# 2013–14 Connacht Rugby season

The 2013–14 Connacht Rugby season was the team's thirteenth season competing in the Pro12 as well as their third season to compete in the Heineken Cup. Following the departure of Eric Elwood, the 2013–14 season saw Pat Lam take charge of the team as head coach.

## Review
### Background

The previous season's head coach Eric Elwood departed Connacht at the end of his third year in charge, having announced his intention to leave his post in October 2012. His replacement was announced in January 2013, with the New Zealand born former Samoa international Pat Lam appointed to coach the team. Lam had previously served as head coach to Super Rugby side the Auckland Blues, coaching them in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
It was announced in August 2013 that the captaincy for the 2013–14 season would be split between Gavin Duffy, John Muldoon (rugby union, born 1982) and the team's most capped player, Michael Swift. This followed changes between Duffy and Muldoon as captain in previous seasons.
The team qualified for their third Heineken Cup in a row in 2013–14, again thanks to Leinster, who had also been the reason for Connacht's entry into the previous two tournaments. The eastern province's victory in the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup granted Connacht a berth, and they were drawn into pool 3 with Saracens, Toulouse, and Zebre.

### Playing season

Lam's first competitive game in charge was in the 2013–14 Pro12, a 25–16 home win over Zebre. After this game Connacht failed to win their next five games, though they ran Saracens close in Galway, in the first Heineken Cup game of the season. Connacht eventually broke their losing streak with a win in the Heineken Cup, again coming against Zebre, this time in the Stadio XXV Aprile. In their next match, Connacht came close to beating Leinster in Dublin for the first time since 2002, but conceded a late penalty try to lose 16–13.
The team's patchy form continued after the derby with Leinster, and Connacht lost three more games in the Pro12. After a 43–10 defeat to Edinburgh in Murrayfield, former captain of the Super Rugby side the Chiefs, Craig Clarke, was made Connacht's team captain. On 8 December 2013, however, Connacht defied their form and produced one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Heineken Cup, when they defeated Toulouse in the pool stages in the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
Connacht were beaten by Toulouse in the return game at the Sportsground, but beat Zebre in the following game to go into the final round of matches with a slim chance of progressing to the quarter-finals. That game however, saw them beaten comfortably by Saracens on a final score of 64–6, with English side running in a record 11 tries. In the league Connacht continued to tussle with Zebre at the foot of the table, before going on a four match winning streak from 15 February to 23 March, earning three try bonus points. This was the team's longest run of wins in 11 years. Following this run of form though, Connacht failed to win another match in the league, finishing in tenth place and level on points with Newport Gwent Dragons in ninth.

## Coaching and Management Staff

| Position | Name | Nationality |
| Head Coach | Pat Lam | Samoa |
| Assistant Coach | Dan McFarland | England |
| Skills Coach | Dave Ellis | New Zealand |
| Chief Executive | vacant | |
| Team Manager | Tim Allnut | New Zealand |
| Academy Manager/ Eagles Head Coach | Nigel Carolan | Ireland |
| Resource Coach(es) | Cory Browne Jimmy Duffy | New Zealand Ireland |
| Head of Strength and Conditioning | Tom McLaughlin | England |
| Performance Analyst | Conor McPhillips | Ireland |
| Head Physio | Gavin Malouf | Australia |

