Organisation: Connacht Rugby
Event: 2025/26 Awards Night
Event Type: Black Tie Awards Evening
Date: Saturday, 16th May 2026
Attendance: 710 delegates
Venue Spaces Used: Atlantic Premium Level - Connacht One, Connacht Two, Connacht Three and Connacht Four

The Challenge

Connacht Rugby wanted to create a flagship celebration that recognised achievements across every level of rugby within the province. The annual awards night needed to bring together players, coaches, volunteers, supporters, clubs and community representatives for an evening that reflected the scale and success of rugby in Connacht.

For the first time, the organisation had the opportunity to host the event within its own home venue, Dexcom Stadium. The challenge was to deliver a premium black-tie experience for more than 700 guests while maintaining a tightly managed awards programme and flawless audiovisual production throughout the evening.

Event Objectives

The primary purpose of the event was to celebrate rugby across Connacht during the 2025/26 season. The awards recognised achievements from:

• The professional men's team
• The women's team
• Underage representative teams
• Club rugby
• Community rugby initiatives

The event aimed to unite the wider Connacht Rugby community, celebrate success across the province, and reinforce the strong connections between the professional game and grassroots rugby.

Why Dexcom Stadium?

This was the first year Connacht Rugby had the opportunity to host its annual awards night within its own stadium.

Several factors made Dexcom Stadium the ideal venue:

• Capacity to comfortably accommodate more than 700 guests
• Multiple flexible event spaces that could be configured for a large-scale gala dinner
• The ability to deliver a premium black-tie experience in a unique sporting setting
• High-quality audiovisual capabilities essential for a live awards ceremony
• A venue team experienced in managing large events with demanding schedules

The Atlantic Premium Level alongside Connacht One, Connacht Two, Connacht Three and Connacht Four provided the flexibility required to create a seamless guest experience while supporting the operational needs of the event.

Planning & Delivery

The planning process was highly collaborative, with Connacht Rugby working closely alongside the stadium events team.

The event was planned in partnership with Max and Sandra, ensuring every aspect of the evening—from room layouts and guest flow to catering, staging and audiovisual requirements—was carefully coordinated in advance.

Given the scale of the event and the number of award presentations scheduled throughout the evening, maintaining a precise timeline was critical. Detailed planning and clear communication between all stakeholders ensured the programme ran smoothly while delivering an engaging experience for guests.

The Result

The 2025/26 Awards Night successfully welcomed 710 members of the Connacht Rugby community for an evening of celebration, recognition and connection.

By hosting the event at Dexcom Stadium, Connacht Rugby created a memorable experience in the heart of its own home ground, bringing together representatives from every level of the game under one roof.

The venue's flexible event spaces, experienced events team and high-quality audiovisual delivery enabled the organisation to achieve its objectives and showcase the strength of rugby across the province.