Elwood returns ahead of Connacht’s critical derby tie with Leinster

ON the eve of one of Connacht’s biggest league games of the season, rugby in the province was delivered an early Christmas present with confirmation fans’ favourite, Eric Elwood, is returning.

Former head-coach Elwood, who caused shock with his announcement that he was stepping aside at the end of the 2013 season, has been appointed domestic rugby manager for Connacht.

He will be responsible for growing the game of rugby across the province at grassroots level and takes up his position in January. Elwood, who played out-half for Connacht and Ireland, was head-coach from 2010 to 2013, and was previously assistant coach to Michael Bradley. Elwood represented Connacht 168 times as a player and won 35 international caps, appearing in two Rugby World Cups.

After stepping aside from Connacht he changed direction and worked with pharmaceuticals company Omega Pharma for the past year but says he’s looking forward to returning to rugby.

Elwood said: “I’m really looking forward to starting in this new role in the New Year. It will certainly be different for me but that is what excites me about it.  Connacht has been a huge part of my life and I have always understood the importance of the domestic game in the future of Connacht as a whole. I am looking forward to working with everyone in the domestic game in what is a truly exciting period for rugby in the West of Ireland.”

The appointment is a timely boost to rugby out-west, as Connacht’s flagship team set their sights on toppling Leinster in the first of three ‘Christmas-cracker’ inter-provincials in the coming weeks.

Pat Lam has made 14 changes to the second-string side that stunned Bayonne in France at the weekend as he carts out the heavy artillery for a mouth-watering clash with Leinster at RDS this evening (7.35pm).

Lock Aly Muldowney is the only survivor from the 29-27 triumph, although double try-scorer and man-of-the-match, Caolin Blade, the scrum-half from Monivea, is on the bench. Centre Robbie Henshaw – who Leinster are eyeing up with a view to ‘poaching’ and luring him east – has recovered from injury and tastes his first action since starring for Ireland in the November series. The 21-year-old international is partnered by Bundee Aki, who starts in his preferred position of inside centre for the first time.

All-Black Mils Muliaina – who will taste his first inter-provincial derby – is named at full back with dangermen Danie Poolman and Matt Healy on the wings. Jack Carty is handed the reins at out-half for his first game at the RDS and Ireland’s Kieran Marmion, who scored Connacht’s try at the Dublin venue last year, resumes duties at scrum half.

Up front, John Muldoon will captain the side in a back row featuring Eoin McKeon and George Naoupu. On-loan lock Quinn Roux partners Muldowney in the second row behind the front row trio of Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney and Rodney Ah You.

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