It is going to be tough and a big ask for the lads coming through, but it is essential for their development and the development of Connacht rugby as a whole.

I know some Scottish sides may struggle, seem to be losing some players but they have their domestic season structured around the B&I Cup and can recruit from other Scottish teams who are not in the competition to buffer up the squads.

Looking at the English Championship, I know that my current club just missed out on promotion last season from the National 1 division, and were told that there is something like a £250,000 minimum wage budget within the Championship, and that a lot of sides were well in the multiples of this. To be honest, I am not too sure how the RFU can impose a minimum wage budget, but thats what I was hearing.

On previous seasons we have seen the Connacht squad being pushed to the limits (mainly in the pack and at centres), and there will inevitably be more strain put on the entire squad this season. But as we have seen, there are more and more faces being added to the training sessions. Thinking about promising players who came into the Connacht setup and didn't get to show their full potential (Shane Monaghan and Darragh Fanning come to mind), at least this crop of players will be able to exhibit their skills and grasp the opportunity, thats why I reckon these 6 games (minimum - but lets not get ahead of ourselves) are vital.

Trouble is, you often need more than a 23 man squad ready for HEC duty, so a few injuries, a few doubts about others, and your BIC squad is more like players 32 through 55 from your squad (if you know what I mean).

The weird format last season did Ulster some favours, and the boys (for sometimes that was all they were) really stepped up to the mark to be fair. The year before we really struggled IIRC. Simple fact, if your head coach wants 5 players on standby (or even travelling) for an HEC match. Nobody is going to say, "No, sorry! It'll disrupt our BIC squad too much."

BR_Ulster wrote: Do you really think you can compete in this comp? I'd say Ulster will struggle again this year and we've a fair bit more depth that you guys (with all due respect). IMHO the scheduling of this comp makes it a valuable tool for squad development, but competing with the likes of the English Championship (or whatever they're calling it this year) is not realistic.

Realistically, I think we are all aware thats its going to be a difficult task this year and for the next couple of years but participating in this competition is essential for Connacht as we have a lot of good talent coming through who need regular gametime and we need our fringe players to be getting a higher level of game than AIL Div 1B or Div 2. A couple of years ago we probably wouldn't have had the depth to put out two 23 man squads. It'll stretch us incredibly for HC weekends but it can be done and is a necessary step in our development.

Our pool looks extremely tough, Newcastle (if they take it seriously) are too good for this competition, the Welsh sides will undoubtedly be strong. There are some poor sides in the competition but I think we are as well off playing 6 tough games at this level and see which players can show positive signs.

If we win one or two games and avoid any hammerings I'll be pleased but even if things don't go well this season its important Connacht stick to it as the benefits reaped from this competition will be beneficial in the medium/long term. Really for me its a case of Connacht getting the basics right and players showing signs of improvement individually and as a team in a competitive environment.

Ulster were in the quarters last year (home quarter too I think), thats hardly struggling? Ulster pool looks tough this year alright.

Do you really think you can compete in this comp? I'd say Ulster will struggle again this year and we've a fair bit more depth that you guys (with all due respect). IMHO the scheduling of this comp makes it a valuable tool for squad development, but competing with the likes of the English Championship (or whatever they're calling it this year) is not realistic.

The Connacht Eagles (formerly Connacht ‘A’) have been drawn in pool 4 of the British & Irish Cup. The competition has been expanded to 32 teams and this season sees the first involvement in Nigel Carolan’s charges. The weekends of the fixtures have been announced and the Eagles will face Newport RFC in Wales in their first ever British & Irish Cup match when the two sides meet in Rodney Parade on the weekend of the 12-14th October.

Gwent based Cross Keys and the Newcastle Falcons make up the other two teams in Connacht’s pool, and the competition will run on the same weekend’s as the Heineken Cup.

Founded in the same year as Connacht Rugby, 1885, Cross Keys RFC play out of Pandy Park, which is just outside Newport town. They contested last year’s British & Irish Cup final, losing 31-12 to a star-studded Munster A side. They boast Welsh internationals Toby Faletau, Lloyd Burns and Adam Jones as former players and are coached by Greg Woods. As well as coming second in the final of the British & Irish Cp last year, Cross Keys RFC won the 2011/12 Swalec Cup bringing home the first silverware in the clubs 127 year history.

Newport RFC are one of the constituent clubs of the Gwent Newport Dragons and play their rugby at the famous Rodney Parade Stadium. One of the founder clubs of the Welsh Rugby Union, Newport boast an impressive list of honours, winning the Welsh Championship 11 times and the Welsh Cup twice. The club has a list of international players that would make many professional teams jealous, most recently Welsh internationals Ceri Jones, Will Harries and Andy Powell along with Canadian sensation Matt Evans.

The third team in Connacht’s pool are the recently relegated Newcastle Falcons. London Welsh’s promotion to the Aviva Premiership sealed the fate of the Falcons and former Hawkes Bay coach Peter Russell has taken over the reins ahead of Dean Richards arrival in August. With a pool of players fit for the top flight of English rugby Including Scottish trio Euan Murray, Scott MacLeod and Rory Lawson and Italian lock Carlo del Falva the Falcons will pose a significant threat in this competition.

