Provincial Round Up
Leinster away to Dax, Munster prepare for Leicester, Connacht to play Rotheram and Ulster spend time in Camp at St. Andrews.
…Leinster’s Owen Finnegan in trianing…
The pre season is hotting up and the countdown is on to the first Magners League games of the season. Most of the Ireland and Ireland A players who were in Spala for their cryotherpay training have now returned to their provinces.
Leinster are in France for their game against Dax on Wednesday and an extended training camp. Leinster may give debuts some of their new signings including Owen Finnegan and Stepehn Keogh.
Munster, welcoming new signing Chris Wyatt, are in training for their “friendly” with Leicester Tigers at Musgrave Park.
Connacht will play Rotheram this Friday. The game will take place at the university grounds in the Yorkshire town.
The English National One side are coached by Andre Bester, formerly of Ulster and Ballymena and former Connacht coach Steph Nel also spent a season there, proving what a small world the rugby fraternity is
“It will be a useful work-out for us,” said Connacht manager Tim Allnutt. “We were happy with our performance against Narbonne but there is always room for improvement and we will use these games to fine-tune the side for the start of the season,” he added.
…Ulster’s Justin Harrison and Allen Clarke share a joke at training in St. Andrews…
Meanwhile the men from Ulster are in camp in St. Andrews in Scotland as they prepare for a warm up against Borders on August 18th. They are spending a week in camp working on training, strength and conditioning and also on team building with a programme of golf and go-karts to help. Ulster will also play Rotheram in August as part of the Grafton Challenge.