Connacht line up pre-season friendlies against English rivals

Connacht have learned from the mistakes of last year with pre-season games against heavy-spending English opposition Bristol and Wasps scheduled for the end of August.

Having departed for pastures new just over a month ago, Pat Lam is set to return to the Sportsground with his Bristol side on August 26 in Connacht’s final game before they kick off their Pro-12 campaign.

That fixture will come three days after Connacht return to the Ricoh Arena to face Wasps, who won’t have fond memories of their last visit clash with the western province, succumbing to a 20-18 defeat courtesy of a late Jack Carty touchline conversion in their Champions Cup pool clash in the Sportsground last year.

New head coach Kieran Keane will be keen to right the wrongs of last year, where Connacht only managed one pre-season game against Montpellier, before playing their first game of the season at home to the Glasgow Warriors.

Further fixtures had been planned but, a series of unfortunate events led to a number of games falling through. The defending Pro-12 champions went on to lose to Glasgow, Ospreys and Scarlets in the league, before eventually getting their first points on the board in their fourth game at home to Edinburgh.

Elsewhere, Connacht have announced the appointments of Joe Gorham as the new Domestic Rugby Manager, and club legend Johnny O’Connor, as the province’s Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach.

Gorham will replace Eric Elwood, who was recently appointed Academy Manager, and comes to Connacht having previously acted as Galway GAA Commercial Manager. Gorham has a long history with Connacht, having represented the province during his playing days.

Working with new Head of Athletic Performance David Howarth, O’Connor will be responsible for the senior squad’s strength and conditioning training and begins work at the Sportsground in the coming days.

O’Connor joins Connacht after a spell as Galway United’s Strength & Conditioning Coach, having previously spent three years at the Academy of Premier League club Arsenal as their Strength & Conditioning Coach.

Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.