## Senior Playing Squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Jason Harris-Wright | Hooker | Ireland |
| Dave Heffernan | Hooker | Ireland |
| Seán Henry | Hooker | Ireland |
| James Rael | Hooker | Ireland |
| Rodney Ah You* | Prop | New Zealand |
| Denis Buckley | Prop | Ireland |
| JP Cooney | Prop | Ireland |
| Ronan Loughney | Prop | Ireland |
| Nathan White | Prop | New Zealand |
| Brett Wilkinson | Prop | Ireland |
| Andrew Browne | Lock | Ireland |
| Craig Clarke (c) | Lock | New Zealand |
| Mick Kearney | Lock | Ireland |
| Aly Muldowney* | Lock | England |
| David Nolan | Lock | Ireland |
| Michael Swift* | Lock | England |
| Danny Qualter | Lock | Ireland |
| Aaron Conneely | Flanker | Ireland |
| Mata Fafita* | Flanker | Tonga |
| Willie Faloon | Flanker | Ireland |
| Jake Heenan | Flanker | New Zealand |
| John Muldoon | Flanker | Ireland |
| Eoin McKeon | Number 8 | Ireland |
| George Naoupu | Number 8 | New Zealand |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Kieran Marmion | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Frank Murphy | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Paul O'Donohoe | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Miah Nikora* | Fly-half | New Zealand |
| Dan Parks | Fly-half | Scotland |
| Craig Ronaldson | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Eoin Griffin | Centre | Ireland |
| Robbie Henshaw | Centre | Ireland |
| Dave McSharry | Centre | Ireland |
| Brian Murphy | Centre | Ireland |
| Kyle Tonetti | Centre | Ireland |
| Fionn Carr | Wing | Ireland |
| Matt Healy | Wing | Ireland |
| Tiernan O'Halloran | Wing | Ireland |
| Danie Poolman | Wing | South Africa |
| Gavin Duffy | Fullback | Ireland |
| James So'oialo | Fullback | Samoa |
* Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*.
* Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold.

### Academy squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Finlay Bealham | Prop | Ireland year 2 |
| Peter Reilly | Prop | Ireland year 2 |
| Jamie Dever | Prop | Ireland year 2 |
| Saba Meunargia | Prop | Ireland year 1 |
| Jacob Walshe | Prop | Ireland year 1 |
| Ultan Dillane | Lock | Ireland year 2 |
| Conor Kindregan | Lock | Ireland year 1 |
| Seán O'Brien | Lock | Ireland year 1 |
| James Connolly | Flanker | Ireland year 1 |
| Rory Moloney | Flanker | Ireland year 1 |
| Eoghan Masterson | Number 8 | Scotland year 1 |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Marcus Walsh | Scrum-half | Ireland year 2 |
| Caolin Blade | Scrum-half | Ireland year 1 |
| Jack Carty | Fly-half | Ireland year 3 |
| Conor Finn | Centre | Ireland year 3 |
| Tadhg Leader | Centre | Ireland year 3 |
| Rory Parata | Centre | Ireland year 1 |
| Shane Layden | Wing | Ireland year 3 |
| Steve McCauley | Wing | England year 2 |
| Darragh Leader | Fullback | Ireland year 2 |
| David Panter | Fullback | Ireland year 1 |

## Playing kit

The Connacht team and support staff kit supplier for the season was Australian manufacturer BLK sport, who announced a comprehensive four-year agreement to supply the full range of apparel for all of Connacht Rugby's representative teams and support staff in 2013. They took the place of previous supplier RugbyTech.
Mazda Ireland continued as the main shirt sponsors, as part of a deal signed with Connacht to run from 2012 to 2014 as part of major sponsorship deal to facilitate the development of both brands.

