Connacht Eagles Side Includes Buckley And McSharry
While the Connacht senior squad welcome English side Saracens to the Sportsground for their Heineken Cup opener, the Connacht Eagles travel to Wales to take on Llanelli in the first round of the British & Irish Cup.
Connacht Eagles head coach Nigel Carolan has named a strong side for the competition opener. Both senior players David McSharry and Denis Buckley, who returned to club rugby action last weekend after a long stint on the sidelines due to injury, are named in the starting line-up.
Academy out-half Jack Carty will captain the side in Llanelli, having made his second RaboDirect PRO12 appearance in the second half of Connacht’s defeat away to Benetton Treviso last Friday.
Following the round 1 tie, the Eagles will welcome Rotherdam Titans to the Sportsground on Saturday week (October 19).
Kick-off is at 2.30pm and Connacht Season Ticket holders are granted access to all of the Eagles’ home British & Irish Cup games.
CONNACHT EAGLES (v Llanelli): Tadhg Leader; Brian Murphy, Rory Parata, David McSharry, David Panter; Jack Carty (capt), Marcus Walsh; Denis Buckley, David Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, David Nolan, Michael Kearney, Mata Fifita, James Connolly, Daniel Qualter.
Replacements: Risteard Byrne, Saba Meunargia, Ultane Dillane, Conor Kindregan, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Ciaran Gaffney.