Connacht Rugby Squad Update
For immediate release: Tuesday 2 September 2014
Issued on behalf of Connacht Rugby
The Connacht squad are in the final stages of their pre-season preparations with their opening round of the GUINNESS PRO12 kicking off on Saturday September 6th when Newport Gwent Dragons visit the Sportsground. Kick-off is at 5pm.
Unavailable for Saturday’s opening clash is new centre Shane O’Leary who picked up a quad haematoma in training last week. The 21-year-old Cork man, who joined Connacht during the summer from FC Grenoble, should regain running later in the week and will be assessed ahead of the round 2 fixture away to Edinburgh.
Also unavailable for another week is winger Matt Healy who sustained a hand fracture in Connacht’s pre-season game away to Clermont Auvergne last month. Healy joins Tiernan O’Halloran (knee), Mils Muliaina (elbow), Andrew Browne (knee), Jason Harris-Wright (shoulder) and Mata Fifita (shoulder) in the rehab group.
Meanwhile, Captain John Muldoon, prop Ronan Loughney and versatile forward Aly Muldowney all returned to full training at the Sportsground yesterday and are expected to be available for selection this week.
Connacht v Dragons
At the Sportsground, 5pm.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 30th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Mark Connolly (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Wayne Sheridan (IRFU)
In terms of recent encounters, Connacht beat Dragons 24-8 at Rodney Parade at the end of March last season.
Newport Gwent Dragons 20-19 victory over Treviso in round 22 last season ended a seven game winless run in the competition. Dragons have won their opening fixture for the past two seasons, but their only away victory in the Guinness PRO12 since February 2013 came at Glasgow in round 8 last year.
Connacht’s only defeat to the Dragons in their last six encounters was 3-14 at Rodney Parade in November 2012, whilst the ‘Men from Gwent’ have won just once before at the Sportsground: 32-14 on their first ever visit on 1st May 2004.
Tickets for Connacht v Dragons are available on tickets.ie, in Centra & SuperValu stores province-wide and from the Connacht Rugby offices at the Sportsground.
Adult tickets start at €20 while it’s €5 for all Juniors (17 years and under).
Remember, for savings of over €100, get your 2014/15 Season Ticket.