By Brendan Carroll

Connacht Rugby are seeking more time to complete the €45m redevelopment of their Dexcom Stadium home, formerly the Sportsground.

Planning permission for the transformation of the venue, which will expand its crowd capacity to 12,000, was granted by Galway City Council in May 2019 – but that is due to officially expire in a few weeks’ time.

However, the advent of the Covid 19 pandemic and global supply disruption made it impossible to meet the original timescale for completing the development.

Now, Connacht Rugby have applied for an extension of time on that permission, up to a maximum of three years – though they expect that the work will be completed by December next year.

Work has begun in earnest, and is on schedule, on a project that will radically change a venue which has been at the heart of sport in Galway for almost a century.

The Clan Terrace – known as the Clan Stand by supporters, but in reality a covered terrace – was demolished a number of weeks ago after the team’s last home game of the season in May, with the existing clubhouse also going.

A new North Stand will be built on the site over four levels, by contractors Conack Construction, with bars, shops and catering facilities, and a crowd capacity of around 7,000.

There will be a standing terrace at the front for 1,900, then 4,000 seats at the next level, while on the upper level there will be corporate facilities catering for around 900, which will double as a conference and hospitality venue.

Construction also began in March on a new state-of-the-art High Performance Centre, on the site of the old side-pitch at the ground. Built alongside the existing gym, it will be the home of day-to-day operations at the club, with dressing rooms, physio areas, two canteens, and office space for pro team management and admin staff.

Pictured: How the completed North Stand will look.