# 2018–19 Connacht Rugby season

The 2018–19 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's eighteenth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-third season as a professional side. It was Andy Friend's first season in charge of the side.
In the regular season, Connacht were in Conference A of the Pro14. The team finished third in their conference, qualifying for the play-offs for the first time since the 2015–16 season where they were beaten by Ulster in the quarter-final. As well as playing in the Pro14, the team competed in the Challenge Cup in Europe. They qualified as one of the best runners up from a pool including Bordeaux, Perpignan and Sale Sharks to reach the quarter-finals, where they again met Sale. A 20–10 defeat saw the team eliminated in the last eight.
In addition to the league and European competitions, the Connacht Eagles development side competed in two new competitions. The first was the Celtic Cup, which saw them play against other Irish provinces' development teams and sides from Wales. The Eagles finished bottom of the Irish conference the inaugural edition of this tournament. The second competition was the Cara Cup, which involved the Irish provinces and the New England Free Jacks, a newly established Major League Rugby side. The Eagles won both of their games, beating Ulster and the Free Jacks.

## Background

Following the removal of head coach Kieran Keane one year into a three-year deal, Andy Friend was hired as his replacement. The team also had a new captain for the season, following the retirement of John Muldoon, the province's most-capped player. In August 2018, Jarrad Butler was named as his replacement.

## 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 | Ireland |
| Team manager | Tim Allnutt | New Zealand |
| Head coach | Andy Friend | Australia |
| Forwards Coach | Jimmy Duffy | Ireland |
| Backs Coach | Nigel Carolan | Ireland |
| Defence Coach | Peter Wilkins | England |
| Head Performance Analyst | Simon Kavanagh | Ireland |
| Head of Strength and Conditiong | David Howarth | Australia |
| Strength and conditioning Coach | Johnny O'Connor | Ireland |
| Academy manager | Eric Elwood | Ireland |
| Connacht Eagles Coach | Mossy Lawler | Ireland |

## Players
### Senior playing squad

The Connacht senior squad for 2018–19 was:
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Shane Delahunt | Hooker | Ireland |
| Dave Heffernan | Hooker | Ireland |
| Tom McCartney* | Hooker | New Zealand |
| Jonny Murphy | Hooker | Ireland |
| Finlay Bealham | Prop | Ireland |
| Denis Buckley | Prop | Ireland |
| Conor Carey | Prop | Ireland |
| Peter McCabe | Prop | Ireland |
| Conán O'Donnell | Prop | Ireland |
| Dominic Robertson-McCoy* | Prop | New Zealand |
| James Cannon* | Lock | England |
| Peter Claffey | Lock | Ireland |
| Ultan Dillane | Lock | Ireland |
| Joe Maksymiw* | Lock | England |
| Quinn Roux | Lock | Ireland |
| Gavin Thornbury | Lock | Ireland |
| Jarrad Butler (captain) | Back row | Australia |
| James Connolly | Back row | Ireland |
| Robin Copeland | Back row | Ireland |
| Colby Fainga'a | Back row | Australia |
| Cillian Gallagher | Back row | Ireland |
| Eoghan Masterson | Back row | Ireland |
| Eoin McKeon | Back row | Ireland |
| Seán O'Brien | Back row | Ireland |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Caolin Blade | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Angus Lloyd | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Kieran Marmion | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Conor McKeon | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| James Mitchell* | Scrum-half | England |
| Jack Carty | Fly-half | Ireland |
| David Horwitz | Fly-half | Australia |
| Craig Ronaldson | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Bundee Aki | Centre | Ireland |
| Tom Daly | Centre | Ireland |
| Tom Farrell | Centre | Ireland |
| Kyle Godwin | Centre | Australia |
| Eoin Griffin | Centre | Ireland |
| Peter Robb | Centre | Ireland |
| Niyi Adeolokun | Wing | Ireland |
| Stephen Fitzgerald | Wing | Ireland |
| Matt Healy | Wing | Ireland |
| Cian Kelleher | Wing | Ireland |
| Rory Scholes | Wing | Ireland |
| Darragh Leader | Fullback | Ireland |
| Tiernan O'Halloran | Fullback | Ireland |
* Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold
* Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*
* Irish Provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player"). Connacht is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement.
* Notes:
* 1 2 Tom Daly joined Connacht on loan from Leinster in December 2018 for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.
* 1 2 Stephen Fitzgerald joined Connacht on a three-month loan from Munster in December 2018, which was later extended to last until the end of the season.

