Person: Danie Poolman

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

rugby

No fairy tale ending for Pat Lam as brave Connacht lose at Northampton

Northampton kept alive their hopes of playing in the European Champions Cup next season with a hard-fought 21-15 victory over Connacht in the second play-off at Franklin's Gardens.

rugby

60-second report: Here's how Munster demolished Connacht

rugby

Connacht will see shift in personnel for start of Kieran Keane era

A view of conditions in the Lanfranchi Stadium which caused the match to be temporarily suspended 17/9/2016

rugby

Steve Crosbie set for first league start against Zebre

rugby

Pat Lam gambles on a scrum-half at No. 10

Ospreys v Connacht - Guinness PRO12 Round 13

rugby

Jack Carty’s injury adds to Connacht’s Welsh woes

'It was just turned down by the IRFU because he is a foreigner. Mitch was going to cost nothing'

Pat Lam said an effort to bring his own son in for three weeks to help offset an injury crisis in Connacht was shot down by the IRFU because he is a foreign player.

Wed, 04 Jan, 2017

Connacht to divvy up role of skills coach Dave Ellis

Connacht will divvy up the role of skills coach Dave Ellis among the existing management until a replacement is found.

Tue, 27 Dec, 2016

Lam has eyes on first Connacht win in Belfast since 1960

Pat Lam will bid to get rid of one of Connacht’s remaining hoodoos when he hopes to lead them to a first win in Belfast since 1960 this evening.

Fri, 23 Dec, 2016

Connacht v Benetton Treviso - Guinness PRO12 Round 10

Connacht deliver the perfect anniversary present to Pat Lam

Connacht 47 Treviso 8: Pat Lam could hardly have asked for a more routine victory in his 100th game in charge as Treviso, yet again, offered only token resistance in what is turning out to be another disastrous campaign for the Italians.

Mon, 05 Dec, 2016

Connacht bag seven tries in demolition of Treviso

Connacht warmed up for their Champions Cup double header with Wasps by thrashing Benetton Treviso 47-8 in the Guinness PRO12 at the Sportsground.

Sat, 03 Dec, 2016

Pat Lam warns Edinburgh will be stronger

Connacht coach Pat Lam expects to face a much stronger Edinburgh team this Friday than the one Munster beat in Thomond Park last weekend.

Tue, 27 Sep, 2016

Unity will lead to first win for Connacht, says Pat Lam

Connacht coach Pat Lam says although his side are bottom of the PRO12 standings, their team spirit and unity will count for a lot when they look to bounce back this weekend.

Wed, 14 Sep, 2016

Leinster the benchmark for Connacht, says Pat Lam

If Connacht are to complete their dream season and raise the Guinness Pro12 trophy on Saturday, head coach Pat Lam believes they will have to negotiate the toughest challenge possible in final rivals Leinster.

Wed, 25 May, 2016

Pat Lam: Connacht will learn from mistakes

Pat Lam has urged his young players to learn from the mistakes that cost them so dearly in Grenoble last weekend and has told his players that they could do worse than look towards Munster, their opponents this Saturday in Galway, for inspiration.

Wed, 13 Apr, 2016

Challenge in the Alps for Connacht

Connacht will face French resistance head-on in the Alps this evening with a European Challenge Cup semi-final at stake.

Sat, 09 Apr, 2016

Pat Lam: It’s going to take massive collective effort

A massive litmus test awaits Connacht this evening when they host Leinster at the Galway Sportsground (5.15pm).

Sat, 26 Mar, 2016

Pat Lam targets Zebre bonus point

A fifth bonus-point win is the target for Connacht in this evening’s Pro 12 fixture with Zebre in Italy (4.30 Irish time). Sitting level on 45 points with Ulster at the top of the table, Pat Lam knows every point will count in their bid for Champions Cup rugby next season.

Sat, 20 Feb, 2016

Connacht v Enisei-STM - European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 1 Round 6

Connacht left to fly Irish flag in Europe

Connacht 47 Enisei-STM 5: France beckons again for Connacht in this year’s European Challenge Cup quarter-finals and a meeting with Bernard Jackman’s Grenoble in April.

Mon, 25 Jan, 2016

Robbie Henshaw makes try-scoring return and sends Connacht into quarter-finals

Robbie Henshaw handed Ireland an RBS 6 Nations fitness boost as Connacht thrashed Enisei-STM 47-5 to qualify for the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Sat, 23 Jan, 2016

Robbie Henshaw starts for Connacht in final Challenge Cup pool game

All four Connacht players named in the Ireland Six Nations squad this week are included for the match at the Sportsground on Saturday.

Fri, 22 Jan, 2016

Connacht face crucial Brive test

Connacht’s European campaign becomes a lot more serious today when they face Brive in a must-win Challenge Cup fixture in France tonight.

Sat, 16 Jan, 2016

Anthony Foley hoping Keith Earls and Conor Murray will be ready for Munster

Munster coach Anthony Foley is hopeful winger Keith Earls and scrum-half Conor Murray will be fit for Saturday’s Champions Cup showdown against Stade Francais.

Wed, 06 Jan, 2016

Ally Hogg and Mouritz Botha tackle George Naoupu 20/12/2015

Connacht turn eyes to new year tests

Newcastle Falcons 29 Connacht 5: Without 19 European squad members and fielding a host of Academy players, injury hit Connacht were swept aside by Newcastle in Kingston Park last evening.

