The Connacht management team have selected their squad for tomorrow’s EPCR Challenge Cup fixture against Newcastle Falcons at The Sportsground (k/o 5.30pm).
Adam Byrne is handed his first Connacht start on the wing, in a back three that also contains Diarmuid Kilgallen and full-back Tiernan O’Halloran.
There’s a new-look centre pairing of Cathal Forde and Tom Daly, while David Hawkshaw is handed a start at out-half with Caolin Blade for company to complete the backs.
There’s a new front row of Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin and Jack Aungier, while Josh Murphy and Niall Murray are paired together in the second row. Paul Boyle keeps his place at number 8 after his Player of the Match performance against Benetton, with captain Jarrad Butler and Shamus Hurley-Langton named on the flanks.
On the bench there’s a potential debut for Ballinasloe flanker Oisín McCormack, who has come through the ranks with Garbally College, Ballinsloe RFC and Buccaneers RFC
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Saturday 10th December, 17:30 @ The Sportsground
Number/Name/Caps
- Tiernan O’Halloran (210)
- Adam Byrne (1)
- Tom Daly (66)
- Cathal Forde (3)
- Diarmuid Kilgallen (9)
- David Hawkshaw (7)
- Caolin Blade (156)
- Peter Dooley (7)
- Dylan Tierney-Martin (11)
- Jack Aungier (40)
- Josh Murphy (6)
- Niall Murray (42)
- Jarrad Butler (102) (C)
- Shamus Hurley-Langton (6)
- Paul Boyle (81)
Replacements
- Shane Delahunt (118)
- Denis Buckley (217)
- Sam Illo (4)
- Leva Fifita (18)
- Oisín McCormack *
- Colm Reilly (13)
- Conor Fitzgerald (58)
- Tom Farrell (85)