### Academy squad

The Connacht academy squad for 2018–19 was:
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Dylan Tierney-Martin (year 1) | Hooker | Ireland |
| Matthew Burke (year 2) | Prop | Ireland |
| Conor Kenny (year 3) | Prop | Ireland |
| Niall Murray (year 1) | Lock | Ireland |
| Paul Boyle (year 2) | Back row | Ireland |
| Joshua Dunne (year 1) | Back row | Ireland |
| Cian Huxford (year 1) | Back row | Ireland |
| Seán Masterson (year 2) | Back row | Ireland |
| Mikey Wilson (year 1) | Back row | Ireland |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Stephen Kerins (year 3) | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Colm Reilly (year 1) | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Luke Carty (year 2) | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Conor Dean (year 1) | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Conor Fitzgerald (year 1) | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Kieran Joyce (year 2) | Centre | Ireland |
| Seán O'Brien (year 1) | Centre | Ireland |
| Mark Balaski (year 1) | Wing | Ireland |
| Conor Hayes (year 1) | Wing | Ireland |
| Oran McNulty (year 1) | Wing | Ireland |
| Colm de Buitléar (year 2) | Fullback | Ireland |

## Senior team transfers

* Player's name in italics indicates a transfer that took place during the course of the season

## Results
### Pro14

2018–19 Pro14 table
view · watch · · discuss :
| Conference A ||||||||||||||
| | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | PTS |
| 1 | Glasgow Warriors (RU) | 21 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 621 | 380 | +241 | 83 | 48 | 15 | 2 | 81 |
| 2 | Munster (SF) | 21 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 612 | 348 | +264 | 82 | 44 | 11 | 2 | 77 |
| 3 | Connacht (QF) | 21 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 475 | 394 | +81 | 60 | 55 | 7 | 6 | 61 |
| 4 | Ospreys (PO) | 21 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 445 | 404 | +41 | 53 | 47 | 6 | 4 | 58 |
| 5 | Cardiff Blues | 21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 497 | 451 | +46 | 60 | 58 | 7 | 7 | 54 |
| 6 | Cheetahs | 21 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 541 | 606 | −65 | 80 | 80 | 9 | 3 | 46 |
| 7 | Zebre | 21 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 260 | 640 | −380 | 35 | 85 | 5 | 2 | 19 |
| Conference B ||||||||||||||
| | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | PTS |
| 1 | Leinster (CH) | 21 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 672 | 385 | +287 | 95 | 49 | 12 | 2 | 76 |
| 2 | Ulster (SF) | 21 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 441 | 424 | +17 | 58 | 54 | 6 | 1 | 63 |
| 3 | Benetton (QF) | 21 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 474 | 431 | +43 | 62 | 55 | 6 | 3 | 57 |
| 4 | Scarlets | 21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 510 | 470 | +40 | 68 | 54 | 7 | 5 | 52 |
| 5 | Edinburgh | 21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 431 | 436 | −5 | 52 | 59 | 6 | 5 | 51 |
| 6 | Dragons | 21 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 339 | 599 | −260 | 37 | 84 | 1 | 3 | 26 |
| 7 | Southern Kings | 21 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 385 | 735 | −350 | 54 | 107 | 5 | 7 | 22 |
| If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order - number of matches won the difference between points for and points against the number of tries scored the most points scored the difference between tries for and tries against the fewest red cards received the fewest yellow cards received ||||||||||||||
| Green background indicates teams that compete in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup (excluding South African teams who are ineligible) Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup Yellow background indicates the loser of the play-off between the two fourth-ranked European teams in each conference, that earned a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup. Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup. (CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (QF) Losing quarter-finalists. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners. ||||||||||||||

