Connacht prop gearing up for huge Pro 12 battle as well as upcoming wedding

He has just bought the car of his childhood dreams – a stylish, old-style Volkswagen Beetle van. He’s about to marry the girl of his dreams – Finn from Kerry, in a ceremony to take place a week after the Guinness Pro 12 final.

And he’s on the verge of fulfilling his life-long sporting career dream – to win silverware with his home club, Connacht.

Up first is a semi-final in his hometown this Saturday, where the prop is expected to line-out against Glasgow at the Sportsground (6.30pm).

It’s the biggest game in Connacht Rugby’s history; and comes just weeks before one of the biggest milestones in his personal life.

The city-native admits the wedding “planning and prepping” after training is welcome. “There’s a bit of that going on in the evenings – it’s a nice switch-off after the rugby.”

But Loughney’s focus remains fixed on his other ‘big day’. And he won’t allow the hype and pressure associated with the sold-out clash to side-track him.

“There are a lot of distractions with it being a semi-final but we’re just trying to focus on the detail and the preparation and getting that right for the lead-in to the match because that’s what has worked for us all season. I think the occasion will look after itself. I’m trying not to over-hype it. I’m trying to prepare like I do for every other game.”

The key forward and scrum battlegrounds of any rugby match are always interesting, but there’s a bit more intrigue to this weekend’s.

Loose-head prop Loughney, and Glasgow assistant coach, Dan McFarland, go back a long way. McFarland coached Loughney at U21 level for Connacht. The two soldiered together in Loughney’s first season with the province, and McFarland’s last as a player.  And then as forwards’ coach, McFarland had a huge influence on Loughney’s playing career.

The Englishman – partly out of necessity through injuries – convinced and coached Loughney, a loose-head prop, to become a tight-head prop. It was that rare front-row versatility that earned him an international cap, and has made him an indispensable member of the Connacht squad.

A fortnight ago, after Connacht stunned Glasgow 14-7 to earn a home semi-final, Loughney didn’t get a chance to speak with McFarland but the pair shook hands briefly on-field afterwards.

If anyone knows Loughney’s scrummaging strengths and weaknesses, it is McFarland. But the 31-year-old has his homework analysis done on the different Glasgow scrum configurations, and he’s relishing the upcoming challenge.

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