Connacht and Nigel Carolan seek cure for Challenge Cup travel sickness

Connacht backs coach Nigel Carolan

Little did Nigel Carolan think as he grounded the ball on an October afternoon in 1997 in Franklin’s Gardens to secure a win over Northampton Saints that in almost a quarter of century of service to Connacht that was to follow, he would only see them win once more on English soil.

Carolan, who will depart at the end of the season after four years as backs/attack coach, was part of a trail-blazing side put together by Warren Gatland which reached the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals and which became the first Irish province to win competitively in France.