2020–21 Connacht Rugby season

The 2020–21 season was Irish provincial rugby union side Connacht Rugby's twentieth season competing in the Pro14, and the team's twenty-fifth season as a professional side. It was Andy Friend's third season in charge of the side.

In addition to the Pro14, Connacht competed in the European Champions Cup. This was confirmed in August 2020, as the tournament was expanded to 24 teams on a one-season basis. The Champions Cup pool stage finished prematurely after just two rounds. As one of the bottom eight teams at that point, Connacht were entered into the Challenge Cup in the round of 16 where they were beaten by the Leicester Tigers.

Coaching and management team
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Individuals may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Senior team transfers
Unlike most seasons, where the bulk of transfers occur during the summer pre-season the 2019–20 season saw two separate periods of major transfer activity. Many moves scheduled to happen at the end of the season instead took place during the extended hiatus from March to August 2020. Despite these moves technically happening during the previous season, they are included in the transfers listed here.

Players in

 * PR Jack Aungier from  Leinster
 * PR Jordan Duggan promoted from Academy
 * LK Cormac Daly from  Clontarf
 * LK Óisín Dowling from  Leinster
 * LK Niall Murray promoted from Academy
 * BR Seán Masterson promoted from Academy
 * BR Conor Oliver from  Munster
 * BR 🇳🇿 Abraham Papali'i from 🇳🇿 Bay of Plenty
 * SH Colm Reilly promoted from Academy
 * FH Conor Dean promoted from Academy
 * CE Sammy Arnold from  Munster
 * WG 🇦🇺 Ben O'Donnell from 🇦🇺 Australia Sevens
 * WG Peter Sullivan promoted from Academy
 * WG Alex Wootton from  Munster (season-long loan)

Players out

 * HK 🇳🇿 Tom McCartney retired
 * PR Rory Burke released
 * PR Peter McCabe to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bristol Bears
 * LK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Joe Maksymiw to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Dragons
 * BR Robin Copeland to 🇫🇷 Soyaux Angoulême
 * BR 🇦🇺 Colby Fainga'a to 🇫🇷 Lyon
 * BR Eoin McKeon released
 * SH Angus Lloyd retiring
 * FH 🇦🇺 David Horwitz to 🇦🇺 Randwick
 * CE 🇦🇺 Kyle Godwin to 🇦🇺 Western Force
 * WG Niyi Adeolokun to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bristol Bears
 * FB Darragh Leader released


 * Player's name in italics indicates a transfer that took place after the start of the season