Pete Wilkins, the head coach of Connacht Rugby, is entrusting the leadership of the team to Cian Prendergast, a young player he views as a standard-bearer for the club. Wilkins is optimistic that Prendergast, 24 years of age, will guide the team towards a top-eight position in the URC. Wilkins perceives Prendergast as a player who personifies the team’s objectives for this season and beyond. The youngster’s dedication, mindset, and comprehension of rugby have won Wilkins’ admiration.
Prendergast’s meticulous preparation, both physical and mental, is one of his hallmarks within the team. His willingness to constructively challenge both his team members and the coaching staff on their performance and potential has also been noticed. Prendergast’s fearless honesty in his approach to work is seen as a source of inspiration by Wilkins.
Wilkins holds that Prendergast, despite being one of the younger members of the team, offers a refreshing aspect to team leadership. The coach does not see a need for a complete reset, but rather a new chapter characterised by higher standards and enhanced performance. He believes that Prendergast’s influence will bring an increased enjoyment into the team environment.
Joe Joyce and Dave Heffernan, experienced forwards, will be supporting Prendergast as vice-captains. Their collective rugby and life experiences, according to Wilkins, will combine effectively with Prendergast’s young energy to form a balanced leadership trio. Along with five additional players in the player leadership group, he sees this as the groundwork for a robust leadership structure, which may have been lacking previously.
This leadership combination will yield diverse perspectives on the game and the team culture. The views that Joyce and Heffernan bring to the table are expected by Wilkins to enrich Prendergast’s leadership, therefore enhancing the overall performance of the team.
Maintaining a clean bill of health going into the clash against Munster at Thomond Park, Connacht, with only JJ Hanrahan sidelined due to a long-term injury, anticipate a tense contest. Last season, Connacht finished at the 11th position in the URC, recording a win rate of 50 per cent, and they are once again targeting a spot within the top eight this time.
Wilkins, who’s in his second season as the head coach and has spent eight years with the provincial team revealed, “Achieving a top-eight finish is vital for us. We’re aspirational of engaging in URC knock-out rugby and competing in the Champions Cup, hosting pivotal matches at Dexcom and opportuning ourselves to make a significant impact in the tournament.”
“Nonetheless, consistency is key, which is something we lacked last season, whether that refers to full-duration performances or week-to-week endeavours, which earns the top-eight right”, Wilkins added.
Wilkins further emphasised how a single victory or claim several bonus points can hugely impact the season’s outcome.
Cian Prendergast, the ex-Newbridge College pupil and elder sibling of Leinster’s outhalf Sam, is ready to take over as the captain from Jack Carty. The latter, who started his 12th season with his home province, previously led the team commendably for two seasons.
Acknowledging Carty’s contribution, Wilkins said, “We owe immense gratitude to Jack for not just leading the team but embodying the pride of the club, always willing to go the extra mile.”
“With Cian stepping in at this juncture of his career, ready to shoulder this responsibility whilst liberating Jack, this not only offers a better impact platform for Cian but also marks progressive development for the squad”, Wilkins also noted.