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A chairde,

As President of Connacht Rugby, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Dexcom Stadium for our opening game of the 2025/26 BKT United Rugby Championship season. This evening we face our friends from Benetton Rugby, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to their players, management, and travelling supporters. We hope you have an enjoyable time in the West of Ireland and have a safe trip home to Italy.

In particular we welcome back a very familiar face in Pete Wilkins – now part of the Benetton coaching team after 8 years with us here in Connacht. I know this part of the world will always mean a lot to Pete and his family, and since we couldn’t give him the farewell he deserves last season, I’m sure you’ll join me in giving him a rapturous welcome when he takes to the field.

The beginning of a new season always brings with it a sense of optimism and renewal. For Connacht, there is huge excitement within the province as we look forward to what lies ahead, led by our new head coach Stuart Lancaster. With that in mind I would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of our players, coaches, and backroom team, who have prepared diligently over the summer months. Their efforts remind us that representing Connacht is about more than just the 80 minutes on the field – it is about embodying the resilience and pride of our province.

I’m sure there will be up’s and down’s on the road ahead, but what will never waver will be the loyal and dedicated support of our passionate followers. I’m looking forward to hearing you in full voice again this evening!

On a personal level I am enormously proud to hold the role of Connacht Rugby President for 2025/26. There will be a lot to celebrate this year, between the club’s 140^th anniversary, the opening of the new North Stand, and of course the 10 year anniversary of the historic PRO12 win, so I’m honoured to be in this position for such a special year. I look forward to travelling the length and breadth of the country and engaging with all stakeholders at all levels of the game.

Finally, I want to wish both teams the very best of luck this afternoon. May we enjoy a game played in the best traditions of rugby – full of skill, spirit and sportsmanship.

Connacht Abú!

Robert Lahiff

Connacht Rugby President, 2025/26

By Simon Thomas

Connacht Rugby have been tipped to make a major impact in the BKT URC this season under new boss Stuart Lancaster.

Former England coach Lancaster has taken the helm at the Galway-based province following spells with Leinster Rugby and Racing 92.

He will guide them into their league opener on Saturday night when they welcome Benetton Rugby to the Dexcom Stadium, which is being reconstructed to increase the capacity to 12,000 by January.

Former Ulster and Ireland centre Darren Cave has big hopes for the 2016 title winners under their high-profile new head coach.

“Stuart Lancaster is going to blow that place out of the water,” said Cave during a BKT URC media round table.

“When you look through that squad, they have got a number of quality players.

“I don’t think they are going to win the BKT URC, but they are 100 per cent a team to watch. They are going to cause problems this year, I feel super strongly about that.

“Off the pitch, they got their stadium rights last year, they have had a new stadium in construction, they’ve got a new training facility, new corporate hospitality.”

Cave was joined on the round table by former Springboks hooker Schalk Brits, who also expects Connacht to do well.

“They have got a great coach and they are not going to lose so many players during the international windows, so they are going to build a great squad,” he said.

“Other teams do lose a lot of internationals that can’t play in those windows, and they have to rotate.”

As for the likely league champions, Brits is backing the Vodacom Bulls.

“I would love to see a different winner,” he said.

“The Vodacom Bulls have been in three finals and lost all three.

“Hopefully, they will bring it home this time with a new coach in Johan Ackermann, who is unbelievable in how he brings a group together.”

Former Glasgow and Scotland star Ryan Wilson, who was also on the round table, added his thoughts on the subject.

“I think it would be awesome to see the Vodacom Bulls win just so there are five different champions, in terms of the spread of the tournament,” he said.

“With the change in coach, I think they could do it this year.

“If they can find a way to kick on from what they have done over the last few seasons, then surely they have got to make it to the final and they need to make sure that final is back at home.”

In contrast, Cave sees the reigning champions successfully defending their crown.

“Across the season, I just don’t see Leinster losing enough games to not carry home advantage into the Play-Offs,” he said.

“Listen, they are totally beatable, but I would always make them favourites at home, and I would think the most likely series of events is they get a home final. Then somebody has to come to Dublin and win.

