Person: Jake Heenan

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

rugby

Picture Perfect: ‘There was this really warm embrace which lasted about 10 to 15 seconds’

James Crombie reveals his favourite sports picture.

rugby

Connacht’s McCartney to hang up boots

rugby

Bundee Aki returns to boost Connacht options

rugby

Connacht to rest Bundee Aki after Ireland heroics

rugby

Connacht ‘up for it’ in Wales, says Kieran Keane

rugby

Jarrad Butler: ‘Little passes’ are letting Connacht down

Kieran Keane can get Connacht firing again, says Munster's Rhys Marshall

It is not often a player gives a rival cause for optimism ahead of an interprovincial derby but Munster’s Rhys Marshall believes exciting times lie ahead for Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 opponents Connacht.

Thu, 04 May, 2017

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 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 starts for Connacht fresh from Ireland duty

Pat Lam has made 10 changes for Connacht's trip to Scotland to take on Glasgow.

Fri, 24 Mar, 2017

Pat Lam’s decision did not influence John Muldoon to play on

Captain John Muldoon says Pat Lam’s decision to walk away from Connacht had no influence on his decision to extend his stay at the Sportsground.

Thu, 19 Jan, 2017

Connacht bolstered by new arrivals

Connacht have been boosted by the signing of three Irish players a week after the IRFU blocked the arrival of Pat Lam’s son Mitch, due to his non-Irish qualifications.

Wed, 11 Jan, 2017

Ospreys v Connacht - Guinness PRO12 Round 13

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

Ospreys 29 Connacht 7: Connacht’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup quarter-finals were hit when out-half Jack Carty added to their growing injury list in a 29-7 defeat to the Ospreys.

Mon, 09 Jan, 2017

Rassie Erasmus makes 11 changes

Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus had Munster’s difficult series of matches in January in mind when making 11 changes for this evening’s (5.30pm) Guinness PRO12 clash with Connacht at the Sportsground.

Sat, 31 Dec, 2016

Munster threat based on ‘collective spirit’, says Pat Lam

It’s hard to believe the change in fortunes for these two sides since Munster made the trip to Galway last April and suffered a record 35-14 loss.

Sat, 31 Dec, 2016

Bundee Aki out to ruin Wasps’ party

The level of conversation between players after matches is minimal at the best of times and even less so in these December double dates, but a snippet of information picked up by Connacht after Sunday’s 32-17 loss to Wasps has been thrown about the changing room in the Sportsground quite a bit this week.

Sat, 17 Dec, 2016

Backs to the wall for Pat Lam and injury-hit Connacht

Pat Lam has a backs injury crisis on his hands as Connacht put their Champions Cup quarter-final hopes on the line against Wasps at the Sportsground next Saturday.

Wed, 14 Dec, 2016

Connacht v Benetton Treviso - Guinness PRO12 Round 10

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

Ireland v Australia - Autumn International - Aviva Stadium

Six important points ahead of a Six Nations to savour

With three wins, including a first over New Zealand, November has been a hugely encouraging month for Joe Schmidt and Irish rugby in general. So what were the major discussion points?

Wed, 30 Nov, 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

Connacht injury problems mounting

Guinness Pro12 champions Connacht will have to start their title defence this weekend without forwards Nathan White and Ben Marshall as their long-term concussions persist.

Wed, 31 Aug, 2016

Connacht’s destiny in their own hands

Sold out two weeks ago, this final round of the Guinness PRO12 at the Galway Sportsground is unprecedented territory for Connacht.

Sat, 07 May, 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 forced to plan without Denis Buckley and Bundee Aki

Connacht will be without two influential players for Friday’s Guinness Pro12 meeting with Treviso with both Denis Buckley and Bundee Aki sidelined through injury.

Tue, 26 Apr, 2016

Connacht extend deals for Jake Heenan and Craig Ronaldson

Connacht have confirmed two-year contract extensions for flanker Jake Heenan and inside back Craig Ronaldson.

Tue, 19 Apr, 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 urges Connacht to seize European opportunity

Connacht’s long-cherished hopes of a first ever trophy will be on the line when they face Grenoble on Saturday.

Wed, 06 Apr, 2016

Peter Jackson: ‘Project’ players an unfair ploy

For a small town, Enniskillen has given birth to more than its share of international sportsmen, amongst them Olympic gold medal sprinter Robert Kerr, champion heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris and ex-Celtic goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

Mon, 14 Mar, 2016

Courageous Connacht stay top despite scare

Edinburgh 23 Connacht 28: Connacht survived a huge examination from Edinburgh in Murrayfield last evening to stay top of the Guinness Pro 12 with their fifth win on the trot.

Sun, 06 Mar, 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

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

Connacht boost play-off hopes with bonus-point win over Scarlets

Connacht boosted their Guinness PRO12 play-off hopes with a 30-17 bonus-point win over the table-topping Scarlets at the Sportsground.

Sat, 30 Jan, 2016

Pat Lam plea to bolster Connacht squad rejected

European rugby’s governing body has turned down an appeal from Connacht’s Pat Lam to add two extra backs to his injury-torn squad ahead of Sunday’s return visit to Newcastle.

Wed, 16 Dec, 2015

Connacht bolster squad as they hand senior contracts to academy trio

Connacht have swooped to secure the signings of three of their talented youngsters, open side James Connolly, hooker Shane Delahunt and centre Rory Parata.

Thu, 10 Dec, 2015

Thomond Park all set for spicy Munster - Connacht derby

It’s a sign of changing times and the massively improved status of Connacht rugby that coach Pat Lam has been able to make nine changes in personnel for today’s top-of-the-table Guinness PRO12 clash with Munster at Thomond Park from the side that defeated Brive in the European Challenge Cup last week.

Sat, 28 Nov, 2015