Connacht Rugby Preview: URC Schedule 2023-2024, Odds And How To Watch

florugby.com

19 October 2023

Connacht Rugby Preview: URC Schedule 2023-2024, Odds And How To Watch

Connacht Rugby wrote another chapter in its rivalry with fellow Irish rugby team Ulster in 2023 when the Westerners eliminated the Ulstermen from the URC knockout stage in the quarterfinals. Connacht advanced to the semifinals, where the club fell to the DHL Stormers, 43-25.

The squad returns hoping to once again qualify for the Champions Cup while also making a run up the URC Grand Final. Connacht finished seventh in the URC with a record of 10-0-8.

Here’s what to know about the Connacht Rugby 2023-2024 season.

Connacht Rugby Schedule 2023-2024

Week 1: 2023 Connacht Rugby vs Ospreys Rugby
Week 2: 2023 Connacht Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors
Week 3:2023 Connacht Rugby vs Ulster Rugby
Week 4: 2023 Edinburgh Rugby vs Connacht Rugby
Week 5: 2023 Hollywoodbets Sharks vs Connacht Rugby
Week 6: 2023 Vodacom Bulls vs Connacht Rugby
Week 7: 2023 Connacht Rugby vs Leinster Rugby
Week 8: 2023 Ulster Rugby vs Connacht Rugby
Week 9: 2024 Connacht Rugby vs Munster Rugby
Week 10: 2024 Cardiff vs Connacht
Week 11: 2024 Connacht Rugby vs Scarlets
Week 12: 2024 Connacht Rugby vs Emirates Lions
Week 13: 2024 Benetton Rugby vs Connacht Rugby
Week 14: 2024 Connacht Rugby vs Zebre Parma
Week 15: 2024 Dragons vs Connacht Rugby
Week 16: 2024 Munster Rugby vs Connacht Rugby
Week 17: 2024 Connacht Rugby vs DHL Stormers
Week 18: 2024 Leinster Rugby vs Connacht Rugby

When Are the 2024 United Rugby Championship Quarterfinals?

The URC quarterfinals are June 7-8. Currently there are three games scheduled for June 8 and one on June 7.

Times are to be announced.

When Are the 2024 United Rugby Championship Semifinals?

The URC Semifinals are June 15.

Times are to be announced.

When is the United Rugby Championship Grand Final?

The URC Final is scheduled for June 22.

Connacht Rugby Odds Of Winning URC Grand Final

Connacht enters the season with the ninth-best odds at 66-to-1 according to most betting sites.

Who Is The Best Player For Connacht Rugby? It’s Finlay Bealham

The URC list the top 100 players entering the 2023-2024 season. Finlay Bealham, a prop, is the No.3-ranked player on the list. Overall, Connacht had XXX players on the list, including:

No. 40 Niall Murray, second row
No. 85 Jack Aungier, prop
No. 95 Shamus Hurley-Langton, back row

2023 Rugby World Cup Star Bundee Aki Plays For Connacht Rugby

He may not be on the list of the best URC players, but Bundee Aki was one of the top players in the Rugby World Cup this summer. Aki, a center, scored 75 points in 52 Ireland Caps. In the World Cup, he scored five tries in France.

New Players On Connacht Rugby Roster

New signings: Joe Joyce (Bristol Bears), Sean Jansen (Leicester Tigers), Andrew Smith (Leinster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Santiago Cordero (Bordeaux), Liam McNamara (Ireland Sevens), Declan Moore (Ulster, loan), Michael McDonald (Ulster, loan), JJ Hanrahan (Dragons), Tadgh McElroy (Leinster).

Where Is Connacht Rugby Based?

The Connacht Rugby home grounds are in Galway, Ireland at Galway Sportsgrounds.

Who Coaches Connacht Rugby? It’s Peter Wilkins

Peter Wilkins coaches Connacht. The Englishman has been around the world playing and coaching rugby. At 18 he moved to Australia and spent time with the Queensland Reds. He also coached for Edinburgh. He was named the Connacht head coach in 2022.

Connacht Will Compete For The Investec Champions Cup

Because Connacht finished in the top-eight of the URC they qualified for the Champions Cup, which was formerly known as the Heineken Champions Cup and now the Investec Champions Cup.