“There is a little asterisk just to say that post-Lions seasons are tricky and very disruptive, with a big come down. Those players in Ireland are very well managed. They won’t be long back playing, and they will be away in November, and there is a lot of Champions Cup pressure on Leinster, but I still think their squad is so big.”

As for predicting the league’s Player of the Season, Cave sticks with the title holders, saying: 

“I think RG Snyman is a guy who is going to be in that conversation. He just adds so much value, and I think that will continue to happen.”

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General Manager of Performance
Billy Millard

Head of Rugby Operations
Tim Allnutt

Head Coach
Stuart Lancaster

Senior Attack Coach
Rod Seib

Scrum & Contact Coach
Cullie Tucker

Lineout & Maul Coach
John Muldoon

Senior Performance Analyst
Simon Kavanagh

Head of Athletic Performance
Allan Temple-Jones

Head of Physiotherapy
Dave Hanly

Logistics Manager
Martin Joyce

Senior Athletic Performance Coach
Barry O'Brien

Athletic Performance Coach
Mike O'Driscoll

Physiotherapist
Mitchell Ward

Assistant Performance Analyst
Oisin O'Dalaigh

Communications Manager
Stephen Long

Massage Therapist
Robbie Fox

Team Doctor
Enda Devitt

RPI Player Development Manager
Ronan Loughney

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Benetton Rugby has an ancient and glorious history. In 1932 was founded and the Treviso Rugby Sports Association was born. Pioneer of Treviso rugby, with the sponsorship of Faema, they won the first championship in 1956. 14 years later, the first Coppa Italia will arrive in Treviso and in 1978, Metalcrom enterprise with president Umberto Cossara took his second Scudetto with Bruce Munro and Glen Rich. In the following season, Benetton Spa became official sponsor of Treviso Rugby Sports Association.

Since that year, Benetton Rugby collected different and prestigious results, thanks to great rugby players and managers. The Biancoverdi won 15 italian championships, 4 italian cups and 2 italian Supercoppa. In 2010 Benetton Rugby decided to join Celtic League to test his strengths in a new european adventure.

Two years ago the franchise of Treviso accomplished an amazing achievement, reaching PRO14 playoffs against Munster Rugby. Finally, two seasons ago Benetton Rugby won the Rainbow Cup, the first international tournament conquered by an iIalian team.

The stadium of The Biancoverdi is Monigo, placed in Treviso.

In 2022 the italian franchise conquered an amazing result. Benetton Rugby reached Challenge Cup semifinal and it was the first time for an italian team.

In 2024 Benetton Rugby got the qualification for URC playoff quarter final, for the first time since the competition became the URC.

In 2025 the italian franchise wrote an historical chapter: Benetton Rugby was the first italian team to advance to the round of 16 of Champions Cup.

Simon O’Malley is the County Mayo Rugby Development Officer in Connacht Rugby. In this role, Simon works closely with Mayo County Council and Mayo Sports Partnership – a strategic partnership between the two organisations which allows for increased funding for grassroots rugby in the county. In this role, Simon focuses on a number of key pillars of rugby participation, including working directly with National & Secondary Schools, Women in Rugby, Diverse communities, people with a disability and adult rugby. 

Name and Role: Simon O’Malley, Rugby Development Officer

How long have you been in the role? This will be my 4^th year as an RDO.

What area of Connacht do you work with (club/schools)? The clubs I work with are Ballina RFC, Ballinrobe RFC, Ballyhaunis RFC, Castlebar RFC, Claremorris RFC and Westport RFC along with a number of schools such as St. Louis in Kiltimagh, St. Gerald’s in Castlebar, Rice College in Westport and Tourmakeady to say a few. 

What does a week look like for you in the Summer and then in season? So a week for me in the Summer is basically covering the HelloFresh summer camps with Paddy Madden and helping the [venue] managers and Paddy on a daily basis be it in Mayo or Galway. This past Summer, I was on the road every week helping out Paddy with various camps. In the season, I tend to split up the week with covering the different pillars of the game. So, on Monday and Tuesday I’ll look at doing work in National Schools that have never had rugby in them before in different parts of Mayo be it up in Belmullet or East Mayo. The general consensus of National Schools is that I go to areas where there is no rugby club, so they’ve never had an RDO or CRDO come in delivering sessions to them. The idea behind that is that I’d hold a blitz in that area with all the local schools attending from a participation point of view. Then, I’d look at doing inclusion sessions with either St. Anthony’s, St. Dymphna’s, Newport NS or Knockrooskey NS back in Westport. Then I’ll help JP Walsh with the Regional Development Squad during the week and I’ll look at trying to get a session in with an Adult or Secondary School team, be it Boys or Girls.

