CONNACHT’S PRO12 VICTORY really was one of the fairytale stories of 2016.
We took a look through the Pro12 year, bringing you right back to January to tell the story through pictures.
We also had a look at the second half of the year, the new campaign which sees Leinster and Munster dominating as of now.
From the highs – Connacht winning the competition for the first time – to the lows – the loss of Anthony Foley – here’s the 2016 Pro12 year in pictures.
Ulster and Munster served up the first interpro of the new year, with Paddy Jackson’s late penalty miss handing Munster victory
Munster’s Gerhard van den Heever and Ian Keatley celebrated the win at the final whistle
While Francis Saili and Nick Williams put their colours aside and prayed together
Eoghan Masterson scored a try against the Dragons as Connacht came from behind and returned to the top of the table in February
Adam Byrne scored his first Leinster try against Zebre the same month
While Francis Saili sailed over the line to score his first Munster try against Ospreys
Glasgow Warriors beat Munster when the 2015 finalists met in Rugby Park
While Jamie Ritchie’s Edinburgh side beat Scarlets
Leinster’s white kit got fairly dirty
While Connacht just kept on giving
Munster were making good ground too
But Simon Zebo’s side couldn’t get past Glasgow
Connacht made a big statement by beating Leinster by a single point in March
But were beaten by Ulster the following week
Craig Gilroy got on the scoresheet for Ulster despite Matt Healy’s best efforts
Munster suffered a 16-13 defeat to Leinster at the start of April
While Connacht got back on track and added to the Red Army’s misery two weeks later
They deservedly booked their place in the play-offs
And then beat Glasgow Warriors to set themselves up for the Pro12 final
Meanwhile Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip celebrated with fan Jennifer Malone as they booked their place in the final having beaten Ulster
The decider in Murrayfield was a hard-fought battle
But Connacht came out on top, and were crowned Guinness Pro12 champions for the very first time
Understandably, the celebrations were something else
And Pat Lam was a very happy man
Captain John Muldoon brought the cup home to thousands of fans in Galway to bring the 2015/16 Pro12 season to a close
The second half of the Pro12 year kicked off very differently for the Westerners, who lost their first three matches
Munster and Leinster got off to better starts
But Munster and Irish rugby suffered one of it’s darkest hours in October when Anthony Foley passed away
One of the last times head coach Foley walked out to Thomond Park was before Munster took on Edinburgh in their Pro12 victory in September.
And Ulster rugby honoured Axel ahead of their clash with Munster later that month with a plaque in the away dressing room in Ravenhill
Rory Scannell scored a late drop-goal as his side paid tribute to Foley’s typical battling ways to win by a point
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