Mon, 21 Dec, 2015

Connacht v Newcastle Falcons - European Rugby Challenge Cup - Pool 1 Round 2

Depleted Connacht can seal Challenge Cup passage

Connacht’s injury plague means Pat Lam’s squad face Newcastle tomorrow with a reduced squad of 22. 

Sat, 19 Dec, 2015

Injury-hit Connacht secure vital victory

Connacht 25 Newcastle 10: An injury-hit Connacht maintained the lead of their European pool after securing a hard-fought victory over Newcastle Falcons at the Galway Sportsground last night.

Sat, 12 Dec, 2015

Pragmatic Pat Lam adjusts as depleted Connacht brace for Newcastle Falcons battle

Connacht Rugby will take on Newcastle Falcons in this evening’s third round European fixture at the Galway Sportsground (kick-off 7.45pm) with wholesale changes to the starting line-up.

Fri, 11 Dec, 2015

Pat Lam urges Connacht charges to keep focus for Thomond Park test

Connacht coach Pat Lam says his side have planned how to pick up a first win at Thomond Park since 1986 and it’s down to ignoring the individual strengths of Munster.

Wed, 25 Nov, 2015

High-flying Connacht happy to stay grounded

Connacht are thankful to be back on home soil for this evening’s European second round fixture against Brive in the Galway Sportsground (5pm) after a marathon trek from Siberia.

Sat, 21 Nov, 2015

Connacht relishing Brive challenge, says coach Jimmy Duffy

Connacht are raring to pick up where they left off in Siberia and take on Brive in the second round of the European Challenge Cup tomorrow.

Fri, 20 Nov, 2015

Connacht show battling qualities to slay Dragons

Connacht 29 Dragons 23: Connacht opened their Guinness Pro 12 season with a valuable home win, edging a lively encounter against the Newport Gwent Dragons at the Galway Sportsground last evening.

Sun, 06 Sep, 2015

Late try against Dragons gets Connacht off to a flier

Fionn Carr’s 77th-minute try sealed a hard-earned 29-23 win for Connacht against Newport Gwent Dragons.

Fri, 04 Sep, 2015

Robbie Henshaw: Champions Cup a massive draw

In a big day for Irish teams in the Guinness Pro12, Connacht’s needs are probably greater than the rest.

Sat, 16 May, 2015

Bowe tries give Ulster bonus-point win at Connacht

Tommy Bowe notched his 60th and 61st Guinness Pro12 tries as Ulster led from start to finish in a 27-20 bonus point win over Connacht at the Sportsground.

Sat, 11 Apr, 2015

Pat Lam: This game is massive

A Pro 12 title and a top six qualification are on the line in today’s meeting of Ulster and Connacht in the Galway Sportsground (2.40pm).

Sat, 11 Apr, 2015

Pat Lam confident Connacht ready for the Kingsholm ‘cauldron’

A first home semi-final is the prize for Connacht if they overcome this evening’s Challenge Cup quarter-final opponents Gloucester at Kingsholm.

Fri, 03 Apr, 2015

Ireland star Robbie Henshaw relishing return to battle with Connacht

Guinness PRO12

Wed, 01 Apr, 2015

Connacht turn on the power

Guinness Pro12

Sat, 07 Mar, 2015

Pat Lam: We have lost our safety net so every game vital

Guinness Pro12

Sat, 21 Feb, 2015

Mils Muliaina leads Connacht’s final push for quarter-finals

European Challenge Cup Pool 2

Sat, 24 Jan, 2015

Connacht put faith in Pat Lam

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has signed a new three-year deal ahead of the province’s final chance to bag a Challenge Cup quarter-final.

Thu, 22 Jan, 2015

Connacht led at half time, but lost 33-24 to Exeter Chiefs

European Challenge Cup Pool 2

Mon, 19 Jan, 2015

Connacht name side to face Edinburgh in PRO12

Connacht welcome Edinburgh to the Sportsground on Friday night and head coach Pat Lam has made just one change from the side that beat Munster on New Year’s Day.

Thu, 08 Jan, 2015

Lam warns Munster to expect Connacht frenzy

Connacht coach Pat Lam has laid it on the line for the 8,000 people expected through the turnstiles for this evening’s interprovincial derby, calling on the home support to serve as the team’s 16th man to overpower Munster.

Thu, 01 Jan, 2015

Ireland players return to Munster and Connacht for derby clash

Connacht welcome Munster to the Showgrounds on New Year’s Day for their PRO12 derby match and both sides have made a number of changes to their starting sides.

Wed, 31 Dec, 2014

Derby joy for Leinster

Leinster 21 Connacht 11

Sat, 20 Dec, 2014

Brave Leinster seal it at the death

Leinster 21 Connacht 11

Fri, 19 Dec, 2014

In-form Poolman braced for Basque backlash

Connacht winger Danie Poolman said qualification for the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup is in their own hands as they head to France to take on Bayonne.

Thu, 11 Dec, 2014

Connacht stay in race for last eight

European Challenge Cup Pool 2: Connacht 42 Bayonne 19

Mon, 08 Dec, 2014

Second half storm grants Connacht a bonus point

Connacht stormed away in the second half to record a bonus-point victory over French club Bayonne at The Sportsground tonight.

Sat, 06 Dec, 2014