## 2013–14 Pro12

Pro12 Table
watch · · discuss :
| | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points |
| 1 | Leinster (CH) | 22 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 554 | 352 | +202 | 57 | 30 | 8 | 4 | 82 |
| 2 | Glasgow Warriors (RU) | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 484 | 309 | +175 | 53 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 79 |
| 3 | Munster (SF) | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 538 | 339 | +199 | 56 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 74 |
| 4 | Ulster (SF) | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 470 | 319 | +151 | 45 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 70 |
| 5 | Ospreys | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 571 | 388 | +183 | 59 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 66 |
| 6 | Scarlets | 22 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 435 | 438 | −3 | 43 | 45 | 3 | 6 | 55 |
| 7 | Cardiff Blues | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 425 | 538 | −113 | 32 | 55 | 1 | 6 | 41 |
| 8 | Edinburgh | 22 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 397 | 526 | −129 | 38 | 57 | 2 | 8 | 38 |
| 9 | Newport Gwent Dragons | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 392 | 492 | −100 | 34 | 46 | 0 | 5 | 35 |
| 10 | Connacht | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 371 | 509 | −138 | 42 | 54 | 4 | 7 | 35 |
| 11 | Benetton Treviso | 22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 376 | 591 | −215 | 31 | 72 | 1 | 7 | 30 |
| 12 | Zebre | 22 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 347 | 559 | −212 | 35 | 59 | 0 | 5 | 29 |
| 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 (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places, and earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places, that earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. European Rugby Champions/Challenge Cup qualification: The top team from each country, plus the three highest-placed teams apart from those, will qualify for the European Rugby Champions Cup. The remaining teams qualify for the European Rugby Challenge Cup. Updated 19 May 2014. Source: RaboDirect PRO12 |||||||||||||||
The weekend dates for the 2013–14 season were announced on 19 July 2013. All times are local.
* 7 September 2013 17:00
| Connacht | 25–16 | Zebre |
| Try: White 4' m Healy 29' c Carr 75' c Con: Parks (2/3) Pen: Parks (2/4) 37', 62' | Report | Try: Manici 80' c Con: Orquera (1/1) Pen: Orquera (3/3) 7', 46', 60' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,084 Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU)
* 13 September 2013 19:05
| Cardiff Blues | 21–10 | Connacht |
| Pen: Patchell (6/9) 20', 26', 52', 67', 74', 78' Drop: Patchell (1/1) 33' | Report | Try: Healy 12' c Con: Parks (1/1) Pen: Parks (1/3) 40' |
* Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,874 Referee: Claudio Blessano (FIR)
* 21 September 2013 18:45
| Connacht | 7–18 | Ulster |
| Try: Parks 10' c Con: Parks (1/1) | Report | Try: Allen 15' m Jackson 57' c Con: Jackson (1/2) Pen: Jackson (2/4) 55', 64' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,485 Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
* 28 September 2013 17:00
| Connacht | 26–43 | Ospreys (1 BP) |
| Try: Poolman 55' c Marmion 62' c Con: Parks (2/2) Pen: Ronaldson (4/5) 4', 26', 32', 37' | Report | Try: Biggar 7' c Fussell 15' c Walker 29' m Tebaldi 59' c Hassler 71' c A. W. Jones 77' c Con: Biggar (5/6) Pen: Biggar (1/1) 35' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 3,888 Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
* 4 October 2013 20:30
| Benetton Treviso | 23–3 | Connacht |
| Try: Zanni 52' c Morisi 79' c Con: Botes (2/2) Pen: Di Bernardo (3/3) 8', 34', 40' | Report | Pen: Parks (1/2) 51' |
* Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 3,948 Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU)
* 26 October 2013 18:45
| Leinster | 16–13 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: penalty try 77' c Con: Madigan (1/1) Pen: Madigan (3/4) 10', 29', 40' | Report | Try: Marmion 13' c Con: Parks (1/1) Pen: Parks (2/3) 2', 7' |
* RDS Arena Attendance: 16,780 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
* 2 November 2013 17:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 12–19 | Glasgow Warriors |
| Pen: Parks (2/4) 15', 51' Ronaldson (2/3) 61', 69' | Report | Try: van der Merwe 5' c Con: Weir (1/1) Pen: Weir (4/4) 24', 33', 55', 79' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,185 Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
* 23 November 2013 17:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 21–24 | Scarlets |
| Try: Healy 56' c Harris-Wright 67' m Con: Ronaldson (1/1) Pen: Ronaldson (3/4) 3', 9', 34' | Report | Try: Climo 38' c Myhill 47' c G. Davies 52' c Con: A. Thomas (3/3) Pen: A. Thomas (1/1) 21' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,172 Referee: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