#### Regular season

* 1 September 2018 15:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 26–27 | Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) |
| Try: Kelleher 14' c Bealham 21' c Con: J. Carty (2/2) 16', 22' Pen: J. Carty (4/5) 11', 34', 40', 42' | Report | Try: Seymour 1' m Turner 17' c Wilson 31' m Ashe 64' c Con: P. Horne (1/3) 18' Hogg (1/1) 65' Drop: Hogg (1/1) 73' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,329 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
* 8 September 2018 17:15
| (1 BP) Connacht | 32–13 | Zebre |
| Try: Boyle (2) 8' c, 20' c Blade 47' m Griffin 59' m Adeolokun 69' m Con: J. Carty (2/5) 8', 21' Pen: J. Carty (1/2) 2' | Report | Try: Bisegni 78' c Con: Brummer (1/1) 78' Pen: Canna (2/2) 25', 52' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,056 Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)
* 14 September 2018 19:35
| Edinburgh | 17–10 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Van der Merwe 25' c Schoeman 55' c Con: Van der Walt (2/2) 26', 55' Pen: Van der Walt (1/1) 41' | Report | Try: Adeolokun 61' c Con: J. Carty (1/1) 62' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 75' |
* Murrayfield Stadium Attendance: 5,239 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
* 22 September 2018 17:15
| Connacht | 33–20 | Scarlets |
| Try: Farrell 4' c Kelleher 25' c Adeolokun 74' c Con: J. Carty (3/3) 5', 26', 76' Pen: J. Carty (4/4) 16', 40', 62', 69' | Report | Try: McNicholl 28' c Prydie 71' c Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 8' Patchell (1/1) 71' Pen: Halfpenny (2/2) 8', 20' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,839 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 29 September 2018 17:15
| Connacht | 3–20 | Leinster |
| Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 2' | Report | Try: Ringrose 40' c Cronin 55' c Con: Sexton (2/2) 41', 56' Pen: Sexton (2/2) 34', 40' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,129 Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
* 5 October 2018 19:35
| (1 BP) Ulster | 15–22 | Connacht |
| Try: Stockdale 23' m Timoney 79' c Con: Cooney (1/2) 79' Pen: Cooney (1/2) 52' | Report | Try: O'Halloran 5' c Aki 72' m Con: J. Carty (1/2) 6' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 67' |
* Kingspan Stadium Attendance: 13,109 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
* 26 October 2018 20:05
| (1 BP) Ospreys | 22–17 | Connacht (1BP) |
| Try: Giles (2) 1' m, 8' m H. Morgan 51' c D. Evans 79' m Con: S. Davies (1/4) 52' | Report | Try: Aki 64' c Butler 69' c Con: J. Carty (2/2) 66', 71' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 12' |
* Brewery Field, Bridgend Attendance: 5,122 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
* 3 November 2018 17:15
| (1 BP) Connacht | 33–12 | Dragons |
| Try: Cannon 23' c Leader 26' m Fainga'a 29' c McCartney 39' c Farrell 69' c Con: Horwitz (3/4) 24', 30', 40' J. Carty (1/1) 70' | Report | Try: Amos 56' m Basham 80' c Con: Tovey (1/2) 80' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,146 Referee: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
* 25 November 2018 15:00
| Southern Kings | 14–31 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Banda 27' c Dukisa 50' c Con: Banda (2/2) | Report | Try: Kelleher 10' c Penalty try 35' Healy 39' c Boyle 61' c Con: Carty (2/2) 11', 40' Horwitz 61' Pen: Carty (1/1) 4' |
* NMU Stadium Attendance: 3,207 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
* 1 December 2018 17:00
| (1 BP) Cheetahs | 17–21 | Connacht |
| Try: Jaer 30' m Dweba 35' m S. Venter 71' c Con: Schoeman (1/1) 72' | Report | Try: Farrell 5' c Thornbury 27' m Con: J. Carty (1/2) 7' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 21' Horwitz (2/2) 57', 64' |
* Toyota Stadium Attendance: 3,270 Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
* 22 December 2018 19:45
| (1 BP) Leinster | 33–29 | Connacht (2 BP) |
