BUCCANEERS playing season commences on Saturday when they face a very tricky assignment away to Ballina in a Connacht Senior League fixture taking place at Heffernan Park, kick off 2.30 p.m. The hosts, who have been junior kingpins in Connacht for the past two seasons, will be buoyant following their opening day 35-24 home victory over Sligo last Saturday.
On-field rugby action for the season commences with a hugely attractive match between Connacht and Wasps at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday afternoon. This friendly clash between the PRO12 champions of 2016 and the English Premiership giants kicks off at 3 p.m and should be a cracker. With a host of internationals in both squads, a bumper crowd that is likely to include Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt is expected at the compact but easily accessed home of Buccaneers.
A new coaching triumvirate is in place at Buccaneers for the coming season, the kick off for which is fast approaching on August 25th. Peter O’Donnell comes in as Head Coach and he will be assisted by Aidan Wynne with Michael Harding in charge of the club’s Seconds team. All three are young, ambitious and progressive, and will work together along with Buccs U-20 mentors in fashioning the Pirates style of play for all teams.
A new name has been added to the list of overall winners at Buccaneers Tag Rugby annual league tournament with Coupers Loopers coming out on top of this summer’s leagues contested at Dubarry Park. Last year’s championship bowl victors, Coupers Loopers now qualify for the IRFU Volkswagen Tag series.
BUCCANEERS commence training this week for the forthcoming All-Ireland and Connacht Leagues. Training gets under way under the club’s new head coach on Tuesday 17TH and will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. nightly. All players from the Senior, Seconds and U-20’s squads should be ready to go in good time on the paddock each evening. New players always welcome too.
Top English Premiership rugby club Wasps will play Connacht in a highly attractive season opening fixture at Dubarry Park, Athlone. This match, which will be Connacht new head coach Andy Friend’s first game in charge, kicks off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 18th. Tickets are now on sale for this encounter (see below for details).
Connacht is hosting a highly attractive pre-season friendly when they take on top English Premiership club Wasps at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday, August 18th. Further details including information re kick-off time, tickets and pre-match function will be available shortly.
