2025–26 Connacht Rugby season

Connacht Rugby
2025–26 season
Head coachStuart Lancaster
Chief executiveWillie Ruane
Highest home attendance3,928
Lowest home attendance3,928
Average home attendance3,928
← 2024–25 2026–27 →

The 2025–26 season is Connacht Rugby's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship, their 32nd season of professional rugby and their 138th season of representative rugby since the foundation of the Connacht Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup.

In the women's game, Connacht will compete in the 2025 Vodafone Inter-Provincial Championship.[1]

Connacht Men

Senior men's squad

Connacht Rugby senior squad

Prop

Hooker

Lock


Back Row

Scrum-Half

Fly-Half

Centre

Winger

Fullback

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Connacht Rugby website.[2]

Transfers

Main article: Connacht Rugby

United Rugby Championship

Matches

27 September 2025 (1 BP) Connacht 26 – 15 Benetton The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: Ioane (8')
Sean Naughton (19')
Tierney-Martin (46')
Jansen (73')
Con: Forde (9', 47', 74')
Cards: Mullins 26' to 36' 		Report Try: Louis Lynagh (41')
Garbisi (81')
Con: Umaga (82')
Pen: Umaga (16')
Cards: Fekitoa 8' to 18'
Lamaro 44' to 54' 		Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Christopher Allison
11 October 2025 Cardiff 14 – 8 Connacht (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Bowen (14', 75')
Con: Sheedy (15')
Lloyd (76')
 Report Try: O'Connor (80'+2)
Pen: Forde (11')
 Attendance: 7,092[10]
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
17 October 2025 (1 BP) Connacht 27 – 28 Bulls The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: Ioane(10')
Blade(45')
Naughton (68')
Hansen (79')
Con: Ioane (11', 46')
Pen: Naughton (74')
Cards: Murphy  19' 		report Try: de Wet (13', 54')
le Roux (20')
Con: Johannes (21', 55')
Pen: Johannes (63', 72')
Drop: Johannes (43')
 Attendance: 3,928[11]
Referee: Mike Adamson
25 October 2025 Munster 17 – 15 Connacht (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: O'Donoghue (15' m, 67' m)
Kilgallen (33' c)
Con: JJ Hanrahan (33')
 Report Try: Ralston (20' m, 28' m)
Boyle (42' m)
 Attendance: 16,512[12]
Referee: Andrea Piardi
29 November 2025 (1 BP) Connacht 44 - 17 Sharks The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: Boyle (17' c)
Mullins (31' c)
Gavin (58' c)
Devine (72' c)
Illo (79' c)
Con: Naughton (19', 32', 58', 73', 80')
Pen: Naughton (8', 27', 42')
 Report Try: Mbatha (15' m)
Mapimpi (66' m)
van Heerden (75' c)
Con: Jordan Hendrikse (75')
Cards: Jenkins 28' to 38' 		Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
20 December 2025 Dragons v Connacht Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:45
27 December 2025 Connacht v Ulster The Sportsground, Galway  
17:30
3 January 2026 Leinster v Connacht TBC  
17:30
24 January 2026 Connacht v Leinster The Sportsground, Galway  
17:30
31 January 2026 Zebre Parma v Connacht Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
15:00
28 February 2026 Connacht v Glasgow Warriors The Sportsground, Galway  
15:00
13 March 2026 Connacht v Scarlets The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45
20 March 2026 Ulster v Connacht Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
28 March 2026 Connacht v Ospreys The Sportsground, Galway  
14:15
18 April 2026 Stormers v Connacht Cape Town Stadium  
17:15
25 April 2026 Lions v Connacht Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
15:00
9 May 2026 Connacht v Munster The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45
15 May 2026 Edinburgh v Connacht Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Stormers 7 7 0 0 218 87 +131 27 10 4 0 32 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Munster 7 6 0 1 172 126 +46 25 19 4 1 29
3 Cardiff 7 5 0 2 157 122 +35 24 16 4 2 26
4 Glasgow Warriors 7 5 0 2 185 99 +86 26 12 4 1 25
5 Ulster 6 4 0 2 202 140 +62 29 20 5 1 22 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Leinster 7 4 0 3 174 166 +8 27 23 4 1 21
7 Lions 7 3 0 4 203 212 −9 27 30 3 2 17
8 Connacht 6 2 0 4 148 139 +9 21 19 4 3 15
9 Bulls 7 3 0 4 184 211 −27 26 30 3 0 15 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Benetton 7 3 0 4 122 191 −69 13 28 1 0 13
11 Edinburgh 6 2 0 4 140 112 +28 22 18 2 3 13
12 Sharks 7 2 1 4 134 192 −58 20 24 2 0 12
13 Zebre Parma 7 2 0 5 121 203 −82 16 29 2 1 11
14 Dragons 7 1 2 4 132 203 −71 17 30 1 1 10
15 Scarlets 6 2 0 4 102 143 −41 12 19 0 0 8
16 Ospreys 7 1 1 5 137 185 −48 20 28 1 1 8
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2025. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[13]


