Connacht’s player bonuses for winning the league were somewhat low-key

When Leicester City clinched the 2015/16 Premier League, the senior squad got this reward.

https://twitter.com/s20ttc/status/761906834705944580 19 flash, new BMWs totalling £2m in retail value were awarded to the likes of Jamie Vardy, Wes Morgan, Riyad Mahrez and Danny Drinkwater. Danny Simpson too. When Connacht won the 2015/16 Guinness PRO12, they got a couple of bar tabs picked up. Kieran Marmion tells us:

"There were no cars waiting for us when we got back [for the new season]. There were a few drinks put on, on a couple of nights."

It is handy, then, that Marmion is one of Connacht's three brand ambassadors for Mazda this season. The scrum-half came into pre-season a little over a month in so he missed head coach Pat Lam's inspirational speech about what the newly acquired trophy means to the province. Still, the summer has flown by and here we are again at the cusp. The focus, says Marmion, is on the first four league games. After that, they'll start making some real plans for the season - Champions Cup included. In a way, it is reminiscent of last season. Marmion says:

"We didn't go out saying 'We're going to win the league'. We took it step by step. We started with an aim to get top six and earn a Champions Cup spot off our own bat. "Just after Christmas, we got together again and said 'Why not top four?' It was only when we achieved that, and got a home semi-final, did we start talking about winning the league. We did exactly as we said."

There is a genuine confidence within the Connacht squad that they can back up their deeds from last season. "I love the way we are playing," says Marmion. "It is different from a lot of Northern Hemisphere teams. We think about the game differently and seek out space differently." Personally, Marmion has never felt more sure of himself and his game. The league winners' medal, his fine form and time with the Irish squad all help. Looking ahead to the international season, too, Marmion wants to push Conor Murray hard for that Irish 9 jersey but often drifts back to praise the recent arrivals of Ultan Dillane, Finlay Bealham, Tiernan O'Halloran and Matt Healy. He says:

"It's totally correct that the lads are in there now and have had a taste. Their selections are fully justified. Tiernan and Matt had been pushing for a while so it was great to see them make it to South Africa. It was great to be that Irish team that won over there for the first time but disappointing to come so close to a series win without closing it out."

Connacht start their first title defence at home to Glasgow Warriors. It will be soon time to park the memories of last season but, for now, Marmion is happy to look back.

"My stand-out memory from last season, and those final few weeks, was arriving at Murrayfield before the final. When we left our team hotel, for the stadium, there were not that many supporters around. "Pulling up to the gate, we realised they were all at the stadium. They gathered around the bus and roared us on. The noise was huge. It was a pretty special moment."

The day was won and the drinks were free. Marmion will cherish those memories for the rest of his days. Now it is time to make some more. *Kieran Marmion, John Muldoon and Denis Buckley will be part of the Mazda & Connacht Rugby Clinic at Carton House on Sunday October 9. The clinic will provide an opportunity for young rugby enthusiasts to practice and finesse their skills with some of Ireland’s top players.  The new GAA Hour football podcast is here. Listen to Colm Parkinson, Senan Connell, and Barry Cahill dissect a classic between Dublin and Kerry. Subscribe here on iTunes.