2016 Pro12 Grand Final
| Event | 2015–16 Pro12 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 28 May 2016 | ||||||
| Venue | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | ||||||
| Man of the Match | John Muldoon | ||||||
| Referee | Nigel Owens (WRU) | ||||||
| Attendance | 34,550 | ||||||
| Weather | Sunny | ||||||
The 2016 Pro12 Grand Final was the final match of the 2015–16 Pro12 season. The 2015–16 season was the second with Guinness as the title sponsor and the seventh ever League Grand Final. The final was played between Leinster and Connacht.
Connacht won their first title, winning on a 20-10 scoreline.[1]
Route to the final
2016 Playoffs
The semi-finals followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system with the games being played at the home ground of the higher placed teams.
| 20 May 2016 19:45 |
Leinster  |
30–18 | Ulster |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Nacewa 4' c Heaslip 47' c Cronin 64' c Con: Sexton (3/3) Pen: Sexton (3/3) 10', 15', 56' |
Report | Try: Gilroy (2) 38' m, 69' c Con: Pad. Jackson (1/2) Pen: Pad. Jackson (2/2) 26', 31' |
| 21 May 2016 18:30 |
| Connacht |
16–11 |  Glasgow Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Adeolokun 36' c Con: MacGinty (1/1) Pen: MacGinty (3/3) 24', 52', 64' |
Report | Try: Nakarawa 48' m Pen: Weir (2/2) 26', 56' |
Build-Up
It was announced on 8 September 2015 that the seventh Guinness Pro12 Grand Final was awarded to BT Murrayfield Stadium,[2] the headquarters [3] of the Scottish Rugby Union in Edinburgh on 8 September 2015 with the final to be played 28 May 2016. This is only the second time that the Pro12 Grand Final had been awarded to a host city after the success of Belfast in hosting the 2015 final.[4]
Connacht, who made the play-offs for the first ever time, were appearing in their first ever Pro12 final, while Leinster were making their sixth appearance in the final.[5][6] Leinster were favorites to win the game, priced at 4/9 with Paddy Power Bookmakers, while Connacht were priced at 13/8.[7]
The match was shown live on Sky Sports in Ireland and the UK, and on TG4 in Ireland.
Match
Summary
Connacht full-back Tiernan O'Halloran got the opening try in the 13th minute, running it over in the left corner after Matt Healy had broken through the defence.[8] Winger Niyi Adeolokun scored a second try midway through the half after his own high kick and chase to go over in the right corner, giving Connacht a 15-0 interval lead. Matt Healy scored Connacht's third try on 57 minutes chasing a kick from AJ MacGinty to go score in the left corner. Sean Cronin got a try for Leinster after 67 minutes when he scored going over in the right corner.[9] The win was the first major trophy for Connacht in their 131-year history.[10][11][12]
Details
| 28 May 2016 17:30 |
| Connacht |
20–10 | Leinster |
|---|---|---|
| Try: O'Halloran 12' c Adeolokun 21' m Healy 56' m Con: MacGinty (1/3) Pen: MacGinty (1/2) 27' |
Report | Try: Cronin 66' c Con: Sexton (1/1) Pen: Sexton (1/1) 43' |
          Connacht
|
  Leinster
|
|
Man of the Match:
Touch judges:
|
Post-match
The victorious Connacht Rugby squad were welcomed back to Galway city on 29 May and paraded around the city on an open-topped bus, from outside the Town Hall Theatre in Courthouse Square to Eyre Square and finally to the The Sportsground.[13][14][15][16]
References
- ↑ "Connacht see off Leinster to win first Pro12 title at Murrayfield". Guardian. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "GUINNESS PRO12 2016 Final tickets on sale now".
- ↑ "BT Murrayfield stadium is the home of Scottish rugby, and houses the offices of the Scottish Rugby Union".
- ↑ "Guinness PRO12 Final: Matchday Information". Pro12rugby.com. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ↑ "Leinster power through to decider after thrilling play-off". RTE Sport. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ↑ "Pro12 semi-final: Connacht 16-11 Glasgow Warriors". BBC Sport. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ↑ "2016 Pro12 Grand Final Betting". Paddy Power. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ↑ "Lam's brilliant Connacht earn first-ever trophy with stunning win over Leinster". The 42. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "Pro12 final: Connacht 20-10 Leinster". BBC Sport. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "Connacht make history with epic victory over Leinster in Pro 12 final". Irish Independent. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "'Team for everyone' get their just rewards". Irish Independent. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "2016 Pro12 Final: as it happened". The 42. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "Alan Quinlan: A glorious dream is now Connacht's reality but they must keep Pat Lam". Irish Independent. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "Thousands pack the streets of Galway for rugby heroes Connacht's homecoming". Irish Mirror. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "One almighty party planned for Galway as Connacht's homecoming parade confirmed". The 42. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ↑ "The top 10 moments from Connacht's historic season". Irish Independent. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.