Connacht to end 25 weeks without a game against Ulster in the PRO14

By Rob Murphy

TAKE it for what it is. Connacht are back in competitive action on Sunday afternoon for the first time in 25 weeks. Ulster are the opponents in a game that will take place at the Aviva Stadium (kick off 4:30). Virtually no one will be there, there isn’t even room for journalists outside of the television crew that will bring you the game and a handful of other national broadcasters.

The IRFU and World Rugby have spent months planning a return to action and this is our first taste of it here in Ireland. Four inter-provincials at the national stadium over two weekends. Players have operated under strict guidelines for eight weeks of training since they returned, they have been tested three times and have been monitored daily. Covid-19 cases have been virtually zero and so here we are, back to a point where we can have some professional rugby again.

When the Connacht bus arrives in Lansdowne Road on Sunday, it will be a hugely significant moment for the province as it will be their first competitive fixture at the venue since 1989, when Leinster toppled them 16-12. Ulster have had some big days out there since in Europe and against Leinster in the odd inter-provincial fixture, but they will find the whole environment equally as strange.

This is still the 2019/20 season. The official start for the new 2020/21 campaign isn’t until October. There are two rounds of PRO14 action to be played across the four countries involved before the semi finals and finals will take place. All remaining games are local derbies. Munster and Leinster meet on Saturday and Connacht play Munster the following weekend. Every other unplayed fixture from last season has been declared a 0-0 draw.

The PRO14 organisers haven’t actually produced an updated league table but what we know for sure is that Connacht are secure in fourth place in their conference and can’t be caught in terms of European Champions Cup qualification. That’s a nice reward and a lucky break too as they were set for an almighty battle with at least four other sides for that spot back in March.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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