen: Wolhuter, 19', 37', 43'
 Report, 2 Try: de Buitlear, 74'
Con: Hawkshaw, 74
 Attendance: 3,454
Referee: Hollie Davidson
10 May 2025 Connacht Ireland 21–31 Scotland Edinburgh (1 BP) The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: Finn Treacy, 42', 52'
Con: JJ Hanrahan, 42', 53'
 Try: Schoeman, 8'
Watson, 27'
Muncaster, 58'
Con: Thompson, 9', 28'
 Attendance: 6,056
17 May 2025 Zebre Parma Italy 12 –22 Ireland Connacht Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
18:00 Try: Stavile, 37'
Trulla, 70'
Con: Montemauri, 38'
 Report Try: Prendergast, 17'
Bolton, 28'
Hurley-Langton, 61'
Con: Hanrahan, 18', 61'
Pen: Hanrahan, 79'
 Attendance: 3,931[31]

Connacht are eliminated from the competition.

URC Irish Shield

More information Team, P ...
2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools view · watch · edit · discuss
Ireland Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1Ireland Leinster (S) 660017580+95261150291
2Ireland Munster 6402144150–6222240206
3Ireland Ulster 6204125162–371626121114
4Ireland Connacht 6006115167–52182333613
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[32]
  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 currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

Close
21 September 2024 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 35–33 Ireland Connacht (2 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Nankivell 28' c
Haley 31' c
Hodnett 44' c
Coombes 58' c
Daly 69' c
Con: Burns (3/3) 28', 32', 45'
Butler (2/2) 59', 70'
 Try: Ioane 13' m
B. Murphy (2) 20' c, 39' c
Hawkshaw 53' c
Forde 63' c
Con: Ioane (3/4) 21', 54', 64'
Forde 40' (1/1)
 Attendance: 15,705[33]
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
12 October 2024 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 32–27 Ireland Connacht (2 BP) Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
20:00 Try: Andrew 2' c
Postlethwaite 20' m
Cooney 27' c
McCann 49' m
Timoney 75' m
Con: Cooney (2/5) 3', 28'
Pen: Cooney 71'
 Try: Bolton 10' m
Joyce 30' m
B. Murphy 40' c
Tierney-Martin 60' c
Con: Ioane (2/4) 42', 62'
Pen: Ioane 79'
 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
19 October 2024 Connacht Ireland 12–33 Ireland Leinster (1 BP) The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: O'Brien 33' m
Forde 64' c
Con: Ioane (1/2) 64'
 Try: J. Osborne 5' c
Turner 15' c
Snyman 38' c
Deegan 45' m
A. Osborne 65' c
Con: Frawley 6' (1/1)
R. Byrne (3/4) 16', 40', 66'
 Attendance: 6,117[34]
Referee: Eoghan Cross, Ireland
21 December 2024 Leinster Ireland 20–12 Ireland Connacht Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: A. Osbourne 19' c
Tector 26' c
Con: R. Byrne (2/2) 19', 27'
Pen: R. Byrne (2) 42', 79'
 Report Try: Dowling 52' m
Jennings 60' c
Con: Forde (1/2) 60'
 Attendance: 33,963[35]
Referee: Chris Busby (SCO)
28 December 2024 Connacht Ireland 7-17 Ireland Ulster The Sportsground, Galway  
19:35 Try: Hansen 35' c
Con: Carty (1/1) 36'
 Report Try: O'Sullivan 10' c
Timoney 54' c
Con: Doak (2/2) 11', 55'
Pen: Doak 14'
 Attendance: 6,129
Referee: Andrew Brace
29 March 2025 (2 BP) Connacht Ireland 24-30 Ireland Munster (1 BP) MacHale Park, Castlebar, County Mayo  
14:30 Try: Jansen, 21', 62'
Blade, 45'
Ioane, 73'
Con: Ioane, 45'
Hanrahan, 63'
 Report:ESPN Try: Ahern, 24',
Casey, 23'
Crowley, 51'
Barron, 59'
Con: Crowley, 52', 13'
Pen: Crowley, 7', 38'
 Attendance: 27,580


Challenge Cup

More information Pos, Pld ...
EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ireland Connacht (1) 4 4 0 0 154 73 +81 25 10 4 0 20 Home round of 16
2 France Lyon (5) 4 3 0 1 150 118 +32 21 19 2 0 14
3 France Perpignan (8) 4 2 1 1 100 92 +8 12 14 1 0 11
4 Wales Cardiff (16) 4 1 0 3 91 98 −7 13 13 2 1 7 Away round of 16
5 South Africa Cheetahs 4 1 1 2 73 132 −59 10 19 0 0 6
6 Italy Zebre Parma 4 0 0 4 70 125 −55 10 17 0 2 2
Close
Source: EPCR[36]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool matches

