Craggy Rugby Podcast

After a very poor display against the Scarlets in Llanelli last weekend, Connacht are facing into two must win games in the coming weeks starting with Sunday's trip to Newport. The crew return for episode 20 to get to access Connacht's current run of form and preview a vital game in east Wales. Host Rob Murphy is joined by Alan Deegan, Dave Finn and William Davies to discuss everything from Leadership groups to underrated Romanian born Italian referees. There's some talk about Ireland and France too while we have post game audio from west Wales includes interviews with Pat Lam and Jake Heenan. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 19 is a special documentary following Connacht on their trip to La Rochelle in the European Challenge Cup where late tries from Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy helped snatch a bonus point 30-20 win. The Podcast takes you through the whole trip starting in Dublin airport and then following on to La Rochelle where we speak to Pat Lam before the game and lots of the people involved behind the scenes too, including Adrian Leddy Connacht Branch President and Connacht Media executive Louise Creedon among others. Galway Advertiser journalist Linley McKenzie joins host Rob Murphy to preview and review the game, Connacht supporter Warren Gavin takes the recorder into the crowd during the contest and we also have a snippet from Galway where the regular Podcast crew watched the Connacht Eagles take on Germany and access Jake Heenan’s return to action. There’s lots more including post game interviews with Dan McFarland, Mils Muliaina and Pat Lam in this extended version to help bring you the story of an eventful we

Another week and another home defeat, 2015 started with a bang thanks to a home win over Munster but the last two weeks have been more of a whimper with defeats to Edinburgh and now against the Exeter. After Sunday's 33-24 defeat to the Chiefs in a high scoring dual at the Sportsground, Host Rob Murphy was joined by regular guests Alan Deegan, Dave Finn and William Davies to dissect a bizarre game where Connacht scored four tries, led 17-10 at half time but shipped 23 unanswered points in the second half. We also hear from Pat Lam, Rob Baxter and John Muldoon in the post game interviews. We'll be back next weekend with episode 19 from La Rochelle on the French Atlantic coast. Out facebook page is called Craggy Island RugbyOur twitter feed is @craggyrugbypod which is also the best way to contact us. Fine us on tunes by searching 'Craggy island rugby' and if you have a minute, write a review on our itunes page, it makes a huge difference. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m

Connacht suffered a first home defeat of the season on Friday night against Edinburgh missing out on a chance to move into the top four in the process.For the second week running, conditions were horrendous at the Sportsground and this time it was Edinburgh who mastered the elements, winning the toss playing with the wind in the first half and scoring a crucial try which set them up for the nine point second half and a 16-13 win. On the podcast with host Rob Murphy are Alan Deegan, William Davies and Dave Finn we also hear from Connacht coach Pat Lam and his Edinburgh counterpart Alan Solomons Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a win! From 13-0 down to a 24-16 by full time. For just the second time in 28 years, Connacht are basking in a glorious victory over the mighty Munster after producing a brilliant display at the Sportsground on New Year's Day. The Craggy Pod Crew were there, host Rob Murphy sets us off, Alan Deegan and William Davies take you through the lows and highs of the game itself and Dave Finn joins the crew afterwards to look back on a night that will live long in the memory for rugby fans in the west of Ireland. We hear from John Muldoon, Pat Lam and Anthony Foley as well plus there's a whole section at the end reserved to the endless rumours around Robbie Henshaw and a quick preview of the home tie with Edinburgh in a week's time. Follow us @craggyrugbypod or on facebook at Craggy Island Rugby and leave review on our itunes page to help us grow. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were in Belfast on St Stephen's Day (or Boxing day to keep it local) for the round 11 Guinness Pro 12 clash of Ulster and Connacht and watched the westerners secure a first ever losing bonus point at the newly named Kingspan Park at Ravenhill. Host Rob Murphy is joined by regular guest Alan Deegan to set the scene of the game while our special guest on post game analysis is Richard Mulligan of the Belfast Newsletter. There's plenty of post game audio with Pat Lam, try scorer Ally Muldowney and Ulster coach Neil Doak all to be heard from and lots more besides as we review the 13-10 victory of Ulster. