Connacht Rugby is one of four provincial teams in Ireland; Leinster Rugby, Munster Rugby and Ulster Rugby are the others.

It is based on the historic Irish province of Connacht in the Republic of Ireland.

The Connacht Branch of the IRFU was founded in 1885. Connacht play their home games at the Galway Sportsgrounds which can hold 3,000 spectators.

Connacht has a much smaller base of rugby union players to choose from than the other three provinces due in part to its small population and the relative popularity of GAA sports such as hurling and Gaelic football. Unlike the other provinces many of its players are brought in as youngsters from the rest of Ireland. The IRFU treats Connacht as a development team which means that it receives half the budget of the other teams and enters the European Challenge Cup each year rather than the Heineken Cup.

Club honours

The 2003/04 season will live long in the memory of all Connacht fans. Their efforts in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup took them to within touching distance of the final.

Only a try from Harlequins' Will Greenwood 12 minutes from time in the second leg of the semi-final denied them of a place in the final.

In 2001/02, Connacht made it to the semifinals of the Celtic League, but only reached the quarters in 2002/2003.

Connacht have won the Inter-provincial Championship twice.

Connacht have competed in the Heineken Cup and were quarterfinalists in 1997/98.

See also

• Celtic League
• Heineken Cup
• European Rugby Shield

External links

• Official site