* 29 November 2013 19:45
| (1 BP) Edinburgh | 43–10 | Connacht |
| Try: Fife 40' c du Preez 73' c De Luca 77' c Nel 79' c Con: Laidlaw (4/4) Pen: Laidlaw (5/5) 9', 20', 29', 51', 59' | Report | Try: Henshaw 15' c Con: Parks (1/1) Drop: Parks (1/1) 11' |
* Murrayfield Stadium Attendance: 3,515 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
* 21 December 2013 17:00
| Connacht | 14–11 | Newport Gwent Dragons (1 BP) |
| Try: Carr 75' m Pen: Parks (2/3) 33', 44' Drop: Parks (1/1) 80' | Report | Try: D. Evans 8' m Pen: Tovey (2/3) 16', 51' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,033 Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU)
* 27 December 2013 19:15
| Munster | 22–16 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Hanrahan 20' c Con: Hanrahan (1/1) Pen: Hanrahan (5/5) 9', 29', 44', 50', 76' | Report | Try: Heffernan 80' c Con: Parks (1/1) Pen: Parks (3/3) 13', 16', 61' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 18,870 Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
* 4 January 2014 19:15
| Connacht | 8–16 | Leinster |
| Try: Carr 22' m Pen: Carty (1/1) 40' | Report | Try: D'Arcy 73' c Con: Gopperth (1/1) Pen: Madigan (1/3) 36' Gopperth (2/2) 57', 63' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 7,210 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
* 9 February 2014 14:00
| Glasgow Warriors | 8–6 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Bennett 18' m Pen: Jackson (1/4) 43' | Report | Pen: Ronaldson (2/5) 8', 40' |
* Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 3,904 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
* 15 February 2014 17:00
| Connacht | 11–7 | Edinburgh (1 BP) |
| Try: Swift 47' m Pen: Ronaldson (1/4) 20' Parks (1/1) 68' | Report | Try: Grant 7' c Con: Bezuidenhout (1/1) |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 4,038 Referee: Claudio Blessano (FIR)
* 23 February 2014 17:30
| Zebre | 19–27 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Venditti 58' c Vunisa 66' m van Schalkwyk 78' c Con: Nathan (1/2) Chillon (1/1) | Report | Try: Ah You 5' m Marmion 26' c penalty try 37' c Griffin 56' m Con: Parks (2/4) Pen: Parks (1/1) 3' |
* Stadio XXV Aprile Attendance: 1,265 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
* 1 March 2014 17:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 38–6 | Benetton Treviso |
| Try: Carr 5' c Muldoon (2) 13' c, 63' c Marmion 33' c McKeon 75' c Con: Parks (4/4) Nikora (1/1) Pen: Parks (1/1) 23' | Report | Pen: Berquist (2/3) 9', 21' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 3,850 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
* 23 March 2014 15:05
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 8–24 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Prydie 69' m Pen: Tovey (1/2) 2' | Report | Try: Muldoon (2) 17' c, 67' m Ah You 23' c Swift 79' m Con: Parks (2/2) |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 5,474 Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
* 30 March 2014 14:05
| (1 BP) Scarlets | 32–30 | Connacht (2 BP) |
| Try: J. Davies 2' c G. Davies 49' c Turnbull 52' m Maule 79' c Con: Priestland (3/4) Pen: Priestland (2/5) 24', 34' | Report | Try: Marmion 55' m Carr 72' c Henshaw 75' m McKeon 80' c Con: Nikora (2/3) Pen: Parks (2/2) 6', 22' |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 6,111 Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
* 11 April 2014 19:05
| (1 BP) Ulster | 58–12 | Connacht |
| Try: P. Marshall (2) 5' m, 25' c Trimble (3) 16' m, 42' c, 59' c Bowe 23' c L. Marshall 48' c Gilroy 68' c Con: Jackson (5/7) McKinney (1/1) Pen: Jackson (2/2) 12', 40' | Report | Try: McSharry 8' m Leader 62' c Con: Nikora (1/1) |
* Ravenhill Stadium Attendance: 13,948 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
* 19 April 2014 18:15
| Connacht | 23–32 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: Healy 20' m McKeon 53' m Poolman 78' c Con: Parks (1/1) Pen: Nikora (2/2) 15', 63' | Report | Try: Conway 17' c van den Heever 34' c D. Hurley 38' c Butler 72' m Con: Keatley (3/4) Pen: Keatley (2/2) 26', 30' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,227 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 3 May 2014 17:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 15–22 | Cardiff Blues |
| Try: Healy 26' c Henshaw 45' m Con: Nikora (1/2) Pen: Nikora (1/1) 22' | Report | Try: penalty try 56' c Jones 59' c Fish 69' m Con: G. Davies (2/2) Pen: G. Davies (1/1) 40' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,168 Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
* 10 May 2014 18:30
| (1 BP) Ospreys | 45–20 | Connacht |
| Try: Hassler 12' c Beck (2) 27' c, 45' c A. W. Jones 36' c N. Smith 60' c Baker 68' c Con: Biggar (6/6) Pen: Biggar (1/1) 34' | Report | Try: Leader 17' m Buckley 40' c Gilsenan 63' m Con: Nikora (1/3) Pen: Nikora (1/1) 4' |
* Liberty Stadium Attendance: 6,403 Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

