Connacht are the template for a winning business

For as long as I can remember, Connacht have always been little more than an afterthought in Irish sporting life, but the manner of the rugby team’s achievements this year, culminating in last weekend’s stunning success in the Pro 12 final, suggests they are now firmly leading the way in establishing a compact and sustainable business model for many of the financially dependant provinces.

While recognising the good work of others before him, Pat Lam’s successful tenure has undoubtedly proven that while the individual pieces can be there for years without effectively forging a formula for success, once a manager of Lam’s calibre and nous comes along, it’s possible to bring everything together to reinvigorate a club.

From a playing perspective, they’ve also thrown out for good, the lazy argument that you can only compete at the very top by having the necessary financial resources in place to do so.