Speaking about being drawn in the same group as the Falcons Head Coach of the Connacht Eagles Nigel Carolan said:

“We’re delighted, in terms of the profile of the competition the Falcons will certainly provide a totally different experience for a lot of our up and coming players. The Cross Keys were in the final of the B&I Cup last year so they’ve proven they have the durability to survive in this competition and Newport underpin the Dragons side and they’re a team that are well able to play rugby so each game is going to provide us with a different type of challenge and one we’re going to relish.”

“Newport will be a tough first game but we’ve fought hard to get into this competition and this is where we want to be. There are rumblings around the camp among the players that they’re looking forward to this already and that can only be a good thing. A tough first away match poses challenges in itself but it’s one we’re definitely looking forward to.”

Connacht Rugby season tickets grant access to all of Connacht’s home British & Irish Cup games. There are still some tickets available in certain sections of the ground, to order yours today click www.ticketmaster.ie or call the Connacht Rugby ticket hotline on 091 561568

Connacht Eagles British & Irish Cup Fixtures 2012/13

w/e 12/14th Oct Newport v Connacht

w/e 19/21st Oct Connacht v Newcastle

w/e 7/9th Dec Cross Keys v Connacht

w/e 14/16 Dec Connacht v Cross Keys

w/e 11/13 Jan Newcastle v Connacht

Sat 19th Jan Connacht v Newport

Pools (with thanks to the Rabo site)


British and Irish Cup Pools
Pool 1: Cardiff, Bridgend, Bristol, Ulster A
Pool 2: Bedford, Bedwas, Stirling County, Neath
Pool 3: Carmarthen Quins, Dundee HSFP, Cornish Pirates, Swansea
Pool 4: Connacht Eagles, Cross Keys, Newport, Newcastle
Pool 5: Jersey, Pontypridd, Leinster A, Leeds
Pool 6: Gala, Llanelli, London Scottish, Moseley
Pool 7: Aberavon, Munster A, Plymouth, Rotherham
Pool 8: Doncaster, Llandovery, Melrose, Nottingham

Ahem that's Connacht Eagles not Connacht A

Pools (with thanks to the Rabo site)


British and Irish Cup Pools
Pool 1: Cardiff, Bridgend, Bristol, Ulster A
Pool 2: Bedford, Bedwas, Stirling County, Neath
Pool 3: Carmarthen Quins, Dundee HSFP, Cornish Pirates, Swansea
Pool 4: Connacht A, Cross Keys, Newport, Newcastle
Pool 5: Jersey, Pontypridd, Leinster A, Leeds
Pool 6: Gala, Llanelli, London Scottish, Moseley
Pool 7: Aberavon, Munster A, Plymouth, Rotherham
Pool 8: Doncaster, Llandovery, Melrose, Nottingham

Ya very happy with that. Already said what a great draw Newcastle was but Cross Keys are strong as are Newport who are a very proud club. Should be 6 tough games, exactly what we want. Its going to be an uphill task and we may take a hammering or two but in the long term it'll be of much more benefit than being drawn with one of the poor Scottish teams.

I'd imagine there will be regular A interpro games over the course of the season as we started last season to get ourselves prepared for a regular Connacht A schedule.

Sweet just what we wanted. These teams will be tough and will really give the Eagles a severe test. I for one am happy.

It will be really hard to finish 1st in the pool, with Falcons and Crosskeys, respectively Premiship club and B&I finalist last year, but the high competitive matches is the crutial point we wanted...


PS : does anyone know if the Eagles will play the tradional 3 matches against the other irish provinces "A", in addition to B&I?

Pool 1 Bristol, Bridgend, Cardiff, Ulster.

Pool 2 Bedford, Bedwas, Neath, Stirling.

Pool 3 Dundee High school, Swansea, C Pirates, Carmarthen Quins .

Pool 4 Connacht, Cross keys, Newport, Newcastle.

Pool 5 Jersey, Leeds, Leinster, Pontypridd.

Pool 6 Gala, Llanelli, Moseley, London Scottish.

Pool 7 Aberavon, Munster, Rotherham, Plymouth.

Pool 8 Doncaster, Llandovery, Melrose, Nottingham.

No sign of it yet

ummm, wrote: A talking horse? A f*@king talking horse and you don't think you need to say more? We could make millions on the back of it.

..... :lol: :lol:

Appearently, Draws will be officialy published tomorrow, and fixtures are the same of the Hcp ones...

A talking horse? A f*@king talking horse and you don't think you need to say more? We could make millions on the back of it.

The IMF wrote: In fairness to Poterbelly he was the one who said NOC would be heading back home, weeks before it was confirmed.

If he is half as good at picking a horse he is probably a very very rich man.

That said I am intrigued as to the source but I guess there are some serious confidentiality agreements at work here.

I wish!

As I said before, the B & I group info came from the horses mouth. Don't think I need to say anymore