Favourite Moment or Event? Definitely rugby on The Mall before the Connacht vs Munster game in Castlebar. It brought great excitement to the game in McHale Park and was a very successful day with a huge number of pupils taking part in tag rugby on The Mall with great support from the staff and also Castlebar RFC committee members. We had RTE down to video and interview certain people who were there.

What do you love about being an RDO? I suppose travelling around Mayo, getting to meet new people and also working with other RDOs in the province and other departments like Coach Development. Seeing results of hard work like numbers in the club and getting inclusion rugby up and running in Castlebar and hopefully Ballina soon. 

Why are RDOs important? RDOs are important because they’re another source of connectivity to Connacht Rugby for clubs/schools and they are a good point of contact for stakeholders and coaches throughout the province. It’s good that all the RDOs work well together – when any of us are doing a project, everyone weighs in behind and gets involved. 

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Year 1
Aaron O’Brien – Back Row
Diarmaid O’Connell – Back Row
Conor O’Shaughnessy – Out-Half
Bobby Power – Back Row
Daniel Ryan – Back Three
David Walsh – Lock/Back Row
Seán Walsh – Centre
Mikey Yarr - Hooker

Year 2
Billy Bohan – Loosehead Prop
Tomás Farthing – Scrum-Half
Max Flynn – Back Row
Éanna McCarthy – Back Row 

Year 3
Fiachna Barrett – Tighthead Prop
Seán Naughton – Out-Half
James Nicholson – Back Three
Matthew Victory - Hooker

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Academy Manager
Eric Elwood

Provincial Talent Coach
Mervyn Murphy

Provincial Talent Coach
Brett Wilkinson

Provincial Talent Coach
Larissa Muldoon

Elite Player Development Officer
Andrew Browne

Elite Player Development Officer
Morgan Codyre

Head of Athletic Development
Andrew Murphy

Athletic Development Coach
James O'Sullivan

Athletic Development Coach
Ann Caffrey

Physiotherapist
Joseph Corduff

Performance Nutritionist
Niall Brady

Performance Analyst
Alan Doonan

RPI Player Development Manager
Ronan Loughney

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Regulations and the rules and regulations of Connacht Rugby Stadium Limited, Connacht Rugby, IRFU, United Rugby Championship, European Professional Club Rugby in respect of the relevant match and all other fixtures and / or events. The Ground Regulations incorporate Connacht Rugby’s Customer Charter.  Entry to the Ground shall constitute acceptance of the Ground Regulations.

"Ground" refers to Dexcom Stadium and all locations owned, occupied, licenced or utilised by Connacht Rugby Stadium Limited and Connacht Rugby.

"Event" means any event taking place at the Ground.