2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables
Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Munster 2 2 0 0 48 29 +19 7 5 1 0 9 -
2 Leinster 2 1 0 1 38 51 -13 6 7 1 0 5 -
3 Connacht 1 0 0 1 15 17 -2 3 3 0 1 1 -
4 Ulster 1 0 0 1 20 24 -4 3 4 0 1 1 -
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[14]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

Challenge Cup

Pool matches

The fixtures for the EPCR Challenge Cup were released on 15 July 2025.[15]

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 1
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Montpellier 2 2 0 0 55 20 +35 9 2 2 0 10 Home round of 16
2 Ospreys 2 2 0 0 57 43 +14 9 6 2 0 10
3 Connacht 2 1 0 1 73 24 +49 11 4 1 1 6
4 Zebre Parma 2 1 0 1 48 48 0 6 7 1 0 5 Away round of 16
5 Montauban 2 0 0 2 39 74 −35 5 10 0 0 0
6 Black Lion 2 0 0 2 13 76 −63 1 11 0 0 0
Source: EPCR[16]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
7 December 2025 (1 BP) Ospreys 24–21 Connacht (1 BP) Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend  
15:15 Try: Deaves 42' m
Cokanasiga 57' c
R. Smith 67' c
Hopkins 75' m
Con: Edwards (3/4) 57', 68'
Cards: Ratti  17'
Phillips  28' 		Report Try: Bealham 11' c
Jansen 17' c
Aungier 23' c
Con: Naughton (3/3) 12', 18', 24'
Cards: Buckley  67' 		Attendance: 3,311
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)
13 December 2025 (1 BP) Connacht 52–0 Black Lion Dexcom Stadium, Galway  
20:00 Try: Boyle (3) 1' c, 9' c, 29' c
Blade (2) 17' m, 54' c
Illo 33' m
Bolton (2) 40' c, 67' c
Con: Gilbert (6/8) 2', 9', 29', 41', 54', 68'
 Report Cards: Aptsiauri 6' to 16' Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
11 January 2026 Monpellier v Connacht tbd  
15:00 UTC
17 January 2026 Connacht v US Montauban Dexcom Stadium  
20:00 UTC

Home attendance

after Round 4

Domestic League EPRC Challenge Cup Total
League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
2025–26 United Rugby Championship 2 7,856 3,928 3,928 3,928 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup 7,856 3,928

IRFU Interprovincial 'A' Championship

The IRFU introduced the A Championship as part of its professional pathway in 2024–25 to coincide with the union's 150th anniversary. This season sees the competition return as a six leg home and away round robin.[17]

Fixtures

21 November 2025 (1 BP) Ulster 'A' 28 – 22 Connacht Eagles (2 BP) Palace Grounds, Armagh  
15:00 Try: Matthew Dalton (2)
Ethan Graham
Bryn Ward
Con: Jake Flannery (4)
 Report Try: Oisin McNicholas
Finn Treacy
Matthew Devine
Shane Jennings
Con: Seán Naughton
19 December 2025 Connacht Eagles v Ulster 'A' Dexcom Stadium  
2: 00
3 January 2026 Leinster 'A' v Connacht Eagles Belfield  
13 February 2026 Connacht Eagles v Leinster 'A' Dexcom Stadium  
Connacht Eagles v Munster 'A' Dexcom Stadium  
8 May 2026 Munster 'A' v Connacht Eagles  

Connacht Women

IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

Main article: 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

The 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series is being contested by women's teams representing the four provincial rugby unions of Ireland, under the same branding and uniforms as the senior men's teams in the United Rugby Championship. The competition currently uses a single round-robin format, similar to the one used in both the Six Nations Championship and the Women's Six Nations Championship. Each team plays the other three teams once. The following year the fixtures are reversed.[18] As in previous seasons the competition also features playoffs and a final.[19][20][21]

