The 2016–17 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's sixteenth season competing in the Pro12, and the team's twenty-first season as a professional side. It was Pat Lam's fourth and final season in charge of the side.
Connacht finished the season in eight place in the league. As well as playing in the Pro12, Connacht competed in the Champions Cup in Europe, finishing third in their pool, level on points with Toulouse, who advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best runners-up. The second-tier side the Connacht Eagles competed in the 2016–17 British and Irish Cup, finishing bottom of their pool.
Background Connacht started the season with a new coaching team. Backs and kicking coach Andre Bell left his role to return to his family in New Zealand. Head performance analyst and assistant attack coach Conor McPhillips took over coaching of the backs, while the team's former head coach Eric Elwood took over coaching kicking. The close season also saw the departure of the side's all-time record try-scorer Fionn Carr who scored 42 tries over two spells with the province. During the off-season, the team's homeground, The Sportsground underwent renovations with the addition of a seated stand increasing its capacity to 8,100.
Coaching and management team Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Individuals may hold more than one non-WR nationality. Role Name Union Chief executive Willie Ruane Head coach Pat Lam Team manager Tim Allnut Forwards Coach Jimmy Duffy Backs Coach Conor McPhillips Skills Coach Dave EllisMossy Lawler Kicking Coach Eric Elwood Head Performance Analyst Simon Kavanagh Head of Fitness Paul Bunce Academy manager Nigel Carolan Connacht Eagles Coach Mossy Lawler Consultant Coach Nathan White
Players
Senior playing squad
Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds* Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold Irish Provinces were limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player"). Connacht Rugby is exempted from this under a separate development arrangement
Academy squad
year 3 year 2 year 3 year 1 year 2 year 3 year 2 year 1 year 1 year 2 year 3 year 3
year 1 year 2 year 3 year 1 year 3 year 1 year 2 year 2
Senior Team Transfers
Players in HK Shane Delahunt promoted from academy PR John Andress from Munster PR Conor Carey from Nottingham PR Peter McCabe from Munster (loan) PR Dominic Robertson-McCoy from Northland PR Ivan Soroka from Clontarf LK James Cannon from Wasps LK Lewis Stevenson from Exeter Chiefs FL James Connolly promoted from academy FL Naulia Dawai from Otago FL Rory Moloney promoted from academy FL Seán O'Brien promoted from academy FH Marnitz Boshoff from Lions FH Steve Crosbie from Munster CE Tom Farrell from Bedford Blues CE Eoin Griffin from London Irish CE Rory Parata promoted from the academy CE Peter Robb promoted from the academy WG Stacey Ili from Auckland WG Cian Kelleher from Leinster FB Josh Rowland from Ireland Sevens
Players out HK Jason Harris-Wright to London Irish PR Rodney Ah You to Ulster PR Nathan White retired LK Aly Muldowney to Grenoble N8 George Naoupu to Harlequins SH Ian Porter to Banbridge FH AJ MacGinty to Sale Sharks CE Conor Finn to Buccaneers CE Robbie Henshaw to Leinster CE Dave McSharry retired CE Api Pewhairangi to London Broncos WG Fionn Carr to Naas
Results
Pro12
After 40 minutes of play, the match was "abandoned due to adverse weather conditions causing considerable risk to both the players and spectators". Zebre were leading 22–10 (3 tries to 1) when the match was abandoned. A rescheduled fixture was played on 1 April 2017.
Game rescheduled from 17 September 2016.
Champions Cup
Pool 1
Assistant referee Mathieu Raynal replaced the original referee Jérôme Garcès on the 73rd minute of the game after pulling a hamstring.
Champions Cup play-offs
Semi-final
FB 15 Ahsee Tuala RW 14 Ben FodenOC 13 Nafi TuitavakeIC 12 Luther Burrell LW 11 George NorthFH 10 Harry MallinderSH 9 Nic Groom N8 8 Louis PicamolesOF 7 Teimana Harrison BF 6 Jamie Gibson RL 5 Christian Day LL 4 Courtney LawesTP 3 Kieran Brookes HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c) LP 1 Alex Waller Replacements:HK 16 Mike Haywood PR 17 Campese Ma'afu PR 18 Gareth Denman LK 19 Api Ratuniyarawa FL 20 Tom Wood SH 21 Lee Dickson FH 22 Sam OlverCE 23 Rory Hutchinson Coach: Jim Mallinder FB 15 Tiernan O'HalloranRW 14 Niyi AdeolokunOC 13 Danie PoolmanIC 12 Craig RonaldsonLW 11 Cian Kelleher FH 10 Jack CartySH 9 Kieran Marmion N8 8 John Muldoon (c)OF 7 Jake Heenan BF 6 Seán O'BrienRL 5 James Cannon LL 4 Quinn RouxTP 3 Finlay Bealham HK 2 Dave HeffernanLP 1 Denis BuckleyReplacements:HK 16 Shane DelahuntPR 17 JP CooneyPR 18 Conor Carey LK 19 Ultan Dillane FL 20 Naulia Dawai SH 21 Caolin BladeSH 22 John Cooney WG 23 Matt Healy Coach: Pat Lam
Notes
References