1. No guarantees can be given by Connacht Rugby that an Event will take place at a particular time or on a particular date and Connacht Rugby reserves the right to reschedule the Event without notice and without any liability whatsoever.
2. In the event of the postponement or abandonment of the Event, refunds (if any) should be claimed in accordance with the relevant ticket terms and conditions.  Connacht Rugby will have no other liability whatsoever, including (but not limited to) any indirect or consequential loss or damage, such as (but not limited to) loss of enjoyment or travel costs.
3. Permission to enter or to remain within the Ground (notwithstanding possession of any ticket) is at the absolute discretion of Connacht Rugby, any Garda officer or authorised steward.
4. On no account will admission to any Event be granted to any person
   - not in possession of a valid ticket;
   - who is the subject of a current Barring Order.
5. Children under the age of 14 are admitted to the Ground provided they are accompanied by an adult who shall be 18 years or over and will control and supervise those children at all times.
6. All persons seeking entrance to the Ground acknowledge Connacht Rugby's right to search any person whether outside or inside the Ground and to refuse entry to or remove from the Ground any person refusing to submit to such a search.
7. Connacht Rugby excludes to the maximum extent permitted by law any liability for loss, injury or damage to persons/property in or around the Ground.
8. Supervisors of groups are responsible and accountable for all members of the group they accompany.
9. The entry onto the playing area or any adjacent area to which spectators are not generally admitted without lawful authority or excuse.
10. All persons entering the Ground may only occupy the seat  or area allocated to them by their ticket and must not move from any one part of the Ground to another without the express permission or instruction of any steward, officer of Connacht Rugby and/or any Garda officer.
11. The obstruction of gangways, access ways, exits and entrances, stairways and like places is strictly forbidden.  Nobody entering the Ground shall be permitted to climb any structures within the Ground.
12. Nobody may stand in any seating area whilst play is in progress.  Persistent standing in seated areas whilst play is in progress is strictly forbidden and may result in ejection from the Ground.
13. The following articles must not be brought within the Ground; knives, fireworks, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items, laser devices, bottles, glass vessels, cans, poles and any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety.  Any person in possession of such items will be removed or refused entry to the Ground
    The use of threatening behaviour, foul or abusive language is strictly forbidden and will result in the person being removed from the Ground. Connacht Rugby may impose a ban from the Ground as a result.
14. Any form of abuse or harassment, such as but not limited to racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse will result in the person being removed from the Ground and the incident reported to the Garda Síochána. Connacht Rugby may impose a ban from the Ground as a result.
15. Spectators are not permitted to bring alcohol into the Ground. Persons who are, or appear to be, under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be removed or refused entry
16. Vuvuzelas and similar items are not permitted within the Ground and any person in possession of such an article may be refused entry or removed from the Ground
    Under no circumstances is it permitted to throw any object onto the pitch.  Unauthorised persons are not permitted to enter onto the field of play and shall be removed from the Ground.
17. Smoking or vaping in No-Smoking areas is strictly forbidden.
18. Any individual who has entered any part of the Ground designated for the use of any group of supporters to which they do not belong may be ejected from the Ground either for the purposes of their own safety or for any other reason.
19. No person, other than a person who holds an appropriate licence, may bring into the Ground or use within the Ground any equipment which is capable of recording or transmitting (by digital or other means) any audio, visual or audio-visual material or any information or data in relation to the Event or the Ground.  Copyright in any unauthorised recording or transmission is assigned (by way of present assignment of future copyright pursuant of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000) to Connacht Rugby.
20. By entering the Ground, all persons acknowledge that photographic images and/or video recordings and/or stills taken from those video recordings may be taken of them and may also be used by Connacht Rugby for marketing or promotional purposes.  Entry to the Ground is confirmation that all persons have consented to such use of their image
    Save for official merchandise and/or other sport related clothing worn in good faith, visitors shall not bring into, use or display within the Ground any sponsorship, promotional or marketing materials.
21. No goods (including literature) of any nature may be offered either free or for sale by any person within the Ground without the express written permission of Connacht Rugby.
22. Tickets are not transferable and may not be offered for sale without the prior written permission of Connacht Rugby. Any tickets offered for sale may be confiscated by any steward, officer of Connacht Rugby or any Garda officer.
23. CCTV cameras are in use around and in the Ground and Connacht Rugby may itself use, or pass to the Gardaí or any Event organiser or other relevant authority, any recordings for use in any proceedings.
24. At all times whilst present in the Ground, persons must comply with any and all instructions of any steward or officer of Connacht Rugby and/or any Garda officer.  Failure to comply with any instruction or direction may lead to refusal of entry to or immediate removal from the Ground.
25. Connacht Rugby reserves absolutely the right to remove from the Ground any person failing to comply with any of the Ground Regulations or whose presence within the Ground is, or could, reasonably be construed as constituting a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to any other person.  This could lead to further action including, but not limited to, a ban from the Ground or proceedings being taken.
26. Entry to the Ground shall constitute acceptance of the Ground Regulations.
27. Connacht Rugby reserves the right to make changes to any of the Ground Regulations in its sole discretion. Any such changes will be notified to the public through Connacht Rugby’s website or by announcement or display at Dexcom Stadium.