Matches

10 August 2025 (1 BP) Munster Women 44-5 Connacht Women Virgin Media Park  
2:30pm Try: Gráinne Burke
Chisom Ugwueru (3)
Aoife Corey
Stephanie Nunan
Kate Flannery
Brianna Heylmann
Con: Caitríona Finn (2/8) 		Report Try: Ava Ryder Referee: Euan O’Riordan (IRFU)
16 August 2025 Connacht Women 12–7 Ulster Women (1 BP) Dexcom Stadium, Galway  
4:30pm Try: Oviawe
Maher
Con: Nic Dhonnacha (1/2) 		Report Try: Sheerin
Con: Sheerin
23 August 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Women 12- 17 Leinster Women Dexcom Stadium, Galway  
2:30pm Try: Orla Dixon
Faith Oviawe
Con: Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (1/2) 		Report Try: Kelly Burke
Katie Layde
Vicky Elmes Kinlan
Con: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton (1/3) 		Referee: John Lillis (IRFU)

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Munster Women 3 3 0 0 115 44 +71 18 5 3 0 15 Qualified for Interprovincial final
2 Leinster Women 3 2 0 1 76 66 +10 14 10 2 0 10
3 Connacht Women 3 1 0 2 27 66 −39 5 12 0 1 5 Qualified for third/fourth place final
4 Ulster Women 3 0 0 3 43 87 −44 7 15 0 1 1
First match(es) will be played: Unknown. Source: Unknown
Rules for classification: 1) competition points; 2) match points difference; 3) match points for

Finals day

Third-place final


30 August 2025 Ulster Women 30–37 Connacht Women Energia Park  
2:30pm Try: Tara O’Neill
Abby Moyles
Sophie Barrett
India Daley
Con: Moyles (2/4)
Pen: Moyles (2) 		Report Try: Hannah Clarke (2)
Éabha Nic Dhonnacha
Ava Ryder
Grace Browne Moran
Jemima Adams Verling
Con: Nic Dhonnacha (2/6)
Pen: Nic Dhonnacha 		Referee: Andrew Cole (IRFU)

Celtic Challenge

Main article: 2025–26 Celtic Challenge

The 2025–26 Celtic Challenge will be the fourth season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The six team tournament features a full double round robin fixture series, with each team playing the others both home and away. For the first time, the competition will include a finals series with semi-finals and a grand final.[22][23]

Connacht and Munster will be represented by the combined Clovers team.

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Wolfhounds 1 1 0 0 34 7 +27 6 1 1 0 5 Play-offs
2 Glasgow Warriors 1 1 0 0 36 17 +19 6 3 1 0 5
3 Clovers 1 1 0 0 35 31 +4 5 5 1 0 5
4 Gwalia Lightning 1 0 0 1 31 35 −4 5 5 1 1 2
5 Brython Thunder 1 0 0 1 17 36 −19 3 6 0 0 0
6 Edinburgh Rugby 1 0 0 1 7 34 −27 1 6 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 20 December 2025. Source: Celtic Challenge[24]
Rules for classification: Four points for a win, two points for a draw. One bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match; one bonus point for losing by a margin of seven or less.

References

  1. ^ "Women's Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Connacht Rugby | 1st Team Squad". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Connacht sign one-time All Black hopeful Sam Gilbert as uncertainty surrounds Puma star Santiago Cordero". www.independent.ie. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Devine, Treacy and West sign Pro contracts". Connacht Rugby. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  5. ^ "JJ Hanrahan signs two-year contract with Munster". The Irish Examiner. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Munster sign Connacht wing Andrew Smith on one-year deal". Irish Examiner. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Edinburgh sign utility-back Piers O'Connor". The Offside Line. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  8. ^ Ashbee, Max (28 July 2025). "Conor Oliver Joins Ealing Trailfinders - Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club". ealingtrailfinders.com. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Santiago Cordero hará su regreso a Regatas este sábado ante CUBA". ESPN.com.ar (in Spanish). 15 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Cardiff Rugby 14 Connacht Rugby 8". Cardiff Rugby. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  11. ^ Fallon, John (23 September 2025). "Connacht will have fewer than 4,000 fans for home games for half the season". The 42. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  12. ^ Kennedy, Ciarán (25 October 2025). "Munster come out on top of tight tussle with Connacht". The 42. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  14. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Champions Cup & Challenge Cup: Irish provinces discover fixture details for European campaigns". BBC Sport. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Irish Rugby | Men's Interprovincial 'A' Series Kicks Off This Weekend". Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Women's Interprovincial Series". www.irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Leinster ladies win first Interpro crown". www.irishexaminer.com. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Women's: Leinster End Munster's Grip On Interpro Title". www.irishrugby.ie. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  21. ^ "Munster Women Make It Three-In-A-Row". www.irishrugby.ie. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  22. ^ Challenge, Celtic (13 August 2025). "New Look Celtic Challenge Finals Reflect Rising Women's Rugby World Cup Influence - Celtic Challenge". Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  23. ^ "2025-26 Celtic Challenge to feature knockout rugby as competition revamped". BBC Sport. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Table". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
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