7 December 2024 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 43–12 Italy Zebre Parma The Sportsground, Galway  
20:00 Try: Mullins (3) 22' m, 28' c, 62' m
Tierney-Martin 34' m
Boyle (2) 42' c, 80' c
Cordero 70' c
Con: Carty (2/4) 29', 43'
Naughton (2/3) 71', 80'
 Report Try: Stavile 6' m
Fusco 75' c
Con: Da Re (1/2) 76'
 Attendance: 2,672
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
15 December 2024 Perpignan France 18–31 Ireland Connacht (1 BP) Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan  
14:00 Try: Boyer-Gallardo 17' m
Joseph 50' c
Con: Aucagne (1/2) 51'
Pen: Aucagne (2/3) 27', 44'
 Report Try: Ralston 6' c
de Buitléar 10' c
Mullins 36' m
Boyle 57' c
McBurney 78' m
Con: Carty (3/5) 7', 11', 57'
 Attendance: 8,092
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
11 January 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 52–24 France Lyon The Sportsground, Galway  
20:00 Try: B. Murphy (3) 1' c, 38' m, 45' m
Jansen 14' m
Bealham 17' c
J. Murphy 41' m
Aungier 53' m
Tierney-Martin 72' m
Hurley-Langton 80+3' m
Con: Ioane (2/6) 2', 18'
Pen: Ioane (1/1) 34'
 Report Try: Matavesi 23' c
Regard 48' c
Marchand 68' c
Con: Page-Relo (1/1) 24'
Meliande (2/2) 49', 69'
Pen: Page-Relo (1/1) 11'
 Attendance: 4,024
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
17 January 2025 Cardiff Wales 19–28 Ireland Connacht (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff  
20:00 Try: Lloyd 17' c
Young (2) 42' c, 58' m
Con: Ben Thomas (2/3) 18', 43'
 Report Try: J. Murphy 13' c
Joyce 36' c
Ralston 53' c
Devine 65' c
Con: Ioane (3/3) 13', 37', 54'
Hanranhan (1/1) 66'
 Attendance: 6,321
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)

Knock-out phase

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
3 Scotland Edinburgh 24
14 South Africa Lions 12
3 Scotland Edinburgh 34
11 South Africa Bulls 28
6 France Bayonne 22
11 South Africa Bulls 32
3 Scotland Edinburgh 24
10 England Bath Rugby 39
7 France Pau 24
10 England Bath Rugby 49
10 England Bath Rugby 61
15 England Gloucester 26
2 France Montpellier 17
15 England Gloucester 24
10 England Bath Rugby 37
5 France Lyon 12
4 Wales Ospreys 36
13 Wales Scarlets 14
4 Wales Ospreys 18
5 France Lyon 20
5 France Lyon 34
12 South Africa Sharks 21
5 France Lyon 29
9 France Racing 92 15
1 Ireland Connacht 35
16 Wales Cardiff 20
1 Ireland Connacht 40
9 France Racing 92 43
8 France Perpignan 18
9 France Racing 92 24

Round of 16

Connacht finished as the highest ranked side in the pool stages of the Challenge Cup, winning home field advantage for every round of the competition until the final. In the round of 16, they face the 16th seeded Cardiff Rugby.

5 April 2025 Connacht Ireland (1) 35–20 (16) Wales Cardiff The Sportsground, Galway  
20:00 Try: Divine 2' c
Jansen 40+4' c
Treacy 44' c
Bolton 66' c
Boyle, 76' c
Con: Hanrahan (3/3) 4', 45', 42'
Ioane (2/2) 66', 77'
 Report Try: Lee-Lo 37' m
Thomas 53' c
Adams 60' m
Con: Thomas
Pen: Sheedy (1/2) 12'
 Attendance: 4,217
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)

Quarterfinal

12 April 2025 Connacht Ireland (1) 40-43 (9) France Racing 92 The Sportsground, Galway  
20:00 Try: Aki, 2’
C Prendergast, 8’, 29'
penalty try, 22'
Murphy, 72'
Forde, 77'
Con: JJ Hanrahan, (4/5) 3' 9', 30', 79'
 Report Try: Naituvi, 5'
Escobar, 18'
Le Garrec, 24', 48'
Tuisova, 33'
Con: Lancaster, (2/4) 22', 33'
Le Garrec, (1/1) 49'
Pen: Lancaster, 42'
Le Garrec, 46', 64'
Drop: O Farrell, 53'
Red card 22', Naituvi (dangerous play)
 Attendance: 6,217
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

Connacht are eliminated from the competition.

Home attendance

End of Season.

More information League, Fixtures ...
Domestic League EPRC Challenge Cup Total
League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
2024–25 United Rugby Championship 9 64,201 7,133 27,580 3,470 2024–25 European Rugby Challenge Cup 4 17,042 4,261 6,129 2,672 81,243 6,753
Close

References

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