| Try: O'Brien 11' c M. Kearney 43' m Cronin 69' c Leavy 71' c Porter 80' c Con: Byrne (4/5) 11', 69', 72', 80' | Report | Try: Kelleher 5' m Leader 22' c J. Carty 33' c Blade 47' c Con: J. Carty (3/4) 23', 34', 48' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 63' |
* RDS Arena Attendance: 16,790 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
* 28 December 2018 19:35
| Connacht | 21–12 | Ulster |
| Try: Delahunt 12' c Aki 19' c Blade 42' c Con: J. Carty (3/3) 13', 21', 44' | Report | Try: Kernohan 32' c Murphy 67' m Con: Cooney (1/2) 33' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,129 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 5 January 2019 19:35
| (1 BP) Connacht | 24–31 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: Farrell 9' c Kelleher 41' c J. Carty 72' c Con: J. Carty (3/3) 11', 42', 72' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 40' | Report | Try: P. O'Mahony 16' c Goggin (2) 24' c, 48' c Carbery 63' c Con: Carbery (4/4) 17', 25', 49', 64' Pen: Carbery (1/1) 56' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,129 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
* 26 January 2019 17:15
| Cardiff Blues | 8–7 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Lane 24' m Pen: Shingler (1/2) 11' | Report | Try: Boyle 74' c Con: C. Fitzgerald 75' |
* Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 5,673 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
* 16 February 2019 17:30
| Connacht | 25–17 | Cheetahs |
| Try: Farrell 24' c McCartney 45' c Butler 78' m Con: J. Carty (2/3) 26', 47' Pen: J. Carty (2/2) 16', 72' | Report | Try: Maxwane 10' c Fouché 20' m S. Venter 59' m Con: Schoeman (1/3) 12' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,933 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
* 22 February 2019 19:35
| (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors | 43–17 | Connacht |
| Try: G. Horne 0' c Swinson 30' c Stewart (2) 38' c, 44' c Nairn (2) 66' c, 72' m Con: Thomson (5/6) 1', 31', 38', 45', 67' Pen: Thomson (1/1) 16' | Report | Try: S. Fitzgerald 21' m Boyle 61' m Daly 69' c Con: Godwin (1/2) 70' |
* Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 7,246 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
* 2 March 2019 14:45
| (1 BP) Connacht | 46–5 | Ospreys |
| Try: Farrell 1' c Healy 24' c Marmion (2) 29' c, 50' c McCartney 69' c Con: Godwin (4/4) 1', 25', 31', 52' Pen: Godwin (2/2) 12', 15' | Report | Try: Aubrey 15' m |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,117 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 22 March 2019 19:35
| (1 BP) Connacht | 29–14 | Benetton |
| Try: Blade ' c Healy (2) 29' c, 68' m J. Carty ' c Con: Godwin (2/2) 17', 30' J. Carty (1/2) 80' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 63' | Report | Try: Rizzi 37' c Duvenage 55' c Con: Rizzi (2/2) 38', 56' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,106 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
* 6 April 2019 17:30
| (1 BP) Zebre | 5–6 | Connacht |
| Try: Bellini 41'm | Report | Pen: J. Carty (2/2) 5', 21' |
* Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)
* 13 April 2019 15:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 29–22 | Cardiff Blues (1 BP) |
| Try: Blade 11' c Thornbury 26' c J. Carty 49' c Healy 72' m Con: J. Carty (3/4) 11', 27', 50' Pen: J. Carty (1/3) 46' | Report | Try: Lane 19' c Turnbull 70' c Harries 79' m Con: Anscombe (2/3) 20', 71' Pen: Anscombe (1/1) 52' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,229 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
* 27 April 2019 19:35
| Munster | 27–14 | Connacht |
| Try: Beirne 30' c Haley 36' c Hanrahan 74' c Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) 31', 37' Hanrahan (1/1) 75' Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 20', 56' | Report | Try: Bealham 23' McKeon 70' c Con: Dean (2/2) 24', 70' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 19,999 Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

