Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

New 'rugby perspectives' to freshen up Connacht

Connacht will benefit from fresh "rugby perspectives" as they kick off their URC campaign with a new coaching ticket, says Pete Wilkins.

Rugby • 21 Oct 23

Pete Wilkins: 'The guys are focused and hungry'

Wilkins wants Connacht improvement as Stormers approach

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins says being one game away from a first final since 2016 quickly focuses the mind.

Rugby • 08 May 23

Paul Boyle gets another year with the Sportsground outfit

Boyle pens new deal to remain at Connacht

Connacht have confirmed a contract extension for Paul Boyle until the end of the 2023/24 season.

Rugby • 21 Mar 23

Sean Jansen scoring a try for Leicester Tigers against the Newcastle Falcons earlier in the season

Connacht add Irish-qualified Jansen to their ranks

Connacht have confirmed the signing of Irish-qualified number 8 Sean Jansen from the Leicester Tigers on a two-year deal.

Rugby • 10 Mar 23

Wilkins has signed a three-year deal as Connacht head coach

Pete Wilkins to take over from Andy Friend at Connacht

Connacht have confirmed that head coach Pete Wilkins will assume overall responsibility for the side next season, after the departure of director of rugby Andy Friend this summer.

Rugby • 21 Feb 23

Bundee Aki has not played for Connacht in 2023

'The club values him' - Wilkins addresses Aki concerns

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins said Bundee Aki remains available for selection but gave no guarantees the Ireland centre will feature against Newcastle Falcons on Saturday.

Rugby • 17 Jan 23

Pete Wilkins (left) says there is a quiet confidence Connacht can turn their season around

'No panic stations' as Connacht face pivotal week

Pete Wilkins has called on Connacht to show their fighting spirit as they bid to get their faltering season back on track against the Cell C Sharks.

Rugby • 04 Jan 23

Bundee Aki missed Connacht's defeat at Leinster

Ireland trio back for Connacht's key game with Sharks

Ireland trio Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen are in contention for Connacht's must-win game against the Cell C Sharks on Saturday, but David Hawkshaw and Jarrad Butler are ruled out.

Rugby • 03 Jan 23

Rugby league uses a 30-second shot clock for scrums

Wilkins would support countdown clock in rugby

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins would welcome the introduction of a countdown clock to help speed up matches.

Rugby • 30 Nov 22

Pete Wilkins said the Connacht players are determined to put things right against Benetton

Wilkins: Connacht players frustrated by attacking woes

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins said the players and staff held a "constructive but confronting" review after their attack again failed to fire in the defeat to Munster.

Rugby • 29 Nov 22

Pete Wilkins (left) said Connacht must back up their win over the Scarlets when they travel to Swansea on Saturday

Wilkins: Connacht have faltered against depleted sides

Saturday's assignment against a depleted Ospreys presents Connacht with the chance to register back-to-back wins but Pete Wilkins is all too aware these are the games where they have slipped up in the past.

Rugby • 25 Oct 22

Pete Wilkins (right) says Connacht will need to be at their defensive best against Leinster

Wilkins: Ex-Leinster players can make 'big statement'

Pete Wilkins says Connacht's ex-Leinster contingent have a chance to make a "big statement" in Friday's BKT United Rugby Championship derby.

United Rugby Championship • 10 Oct 22

Pete Wilkins (right) with Cian Prendergast, Finlay Bealham, Mack Hansen, Dave Heffernan and Bundee Aki after Ireland's second-Test win in Dunedin

Wilkins looking to impart NZ tour wisdom with Connacht

Pete Wilkins takes his Connacht side to South Africa knowing his last tour will take some beating.

Rugby • 20 Sep 22

Pete Wilkins said Connacht must make the most of their tour to South Africa

Wilkins: SA tour gives Connacht chance to regroup

Pete Wilkins said the two-game tour of South Africa is a "perfect scenario" for Connacht as they look to regroup following their opening-round mauling by Ulster.

Rugby • 19 Sep 22

Aki has been limited in training this week

Bundee Aki a doubt for Connacht's trip to the Sharks

There's mixed news on the injury front for Connacht ahead of Saturday's United Rugby Championship meeting with the Sharks in Durban.

Rugby • 26 Apr 22

Connacht trail 26-21 heading into Friday night's second leg

Connacht 'need to go up a level' to shock Leinster

Connacht showed they are maturing as a team in spite of their defeat to Leinster last week, according to senior coach Pete Wilkins.

Rugby • 12 Apr 22

Buckley suffered the torn ACL just minutes into his 200th Connacht appearance

Boost for Connacht as Buckley set for injury comeback

Denis Buckley is in line to make his first appearance in eight months this weekend, with Connacht confirming he is "available for selection" for Saturday's United Rugby Championship visit of Glasgow Warriors.

Rugby • 25 Jan 22

Eoghan Masterson has played more than 100 times for Connacht since his debut in 2013

'If we can run from anywhere, we'll run from anywhere'

If you want to see how watertight your gameplan is, The Sportsground in Galway is as good a place as any to test it.

Rugby • 01 Dec 21

Connacht senior coach Pete Wilkins (right) has been credited with their expansive attack this season

Connacht freeing themselves from 'emotional yo-yo'

Connacht senior coach Pete Wilkins says they need to focus on their own performance this week, ahead of their United Rugby Championship meeting with Leinster on Friday night.

Rugby • 30 Nov 21

Bundee Aki is available for selection for Connacht against Munster this Saturday

Connacht ready for 'exciting' Bundee Aki return

If Connacht needed a boost following their humbling defeat to the Dragons, the return of Bundee Aki for this Saturday's trip to face Munster at Thomond Park should certainly do the trick.

Rugby • 13 Oct 21

Caolin Blade missed Connacht's URC opener away to Cardiff

Connacht set to welcome back Blade and Fifita

Connacht have been boosted by the return to fitness of scrum-half Caolin Blade and new second row Leva Fifita ahead of their United Rugby Championship meeting with the Vodacom Bulls in Galway on Friday night.

Rugby • 28 Sep 21

Bundee Aki is expected to make his first appearance for Connacht since March

Connacht coach Wilkins wary of Benetton banana skin

Connacht attack coach Pete Wilkins has warned his players that they will need to maintain the standards set in their win over Munster to avoid slipping up against Benetton this weekend.

Rugby • 25 May 21

Pete Wilkins