The man and the maths that saved Connacht

Connacht’s march on the IRFU offices in 2003 to save their team is well documented but they came closer to going out of business just seven years ago. By then, the IRFU and the province both had enough of seemingly endless losing runs, budgetary issues and growing despair. But a sports consultant from Cork, employed by both parties to see if there was any future, spotted a glimmer of hope. Seven years later, Connacht were PRO 12 champions, the first trophy in their 131-year history.

Nobody in Connacht had ever heard of Morgan Buckley when he arrived at the Sportsground late in 2008, with the future of the province’s professional side in his hands.

But chief executive Gerry Kelly and others in the loop knew that this was the biggest threat ever to the Connacht professional team.