#### Play-offs

* 4 May 2019 17:35
| Ulster | 21–13 | Connacht |
| Try: Timoney 14' m Coetzee 77' c Con: Burns (1/1) 78' Pen: Cooney (3/3) 4', 40', 61' | Report | Try: Aki 54' c Con: J. Carty (1/1) 55' Pen: J. Carty (2/3) 29', 67' |
* Kingspan Stadium Attendance: 15,215 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

### Challenge Cup
#### Pool 3

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Sale Sharks (3) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 196 | 108 | +88 | 27 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 22 |
| 2 | Connacht (6) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 146 | 120 | +26 | 19 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 22 |
| 3 | Bordeaux Bègles | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 137 | 171 | −34 | 17 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 4 | Perpignan | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 117 | 197 | −80 | 13 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
* 13 October 2018 15:00
| Connacht | 22–10 | Bordeaux Bègles |
| Try: Godwin (2) 13' c, 45' c Bealham 66' m Con: J. Carty (2/3) 14', 46' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 23' | Report | Try: Amosa 52' c Con: Meret (1/1) 53' Pen: Meret (1/1) 40' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,878 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
* 20 October 2018 15:00
| (1 BP) Sale Sharks | 34–13 | Connacht |
| Try: Ashton (3) 36' c, 56' c, 63' c Beaumont 53' c Con: De Klerk (4/4) 38', 54', 57', 65' Pen: De Klerk (2/2) 19', 27' | Report | Try: Delahunt 30' c Con: C. Fitzgerald (1/1) 32' Pen: C. Fitzgerald (2/2) 1', 16' |
* AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 4,249 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
* 8 December 2018 15:00
| Connacht | 22–10 | Perpignan |
| Try: Leader 9' c Aki 19' c Godwin 77' m Con: Horwitz (2/2) 10', 20' C. Fitzgerald (0/1) Pen: Horwitz (1/2) 44' | Report | Try: Leiataua 65' c Con: Bousquet (1/1) 66' Pen: Bousquet (1/1) 47' |
* Galway Sportsground Attendance: 5,011 Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
* 14 December 2018 19:00
| Perpignan | 21–36 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Farnoux 7' m Leiataua 41' m Fainga'anuku 46' m Con: Jackson (0/3) Pen: Jackson (1/1) 12' Ecochard (1/1) 59' | Report | Try: O'Brien (2) 19' c, 34' m Heffernan 25' c Healy 67' c Kelleher 68' c Con: C. Fitzgerald (2/3) 20', 25' J. Carty (2/2) 68', 70' Pen: C. Fitzgerald (1/2) 40' |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 5,166 Referee: Ian Tempest (RFU)
* 12 January 2019 15:00
| Connacht | 20–18 | Sale Sharks (1 BP) |
| Try: Godwin 19' c Mitchell 21' c Con: J. Carty (2/2) 20', 22' Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 12' Horwitz (1/1) 71' | Report | Try: Ashton 39' c De Klerk 49' m Con: De Klerk (1/2) 40' Pen: De Klerk (2/2) 61', 64' |
* Galway Sportsground Attendance: 6,229 Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
* 19 January 2019 15:00
| (1 BP) Bordeaux Bègles | 27–33 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Amosa 23' c Poirot 38' c Serin 48' c Con: Meret (3/3) 24', 40', 49' Pen: Meret (2/2) 15', 26' | Report | Try: Healy (2) 9' m, 70' c Roux 18' c O'Halloran 34' c J. Carty 77' c Con: Horwitz (2/3) 19', 35' J. Carty (2/2) 71', 78' |
* Stade Chaban-Delmas Attendance: 11,899 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

#### Pool winners and runners-up rankings

| Rank | Pool Leaders | Pts | Diff | TF |
| 1 | Clermont | 30 | 187 | 44 |
| 2 | La Rochelle | 24 | 134 | 32 |
| 3 | Sale Sharks | 22 | 88 | 27 |
| 4 | Worcester Warriors | 22 | 25 | 19 |
| 5 | Harlequins | 21 | 66 | 23 |
| Rank | Pool Runners–up | Pts | Diff | TF |
| 6 | Connacht | 22 | 26 | 19 |
| 7 | Bristol Bears | 21 | 159 | 42 |
| 8 | Northampton Saints | 21 | 155 | 42 |
| 9 | Benetton | 20 | 65 | 23 |
| 10 | Ospreys | 13 | 36 | 18 |

#### Quarter-finals

* 29 March 2019 19:45 GMT UTC+0
| Sale Sharks (3) | 20–10 | (6) Connacht |
| Try: McGuigan 9' c Solomona 14' c Con: MacGinty (2/2) 10', 16' Pen: MacGinty (2/2) 28', 33' | Report | Try: Godwin 67' c Con: Leader (1/1) 68' Pen: J. Carty (1/2) 7' |
* AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 4,649 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)