## 2013–14 Heineken Cup

Pool 3
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| Toulouse (5) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 143 | 63 | +80 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
| Saracens (8) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 217 | 74 | +143 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| Connacht | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 101 | 147 | −46 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Zebre | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 33 | 210 | −177 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match |||||||||||||
* 11 October 2013 20:00
| (1 BP) Connacht | 17–23 | Saracens |
| Try: Marmion 17' c Poolman 30' c Con: Parks (2/2) Pen: Parks (1/2) 7' | Report | Try: Wyles 5' c Ashton 8' c Con: Farrell (2/2) Pen: Farrell (3/3) 25', 52', 74' |
* The Sportsground Attendance: 7,546 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR)
* 19 October 2013 14:35
| Zebre | 6–33 | Connacht |
| Pen: Orquera (2/2) 5', 48' | Report | Try: Naoupu 29' c Fafita 70' m Con: Parks (1/2) Pen: Parks (7/7) 1', 7', 34', 37', 58', 60', 64' |
* Stadio XXV Aprile Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
* 8 December 2013 16:00
| (1 BP) Toulouse | 14–16 | Connacht |
| Try: Barraque 39' c Dusautoir 64' c Con: Barraque (1/1) Beauxis (1/1) | Report | Try: Marmion 47' c Con: Parks (1/1) Pen: Parks (2/3) 12', 45' Drop: Parks (1/2) 15' |
* Stade Ernest-Wallon Attendance: 16,742 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 14 December 2013 18:00
| Connacht | 9–37 | Toulouse (1 BP) |
| Pen: Parks (1/2) 2' Drop: Parks (2/2) 13', 32' | Report | Try: Médard (2) 11' c, 26' m Tolofua 36' c Picamoles 54' m Fickou 78' c Con: Beauxis (3/5) Pen: Beauxis (2/4) 4', 72' |
* The Sportsground Attendance: 7,661 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
* 11 January 2014 15:40
| Connacht | 20–3 | Zebre |
| Try: Healy 34' c Henshaw 42' c Con: Carty (2/2) Pen: Carty (2/3) 24', 29' | Report | Pen: Orquera (1/2) 15' |
* The Sportsground Attendance: 5,217 Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
* 18 January 2014 13:35
| (1 BP) Saracens | 64–6 | Connacht |
| Try: Ashton (2) 10' m, 80' c Strettle (3) 26' m, 41' m, 76' m Brits 40' m Goode 49' m Kruis 57' c Wyles 65' m Wray 68' c Johnston 71' m Con: Hodgson (3/10) Pen: Hodgson (1/2) 22' | Report | Pen: Parks (2/2) 5', 20' |
* Allianz Park Attendance: 9,614 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)