Person: J Heenan

Pat Lam wields the axe as Connacht battle for play-off spot

The landscape has changed a lot since Connacht last headed to Edinburgh.

Fri, 07 Apr, 2017

Connacht eyeing the play-offs to qualify for Europe's top table

Glasgow Warriors 35 - Connacht 24: This time last year Connacht fans were holding their breath in anticipation. Sitting pretty at the top of the table, having only lost five times all season, Connacht were working their way to a first Guinness PRO12 trophy and Champions Cup rugby.

Mon, 27 Mar, 2017

Connacht looking for first victory in Scotstoun

Connacht coach Pat Lam has thrown down the gauntlet to his side ahead of today’s crucial Guinness PRO12 clash away to Glasgow Warriors.

Sun, 26 Mar, 2017

Kieran Marmion ready for Ireland duty says Connacht coach Lam

Connacht 14 - Dragons 9: Connacht coach Pat Lam says Kieran Marmion is fit to make his first start in the Six Nations next Saturday against France if called into action.

Mon, 20 Feb, 2017

Pat Lam warns automatic cup qualification a must for Connacht

Connacht coach Pat Lam says automatic qualification for the Champions Cup is the minimum his side must achieve this season. The PRO12 holders are a lowly eighth as they travel to take on Ospreys in Liberty Stadium this afternoon.

Sat, 07 Jan, 2017

Connacht v Munster - Guinness PRO12 Round 12

Anthony Foley factor has Ian Keatley firing again

Connacht 9 Munster 16: It’s been a traumatic year for Munster and nothing they will do on the field is going to change that, but they signed off on 2016 in the best possible fashion on a foul night in Galway to remain top of the PRO12.

Mon, 02 Jan, 2017

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 on guard after last year’s sloppy defeat by Treviso

Defeat in Italy on last season’s PRO12 run-in might not have cost Connacht a coveted home semi-final, but that loss registered in their minds.

Sat, 03 Dec, 2016

Connacht dig it out to give campaign a boost

Connacht 18 Cardiff Blues 7: Connacht gave their PRO12 campaign a badly needed boost with a hard-earned win at the Sportsground last night, when they scored their biggest ever win over Cardiff.

Sat, 26 Nov, 2016

Lam’s Connacht ready to vent frustrations on Dragons

Connacht will bid to make it eight wins from eight against Dragons in the Pro12 at Rodney Parade this evening and bounce back from their Leinster nightmare (kick-off 7.15pm).

Fri, 04 Nov, 2016

Leinster v Connacht - Guinness PRO12 Final

History lesson puts chip on Connacht shoulders

This evening’s clash at the RDS will be Pat Lam’s 98th in charge of Connacht and it is safe to say that he still has little difficulty coming up with a cause for his men each time they go out.

Sat, 29 Oct, 2016

Connacht in good heart for big double date with Wasps

Zebre 7 Connacht 52: Two rounds played in the Champions Cup and only three teams in Europe have chalked up two wins. No surprise that Saracens and Clermont Auvergne have begun in such stellar fashion, but Pat Lam’s men are beginning to show that their historic PRO12 win might not be a one-hit wonder.

Mon, 24 Oct, 2016

Tommy Bowe return eases impact of losing Charles Piutau

The loss of Charles Piutau through injury has been softened by Tommy Bowe’s return to the Ulster side for the first time this season for tonight’s derby with Connacht at the Sportsground.

Fri, 07 Oct, 2016

Connacht get act together with first win of the season

Connacht 28, Edinburgh 15: Pat Lam’s Connacht found their top form and avoided the ignominy of becoming the first champions to lose four straight games in defence of their title with a stunning bonus point win at the Sportsground last night.

Sat, 01 Oct, 2016

Conor Carey set for Connacht debut

You would have thought Connacht’s bid to get their first points of the season would be the primary focus of this encounter, but the surprise midweek departure of Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons has changed the dynamic of this clash.

Fri, 30 Sep, 2016

Connacht bid to end early season crisis

You would have got some odds at the start of the campaign that these two sides would go into the fourth weekend of the Pro12 not only not having won a match, but with neither of them having picked up a single point.

Sat, 24 Sep, 2016

Pat Lam: Desire, hunger and character got us through

Connacht 14 Glasgow Warriors 7: Connacht’s players will have a bounce in their step when they return to the Sportsground after three days rest to prepare for yet another seasonal first.

Mon, 09 May, 2016

Pat Lam bitterly disappointed after shock loss

Treviso 22 Connacht 21: In a season of highs, this was certainly one of the lowest, top of the table against the bottom. The desperation and pride of Treviso to hold on to the Italian’s Champions Cup spot proved enough to grab an injury-time win against a Connacht outfit that lacked its normal finishing prowess, and was murdered in the scrum.

