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

    • Charlie Ward (1)

    Hookers

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

    Locks

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

    Back row

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

    Scrum-halves

    • None

    Fly-halves

    • Cathal Forde (1)

    Centres

    • Shane Jennings (2)
    • 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
      1 Leinster (CH) 161402576285+291823314171
      2 Ulster 161402469263+20665348064
      3 Ospreys 16808301318-1734391336
      4 Glasgow Warriors 166010335377-4240472430
      5 Dragons 166010215394-7936502329
      6 Zebre 164012237508-27122690117
      Conference B
      Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
      1 Munster (RU) 161402413250+16349267264
      2 Connacht 16808396353+4353367645
      3 Scarlets 16808319333-1436383439
      4 Cardiff Blues 16808265284-1930323136
      5 Edinburgh 165110247344-9729431429*
      6 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 28–24 Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Craig Evans
        10 October 2020
        19:35
        (1 BP) Cardiff Blues 29–7 Connacht
        Rodney Parade
        Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
        25 October 2020
        19:35
        (1 BP) Edinburgh 26–37 Connacht (1 BP)
        Murrayfield
        Referee: Adam Jones
        14 November 2020
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht 14–20 Scarlets
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Sam Grove-White
        22 November 2020
        15:30
        Zebre 12–47 Connacht (1 BP)
        Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
        Referee: Daniel Jones
        4 December 2020
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht 31–14 Benetton
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Eoghan Cross
        27 December 2020
        19:35
        Connacht 19–32 Ulster
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Sean Gallagher
        2 January 2021
        19:35
        (1 BP) Leinster 24–35 Connacht (1 BP)
        RDS Arena
        Referee: Chris Busby
        9 January 2021
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht 10–16 Munster
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Frank Murphy
        24 January 2021
        15:00
        (1 BP) Connacht 20–26 Ospreys (1 BP)
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Frank Murphy
        5 February 2021
        19:35
        Dragons 20–30 Connacht (1 BP)
        Rodney Parade
        Referee: Craig Evans
        20 February 2021
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht 32–17 Cardiff Blues
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Andrew Brace
        26 February 2021
        17:30
        (1 BP) Benetton 17–19 Connacht
        Stadio Comunale di Monigo
        Referee: Marius Mitrea
        5 March 2021
        19:35
        Munster 20–17 Connacht (1 BP)
        Thomond Park
        Referee: Chris Busby
        13 March 2021
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht 14–15 Edinburgh
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Referee: Chris Busby
        22 March 2021
        20:00
        (1 BP) Scarlets 41–36 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
        1 Benetton541012578+4714102022**
        2 Munster540117075+952383120
        3 Glasgow Warriors5401121117+417153019
        4 Leinster530212487+3719102115
        5 Cardiff Blues5302124123+116162115
        6 Connacht5302109133–2415182014
        7 Scarlets5122110115–513152113*
        8 Ospreys521210388+1514112111**
        9 Edinburgh5113126140–1418192210
        10 Ulster511385116–311218228*
        11 Dragons5104117156–391422217
        12 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 24–26 Connacht (1 BP)
          Ravenhill Stadium
          Referee: Andrew Brace
          8 May 2021
          19:35
          Connacht 21–50 Leinster (1 BP)
          14 May 2021
          18:00
          (1 BP) Munster 20–24 Connacht
          29 May 2021
          18:15
          Benetton 20–12 Connacht
          4 June 2021
          18:00
          (1 BP) Connacht 26–19 Ospreys (1 BP)

          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
          Lyon 22008310+731211010
          Racing 92 22007529+461142010
          Toulouse 22005722+35832010
          Munster 22006038+2255008
          Clermont 21018277+5118206
          Bristol Bears 21016569-499206
          Exeter Chiefs 21014228+1464105
          Gloucester 21014889-41612105
          Ulster 20025667-1179123
          Connacht 20024053-1358011
          Harlequins 20021470-5629000
          Glasgow Warriors 2002070-70010000

          [21]

          13 December 2020
          16:15
          (1 BP) Racing 92 26–22 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'
          		 Report Try: Healy 40'+1 m
          Wootton 62' c
          Oliver 76' c
          Con: Daly (2/2) 63', 76'
          Pen: Carty (1/1) 12'
          20 December 2020
          17:30
          Connacht 18–27 Bristol Bears (1 BP)
          Try: O'Halloran 57' c
          Porch 75' m
          Con: Carty (1/2) 58'
          Pen: Carty (2/2) 40'+2, 67'
          		 Report Try: 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 48–32 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'
          		 Report Try: 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. 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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