Connacht Rugby is delighted to announce that we will be playing two pre-season games against top quality Premiership opposition in preparation for the upcoming 2012/13 season. First up will be the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday August 11th with a 2pm kick-off time. This is followed a week later by a clash with Harlequins at the Stoop on the 18th at 2.45pm. These fixtures will provide Eric Elwood his first chance to blend in the new summer signings and development players into the squad.
This season will be Exeter Chiefs debut season in the Heineken Cup, where they have been pitted against Leinster, Clermont Auvergne and the Llanelli Scarlets. Last season they performed consistently throughout the year, and finished just outside the play-off positions in fifth place in the Aviva Premiership, the only team outside of the top four to win more games than they lost. Club captain Tom Hayes, brother of former Munster and Ireland prop John, is one of three Irish players on the books. Out-half Gareth Steenson hails from Dungannon and is in his third season at the club. He played an instrumental role in getting Exeter promoted to the Premiership, amassing 24 points against Bristol in the second leg of the Championship final. This summer the Chiefs signed centre Ian Whitten from Ulster. Flanker Tom Johnson was capped on the English tour of South Africa this summer, becoming the first full English international from the Exeter club since 1964. Connacht will look to avenge last year's pre-season defeat to the same opposition at Dubarry Park.
Harlequins are familiar opposition to all Connacht fans. The pre-season game on the 18th will be the first of at least three fixtures against Conor O'Shea's side as they are once again in our Heineken Cup pool. The Stoop was the venue for Connacht's first ever Heineken Cup match where the hosts were put to the pin of their collar, but late penalties from Nick Evans saw Connacht denied a losing bonus point. The home game will live long in the memory of all Connacht supporters, as a first ever win in the competition was achieved in atrocious weather conditions in January. Following their European elimination, Harlequins lost only two more games in the Premiership as they were crowned league champions for the first time in their history with a 30-23 victory over the Leicester Tigers.
Following the Harlequins encounter, Connacht will have a two week break before the first game of the RaboDirect PRO12 season. The Cardiff Blues will be the visitors to the Sportsground to get the 2012/13 season up and running.
Make sure you don't miss any of the action and pick up a Connacht Rugby Season ticket today, gauranteeing access to ALL of Connacht's home Heineken Cup matches, RaboDirect PRO12 matches and British & Irish Cup matches. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.ie or from the Connacht Rugby Offices on 091561568
Official press release from Connacht Rugby
© JL Pagano 2012