Sat, 30 Apr, 2016

Connacht on the verge of semi-final spot

Connacht need only one point from this evening’s PRO12 fixture in Italy to guarantee a semi-final spot. But coach Pat Lam will want more, such is the expectation on Connacht to deliver a bonus-point winning performance.

Fri, 29 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

Nathan White back for Lam’s leaders Connaught

Ireland international prop Nathan White returns to Connacht for this evening’s Guinness Pro 12 fixture against improving Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

Fri, 04 Mar, 2016

Pat Lam’s Connacht still topping polls out west

Connacht 30 Ospreys 22: Connacht’s season continues to produce more milestones in the quest to maintain their momentum at the top of the Guinness Pro12 table. In a high-octane fixture at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday, Pat Lam’s squad saw off the Ospreys with three tries in a polished show

Mon, 29 Feb, 2016

Pat Lam: Connacht ready to step it up

Zebre 34 Connacht 51: Connacht are preparing to step it up as their season becomes considerably tougher with the visit of the Ospreys next up in the Galway Sportsground.

Mon, 22 Feb, 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

Wily Pat Lam out to avoid trap in Dragons’s den

After a brief respite, Connacht Rugby return to Pro12 action and face an improving Newport Gwent Dragons in Newport this evening (7.30pm).

Thu, 11 Feb, 2016

Pat Lam: 'You don’t have to have all the rock stars'

Connacht 30 Scarlets 17: Connacht Rugby players take a deserved six-day break after finishing a run of 16 games with a European quarter-final in the diary and a top-four Guinness Pro 12 spot secure.

Mon, 01 Feb, 2016

Pat Lam: It looks a close one again

Connacht host top-of-the-table Scarlets at the Galway Sportsground today in the standout fixture of the Guinness Pro12 weekend schedule (3pm).

Sat, 30 Jan, 2016

Scarlets v Connacht - Guinness PRO12 Round 12

TMO controversy helps extend Connacht slump

Scarlets 21 Connacht 19: Scarlets returned to the top of the Pro12 table when controversial refereeing decisions once again played their part in Connacht’s narrow defeat at Parc y Scarlets yesterday.

Mon, 11 Jan, 2016

Connacht not panicking after Leinster defeat

Connacht are keeping faith with the same squad that lost to Leinster when they travel to Llanelli to face Guinness Pro 12 league leaders Scarlets tomorrow afternoon (2.30pm).

Sat, 09 Jan, 2016

Connacht turn on the power

Guinness Pro12

Sat, 07 Mar, 2015

Connacht keep Champions Cup charge on track

Connacht 53 Benetton Treviso 5

Mon, 02 Mar, 2015

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

Guinness Pro12

Sat, 21 Feb, 2015

Lam wants more from Connacht

Guinness Pro12: Scarlets 32 Connacht Rugby 14: Connacht’s top six qualification hopes were give a shake-up when they were outgunned by fellow hopefuls Scarlets in yesterday’s lunchtime Pro12 clash.

Mon, 16 Feb, 2015

Lam: We must learn from this

Connacht 16 Newport 11

Mon, 08 Sep, 2014

Lam looks up as Connacht do enough

Connacht 11 Edinburgh 7

Mon, 17 Feb, 2014

Lam laments horrible loss but won’t dwell on it

Saracens 64 Connacht 6

Mon, 20 Jan, 2014

Sarries showdown focuses Lam mind

Connacht 20 Zebre 3

Mon, 13 Jan, 2014

Festive cheer for Connacht

Connacht 14 Newport Gwent Dragons 11

Mon, 23 Dec, 2013

Connacht look to end losing sequence

Connacht take on Edinburgh this evening desperate to break a losing run of seven RaboDirect Pro 12 fixtures.

Fri, 29 Nov, 2013

Lam eager for break to give battered Connacht time to recover

Connacht 12 Glasgow Warriors 19

Mon, 04 Nov, 2013

Kicking king Parks keeps Connacht ticking

Zebre 6 Connacht 33

Mon, 21 Oct, 2013

Treviso clinical as woes grow for misfiring Connacht

Treviso 23 Connacht 3

Sat, 05 Oct, 2013

Connacht ring the changes for visit to Treviso

RABO DIRECT PRO12

Fri, 04 Oct, 2013

Injury-hit Connacht up against it for Ospreys’ visit

It does not get any easier for Connacht as the Ospreys, one of only two unbeaten teams this season, are the visitors to the Galway Sportsground for this evening’s Pro 12 fixture.

Sat, 28 Sep, 2013