Ruane gives a glimpse into Connacht Rugby's future

Connacht Rugby held its 2024/2025 ‘Partners Day’ at the Pálás Theatre last Tuesday.

The theme of the morning was to outline the organisation’s 10-year vision and strategy along with their five-year plan, including information on Connacht Rugby’s new Dexcom Stadium.

Connacht Rugby CEO Willie Ruane led the seminar, and he spoke openly and confidently about their future intentions.

Ruane, a Mayo man who played for Connacht and his local club Ballina, was welcoming to all in attendance which was a small but important part of how he got his message across.

‘Community’ was the main word used by Ruane during his roughly hour-long presentation to the sponsors and media. You left the venue feeling like Connacht Rugby was a very inclusive and open environment, something that was translated to us as ‘One Connacht’.

Upon entering the cinema room, a Connacht Rugby-branded popcorn was on offer which was certainly unique, and concluding the presentation a round table interview with the CEO followed.

Amongst the updates Ruane provided was the plan to build a ‘Community Hub’ venue for rugby clubs in Connacht. These ideas would become more concrete after the redevelopment of Dexcom Stadium, which is due to be completed in the 2025/26 season.

“It would be somewhere around the middle of the province,” Ruane said when asked about the Connacht Community Rugby Hub.

“We have a lot of clubs who are aiming to improve and develop their facilities so rather than having every single club and school trying to build more, a hub would be an overflow facility for them.

“It would also allow us to use it for our own pathways and play different matches there, so it would be a facility for the wider game throughout the province.” 

On the redeveloped stadium, Ruane remarked: “The new Dexcom Stadium will enable us to be much better for our model.

“As much as it is great to be able to build this, for the players, staff and supporters who will get to enjoy the stadium, it is representative of everything that we should have in this part of the world.

“It will also bring conferences and expos to here which will create employment and revenue which is critically important – we want people to stay and live in Connacht.” 

Ruane added: “The stadium and performance facilities will help us to attract players and develop brilliant coaches, while the revenue will help us to invest and grow the number of players playing at youth level – we want to be able to hold onto those talented players coming through our pathways.” 

2016 marked Connacht Rugby men’s side's last notable success when they landed the Pro12 title, a moment Ruane described as “incredible”.

“Looking back on it, when you realise how much it meant to the supporters, that’s when you get the enjoyment and satisfaction out of it. It was seriously uplifting. That is what we want to reignite.

“Every season we go out to win a trophy. We have to make sure we are a team that consistently sits in the top half of the table and puts us into the second competition. When you are in that cup competition, anything can happen.”