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The expected performance didn't materialise in Dublin on Friday night as Leinster capitalised on another slow start from an error strewn Connacht and pounced on a late mistake for the second try to seal the 21-11 win. The podcast was recorded in Kiely's of Donnybrook after the game on Friday. Host Rob Murphy joined by Dennis Laffey from the Connacht Clan, Dublin based Connacht supporter Declan Faller making his season debut and Leinster supporter Andrew Tracey. There's also a surprise appearance from London based Connacht fan Ronan Byrne who was over for the game and pumped into us mid record. Listen out also for audio from Pat Lam and his Leinster counterpart Matt O'Connor.Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on itunes and get it downloaded straight to your phone the second we publish. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connacht sent the young guns to France on Saturday and many of us feared the worst but the 15 changes didn't halt the progress and a fourth win on the bounce was secured in the dying seconds in Bayonne thanks to Caolin Blade's second try of the evening. The win keeps Connacht firmly in the hunt for a home quarter final in the Challenge Cup but far more importantly, keeps the momentum going into a huge run of three straight inter-provincial Pro 12 games starting at the RDS against Leinster next Friday night. The Podcast crew of Alan Deegan, William Davies and Dave Finn joined Rob Murphy in Galway on Sunday to discuss another milestone in a great season so far and preview their toughest test of the season in Dublin. Get in touch with us. ViaRob@knockon.ieOr@craggyrugbypod Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's podcast was recorded in the Connacht Clan Bar at the Sportsground where host Rob Murphy was joined by Linley MacKenzie, Dave Finn, Alan Deegan and William Davies to review Connacht's 42-19 home win over Bayonne in the European Challenge Cup. There's the usual in-game package to slot, post game analysis from the panel and interviews with Pat Lam and Dannie Poolman. Plus this week, the podcast crew discuss the recent articles from Paul Kimmage around performance enhancing drugs and rugby. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connacht defeated the Llanelli Scarlets 14-8 in the Guinness Pro 12 on Saturday night to remain in the top six and just five points off first place heading into December. It was win number six for the season, they've already matched last season's total of six wins and they still have 13 games to play in the 2014/15 campaign. This week's podcast crew include Alan Deegan and William Davies who take you through the game itself and afterwards Dave Finn joins host Rob Murphy for the post game discussion. We have audio from the post game press conference where we hear from Pat Lam and Bundee Aki and there's a very brief preview of the Bayonne game thrown in somewhere as well. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's Craggy Island Rugby episode looks back at the long awaited Connacht debut for New Zealand centurion Mils Muliaina and ahead to the biggest game of Connacht's Pro 12 season so far, the visit to the Sportsground of Llanelli Scarlets. On the pod are Alan Deegan, William Davies and making his debut Andrew Flaus who joined host Rob Murphy on the steps of the clan terrace. We also hear from the man of the hour Mils after the 43-3 victory over Zebre. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's podcast was recorded in Swansea where Connacht lost for the second time this season in the Guinness Pro 12 going down 26-11 to the league leading Ospreys. A horrendous spell in the third quarter where they conceded 23 unanswered points did the danage but the westereners head into the two week break in sxith spot, level on points with the Scarlets. This week's podcast guests include former Connacht and Ireland A prop Brett Wilkinson who was in Swansea as a co commentator with Galway Bay FM, Galway Advertiser Sports Editor Linley McKenzie who both join host Rob Murphy to review the game. We also hear from Osprey's Head coach Steve Tandy, Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam and Connacht Captain John Muldoon. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A trip to Exeter marked game eight of Connacht's season and it didn't go to plan as they succumbed to a five try to one 33-13 defeat in round two of the European Challenge Cup. It's only a second defeat of the campaign and came as Pat Lam managed his squad carefully ahead of next Fridays Guinness Pro 12 clash away to league leaders the Ospreys but the drop off in performance level will be a cause for concern. As usual, Craggy Island rugby were on hand to document the day. Galway Bay FM co commentator Joe Healy and Connacht Clan member Dennis Laffey are on the pod this week joining host Rob Murphy. We hear from Rob Walrand of BBC Devon, and we hear from a host of supporters of both teams as Dennis Laffey took the recording equipment around Sandy Park, before during and after Saturday's game. Finally, we have Pat Lam's thoughts on the result and what is up next. