STEPHEN GLENNON

DESCRIBED “as one of the worst kept secrets in Irish rugby”, fan favourite and Galway native Eric Elwood was finally unveiled as Michael Bradley’s successor as Connacht coach for the 2010/2011 season.

In many respects, Wednesday’s press conference announcing Elwood’s elevation at the Sportsground was akin to knowing the gift before you opened the bow and wrapping. As Assistant Coach at the club, and the supporters’ choice on the terraces, the popular Galwegian was always firm favourite to land the position.

However, Elwood – on just a one-year contract – has done so at a time when uncertainty once again shrouds Connacht Rugby. At present, a governance and operations review is taking place of the professional game in the West of Ireland, with some pundits speculating that the IRFU may rescind the province’s professional status to make a saving of an estimated €2.5 million. This, though, has been rejected by both in-coming coach Elwood and Connacht Rugby CEO Gerry Kelly.

“When this (review) was mentioned first, I got a bit scared, but I now genuinely feel it is a positive thing because it was the Branch who went to the Union,” said Elwood at wednesday’s press conference. “They instigated this, and the Union and the Branch are now working hard together.

“I firmly believe after this review is done, positive things will come out of it because we want to be one of four (provinces), not three plus one. So, I genuinely believe it will be positive, but we do have to work with the Union. Simple as that.”

However, the former Ireland out-half believed the future of Connacht Rugby did not solely rest in the hands of the IRFU, noting that the Branch, itself, had to grow its support base. He said he also had a role in this respect. “I think it is very important that I get people walking up that road to support Connacht because of what we are doing on the park. That is the ideal scenario.

“Obviously, Leinster, Munster, good luck to them, they have a great brand. I know there are people in Galway going down to support Munster, good luck to them. That is their prerogative, that’s fine. Their mother or father may have been originally from there. It is my job, though, to get people to embrace this team, to show that we do want a professional team in Connacht.”

He praised the 1,500 to 2,000 die-hard fans that follow the team religiously, but stressed more people had to show their support by coming to matches or buying a season ticket. “For any team to survive in a professional environment it is down to money, be it soccer or whatever. The winners are people with money. People who have money are competitive and we need to get there. We need to challenge ourselves and we need to show ambition, but we need the help of the community and the [local] clubs. It all ties in.”

These were sentiments also expressed by the Connacht CEO. Kelly, who had referred to Elwood’s appointment “as one of the worst kept secrets in Irish rugby”, said the aim of the IRFU review was “to provide a sustainable future for Connacht Rugby” because it accepted the benefits of having four strong provinces had for the Irish national squad.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.