Ulster Rugby vs Connacht

TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION

Connacht Rugby arrive at Kingspan Stadium today for Round 11 of the GUINNESS PRO12 and their last game of 2014.

With back-to-back interpro fixtures over the Christmas period, these three games against Leinster, Ulster and Munster represent a significant juncture in the province’s push for a ‘top 6’ finish and qualification for next season’s coveted Champions Cup. Head Coach Pat Lam, in his second season at the helm, has witnessed a pleasing start to the season with a string of impressive performances from his young squad – six wins, a draw and just two losses in the league before last week’s clash with defending champions Leinster. While unbeaten at the Sportsground this season, wins on the road to Edinburgh, Benetton Treviso and Challenge Cup opponents Bayonne have highlighted the significant progress being made and the winning culture bubbling amongst the growing squad. The Galway-based club witnessed a summer of change on the field with a number of new signings arriving to complement the growing base of home-grown talent advancing through the Connacht system. Super Rugby centre Bundee Aki signed from the Chiefs and arrived in Ireland in late October after a hectic schedule playing ITM Cup rugby with provincial side Counties Manakau. Aki was keen to get going immediately and ten days after arriving in Galway, the 24-year-old who can play inside or outside centre, was selected to start against the Ospreys. He then went on to start the next three games and followed up a Man of the Match performance against the Scarlets with his first try in a Connacht jersey coming in the Connacht’s 42 – 19 win over Bayonne a week later. Tom McCartney, who can switch between hooker and loosehead prop with ease, was also signed from Super Rugby side Auckland Blues and the 29-year-old arrived in Galway in November following the conclusion of his ITM commitments

with Waikato. The front row forward has played three games already for the province, showing his class and experience particularly at the set piece. Undoubtedly the biggest coup in Connacht’s history, Mils Muliaina was the first All Black to sign for the Western Irish province when he put pen to paper last May. Samoan-born Muliaina, who arrived in Galway in August, previously played under Pat Lam at Auckland from 2004 - 2005 and with the Asia Pacific Barbarians in 2012. The 34-year-old was signed as a player-mentor for Connacht and his invaluable experience has already assisted in the development of the young Irish talent at the club. But the All Black centurion has always been vocal when it came to his desire to get out on the pitch and play in addition to the mentoring role. He completed rehab on his elbow injury in early November and has started three games for the province against Zebre, Scarlets and Bayonne, before his involvement at the RDS last weekend. With a revitalised PRO12 and new- look Europe competition, Connacht have targeted a ‘top six’ league finish in order to qualify for Europe’s elite Champions Cup. In this season’s second-tier Challenge Cup, the Irish province currently sit in second place in pool 2 having come up against Top 14 sides Bayonne and La Rochelle as well as on-form Aviva Premiership club Exeter Chiefs. This month in France, an entirely new-look starting XV recorded a dramatic 29 – 27 win over Bayonne to set up a likely showdown with pool leaders Exeter Chiefs at the Sportsground next month. 20-year- old Academy scrum half from Monivea, Caolin Blade, scored two tries on his first start for the province while out half and captain Miah Nikora converted both and added five penalties.

CLUB STATS //Location Galway, Ireland //Founded 1885 //Ground Sportsground //Capacity 7,500 //Last Game Leinster Rugby (A) Fri 19th December 2014 at 19:35 //Next Game Munster Rugby (H) Thu 1st Jan 2015 at 17:00 //Recent Form D W L W W

STAFF // Coach Pat Lam // Captain John Muldoon

CONTACT Galway Sportsground College Road

Galway Ireland Tel

+353 91 561 568 Fax +353 91 560 097

TICKET OFFICE Tel

+353 91 561 568

www.connachtrugby.ie

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www. ulster rugby.com

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