Connacht Squad for Rotheram

…Eric Elwood and Michael Bradley have named their first squad of the season…

Connacht coach Michael Bradley and his assistant Eric Elwood have named the squad to play Rotherham in a pre-season friendly on Friday (3 pm).

Connacht will continue their preparations for the new season with an encounter with the English National One side at the University Grounds in Rotherham.

Promising young prop Ronan Loughney was ruled out following a cruciate ligament injury suffered during the game with Narbonne last week. It was his first game back following a similar injury last November.

“It is a terrible blow for Ronan, especially as he has worked so hard to get back from the injury last year. But he is a determined young man and I have no doubt he will bounce back from this disappointment. Injuries are part and parcel of rugby but he is particularly unfortunate.
However, Ronan has the spirit and character to get over this and get back on the
field and we are all behind him,” said Connacht coach Michael Bradley.

Connacht will open their Magners League campaign away to Borders on September 3rd and will then have seven home matches on the trot, including their opening game of the European Challenge Cup against Harlequins.

Season tickets are on sale on www.connachtrugby.ie and at the Connacht Branch headquarters at
the Sportsground, College Road, Galway. Commercial Manager, Fiona Keys, says that season ticket sales have been very encouraging: “The season tickets are good value and with so many games at home in the early part of the season, supporters have been availing of the opportunity
to get behind the side from the start,”

Connacht squad: B Wilkinson, S Knoop, M Diffley, J Fogarty, A Flavin, A Farley, B O’Connor, D Gannon, M Swift, J Muldoon, C Rigney, M Lacey, P Warwick, M McHugh, D Slemen, T Tierney, C Keane, D Riordan, C McPhillips, D Yapp, K Matthews, J Hearty.

Not considered due to injury: D McGowan, R Loughney, R Hogan, J Merrigan, T
Robinson, G Williams.