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Game seven of Connacht's season saw the westerners host La Rochelle in their opening European Challenge Cup pool game at the Sportsground on Saturday and resulted in a facile 48-12 home win. The Craggy Island Podcast crew were on hand to talk about a damp squib of a contest and the problems with a competition where many teams show absolutely no interest in taking it seriously.Alan Deegan is on hosting duty this week with regular guests Dave Finn and William Davies on hand to share their thoughts. We also hear from Pat Lam's post game press conference. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast went on the road this week to Treviso for round 6 of the Pro 12. Connacht's 9-6 victory over Treviso is reviewed as the Galway Bay FM commentary team of Rob Murphy and Gerry O'Donnell discuss the scrappy win straight after the game. We then hear from John Muldoon, Pat Lam, Darragh Leader and Dan McFarland in post game interviews as Connacht reach the European break in the top five with just one defeat in six outings. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Podcast returns for another week to review Connacht's 24 all draw with Cardiff at the Sportsground on Friday night.Joining host Rob Murphy are Alan Deegan, William Davies and Dave Finn as they look back on arguably the most disappointing draw in Connacht rugby history. A 24-10 lead lost in the final quarter.The pod starts with our 'as it happened' segement to take you through the game, then we start the discussion and in between the chat, we hear the post game thoughts of Connnacht Head Coach Pat Lam and captain John Muldoon. Plus we clear up the confusion around what episode this is. It is episode 5, last week's show was incorrectly named! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's show looks back on Connacht's defeat away to Pro 12 league leaders Glasgow and ahead to this Friday's tussle with Cardiff at the Sportsground. Joining host Rob Murphy to look ahead to the game is Galway Advertiser Sports Editor and Connacht Rugby writer for the Irish Times Linley MacKenzie. We also hear from Pat Lam and George Naoupu who talked to us during this week's press conference. Apologies for the delay with our itunes launch, the process of getting the correct settings for uploading has taken longer than we would have hoped. We should have it sorted within the week. Fingers crossed! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connacht beat Leinster on Friday night at the Sportsground and the Galway venue was hopping. Episode 3 starts with a few live snippets from the eventful contest from guests Alan Deegan and William Davies and continues with post game analysis hosted by Rob Murphy and with Dave Finn joining in for good measure. We hear from Kieran Marmion about that try, John Muldoon about the battle for places and Pat Lam on the 10-9 victory and Newstalks Oisin Langan joins us for a cameo appearence. We're almost there with itunes. This Podcast should be live on there later this week. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a dramatic finish to a fairly error strewn game, Connacht toppled Edinburgh in round 2 of the Guinness Pro 12 at Murrayfield by 14-13 to make it two wins from two this season. This eppisode of Craggy Island Rugby was recorded from the Dail Bar in Galway city on Friday evening where the Connacht Clan had gathered to watch the game. Joining host Rob Murphy are local rugby journalist David Finn from Sports Radar, Declan Ryan from the Connacht Clan and Shane Sheridan from the Connacht Clan. The crew reflect on a scrappy game, marvel at the late try and stern defence, discuss Connacht's very savy media prescense this season and look ahead to next weekend's big clash with Leinster as Pat Lam's side look for three in a row. There's also the pod's first ever heckler right at th end of this week's show. * We hope to have the podcast also available on itunes sometime next week, we're working hard at the process of getting it accepted at the moment. The new intro music this week comes from the Walls and is called

The first episode of a brand new weekly podcast following the ups and downs of the Connacht professional rugby team through the eyes of the supporters and the media who follow the side. Host Rob Murphy is Galway Bay FM's match commentator for Connacht games and he is joined in episode one by Connacht supporters Alan Deegan and William Davies as they look back on the opening day 16-11 victory over Newport at the Sportsground. We hear from Connacht head coach Pat Lam and man of the match Denis Buckley too. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.