Does the prize money for the final not go to the union? How the union allocates it may then vary. Seem to remember rumblings about that last year I.e. SRU split it "evenly" between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
I could be wrong though!

if you saw munster's financial statement they highlighted the drop in revenue as a result of not being in the final stages of the pro12.

I asked the same myself. Surely there has to be something.

Is there prize money for winning the Pro-12 or is there just a share out /percentage of the gate and TV money?

Just curious. does anyone know how many medals Connacht got? Is it just the match day 23 or do all the players involved get medals after x amount of games like in the premier league?

Siob wrote: No drop down anymore, just the one final European to shoot for.

In a way it's a pity the Champions Cup final is on in Edinburgh. Ideally I'd like a bit more variety, but I suppose if we get there I'd probably still go.

No drop down anymore, just the one final European to shoot for.

Saw bundee's hit on sexton again today, it was glorious!

Both European finals are in Edinburgh next year, if we make one of them its hard to see us not win after last weekend!

Absolutely amazing few days, finally managed to watch the match back yesterday and it's almost as good second time around!!

My voice is still fecked tho

We did it lads!

Pro12 2016 CHAMPIONS! the #GreenMachine CHAMPS! and we did it in style! crushing Leinster by playing real total rugby, I have drank in the full match about 5 times already total nirvana rugby from Connacht amazing to watch. :woohoo: :silly:

Outside of the absolute heroes who took to the field and played such stunning rugby in the Pro12 Final to obliterate their opponents

have to also say
BUCKLEY, Masterson, White, Ronaldson, Carty, Blade, Matamua, Poolman, Carr, Naoupu, Porter, Marshall, Qualter, Harris Wright, Finn etc and anyone I missed might not have playing on final day but their contributions to an amazing successful season were so hugely important.

What a fantastic few days. It took some real roundabout trips / late nights for most of us to get there and back but the Connacht support found a way and it was definitely worth all the hassle and then some. Like everyone else I'm still trying to get my ahead around us being champions. For years the thought of us even being a mid-table side seemed far fetched.

After we held out and showed such aggressive defence in the opening few minutes I knew we had a real shout. At times the first half was spell binding and we could and should have been 20+ up at half time but holding Leinster for the last few minutes of the half was vital. 15-7 would have been a completely different ball game. In the 2nd half Leinster closed down the space well and it looked a tough 40 minutes ahead against a more aggressive defence but we got into our rhythm again and even though there were a few nervy minutes after Leinster got it back to 20-10 and we were a bit affected with injuries we re-gathered ourselves and finished strongly again. To be fair the disallowed try probably should have counted but Leinster did get a try while TOH was out cold and all in all they can have no complaints we fully merited the victory. I said during the week we usually have to be 15 better to win by a few. On Saturday we were 20 points the better team on the day in my view. Everyone delivered, none more so than the departing players in Robbie and Aly who were superb. Nobody let us down which is so unusual on a big day.

Since forever Connacht's status on the rugby field mirrored how Connacht as a province or group of people was viewed in the eyes of others. i.e. conservative, backward, we'd collapse when it really mattered etc. What has been built in the last few seasons culminating in Saturday will hopefully change perceptions forever. When you hear of staunch GAA strongholds out lighting bonfires to welcome the team home on Saturday night you know something special has occurred.

In fact its not exaggerating it to say that what Connacht has achieved this season may be the most positive thing ever to happen in Irish Rugby. What Pat Lam and his team have built shows up as nonsense that in Ireland we don't have the skill levels to play the heads up high skill level from all players rugby that teams in the Southern Hemisphere do. In his time here our style of play has evolved so much it is difficult to credit and the fact that pretty much whoever comes on is on the same wavelength shows how instilled in the style the whole squad are. On Saturday it was good to see we had learned from the likes of the Grenoble game and played territory when there was nothing else on. Leinster's attack looked so blunt in comparison, the loop around has been figured around a long time back and there wasn't a huge amount of inventiveness shown by them. Fatigue was my only worry once it became apparent that we were ready for the occasion.

There has been a lot of talk about the future and who'll be here or not in the coming seasons. The future will bring a lot of difficult challenges but to be honest I don't care for the moment. These things are in hand I'm sure. Regardless of what happens in the future this one has to be enjoyed now to the last. We'll have plenty more good days but regardless of what we achieve there'll never be a 1st trophy again, there won't be that same raw emotion and joy we all experienced on Saturday.

Sunday was a great experience too. Went in very tired and sleep deprived but the occasion lifted everyone again. There was just a fantastic family atmosphere around and following the bus up college road, seeing the wave of people going up the hill following the bus was special.

Also have to say while Leinster have a reputation for having arrogant supporters they deserve full marks for Saturday. I saw loads of Leinster fans grabbing the hands of Connacht supporters and saying how delighted they were for us and a large number of them waited for the presentation. Overall it was a great occasion and the mutual goodwill between both sets of fans helped the occasion.

The West of Ireland needed a lift and this has given it regardless of whether people have an interest in rugby or not. I'm delighted for everyone in the province and all the fans but particularly those who ensured Connacht remained as a pro outfit all those years ago and for everyone who stood in the wind and rain for years before there was a Clan Terrace and had to withstand fierce stick/patronising comments for continuing to support Connacht rather than just jumping onboard for Munster and Leinster's success. Saturday was proof that if you stick with something long enough you will get the rewards. Thanks to everyone for all the happy moments supporting Connacht has given. There have been so many low nights over the years where even the most loyal supporter had to question why they were bothering but we've suffered the pain together and ultimately we've got our rewards. I really hope this is the start of a very bright future but whether or which nobody can ever take Saturday away from us.

Finally, while the likes of John Muldoon and Ronan Loughney have deservedly got huge praise over the last couple of days for their years of service, they got their day in the sun which was fantastic to see given how much both have put into Connacht. However, it wouldn't feel right if there wasn't a mention of all the past players who fought the good fight on a team who consistently struggled. This had to be particularly special for Eric Elwood and Michael Swift. Both epitomised all that was good about Connacht for years. I feel sorry for Swifty that Saturday wasn't his send off but it could never have been done without him and we all know that without Eric there probably wouldn't be a Connacht Rugby. He was the shining light when we hadn't much else to justify our existence and he has worked tirelessly and passionately to help bring us to this point.

Greatest sporting day I was ever EVER at!! Will never forget that day til I die. Tears , snot , sore throat , happiness , joy , elation, disbelief - I could go on. What a team they really are!!

I hope someone looks after Bundee during the off-season or he could self-combust

Saturday was one of the best days of my life. I ran out of superlatives to describe this team a long time ago so all that’s left to say is thank you for giving us a season I can still scarcely believe. The atmosphere at the west stand entrance when the team buses arrived was incredible, I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life and I’ll never forget it. I’m choking up now even thinking about it. It just felt like our destiny was to win after that, but to do it in the manner they did… Just wow. I’m really looking forward to watching the game again and actually enjoying it instead of being a nervous wreck.

Huge thanks are also due to the Connacht Clan committee and volunteers who have played a big part in making this season so enjoyable. From the post match interviews to co-ordinating the away trips and everything in between ye did a fantastic job.

Luke Fitz out of the summer tour apparently and will be replaced by a Connacht player (as yet unnamed)

George Hook is hilarious in fairness. Cullen gets no criticism at all and Schmidt the worst Irish coach of all time? Fricking hilarious.

So this is from 2014.

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/george-ho...e-plug-29931013.html

This is from this weekend

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/george-ho...istory-34756207.html

Ah George