Connacht boss urges Sportsground revamp

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has called on the province’s management committee to match his on-field ambition by helping to revamp the Sportsground in Galway.

With a thumping home win over the Dragons in week one and a heartbreaking narrow away loss to the Scarlets on Saturday, the early signs are that Elwood is working some magic.

Having recently laid into the IRFU for giving players and staff one-year contracts while undertaking a review of the province’s structures, Elwood yesterday firmly pleaded with the powers that be in the west to spruce up the Sportsground.

“We just want to change things,” he told the Sunday Times. “We want to get off the path we’re on, to challenge the players, push Connacht rugby as an entity, and challenge the management in how they’re doing business.

“I told them when I took the job I was going to make life a bit uncomfortable for people. I don’t mind saying it. I think we do our rugby work really well, but there are other parts of the organisation that have to show their ambition and intent.

“If you look at the Magners League now, there are new stadia all over. We have to show intent.

“We have to give the people of Connacht a reason to come to the Sportsground. Let’s build a stand, and they will come. I want the people of Connacht to be proud of coming here.”