Connacht Eagles Make Five Changes For Final Pool Game

The Connacht Eagles team will travel to face the Dragons Premiership Select in the final round of the British & Irish Cup pool stages in Ebbw Vale on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).

Eagles head coach Nigel Carolan has made five personnel changes to the team that lost to pool leaders Doncaster Knights at the Sportsground last weekend.

Academy players Ed O’Keeffe and Peter Robb both come into a back-line that sees New Zealander Api Pewhairangi line out at full-back.

In the pack, Ronan Loughney and Jack Dinneen join Conan O’Donnell in the front row, while Dave Nolan joins Daniel Qualter in the second row.

Galway man Marc Kelly is promoted from the replacements bench to join Rory Moloney, who captains the side, and Cillian Gallagher in the back row.

CONNACHT EAGLES (v Dragons Premiership Select): Api Pewhairangi; Ed O’Keeffe, Cormac Brennan, Peter Robb, Fionn Carr; Shane O’Leary, Conor Lowndes; Ronan Loughney, Jack Dinneen, Conan O’Donnell, Daniel Qualter, Dave Nolan, Marc Kelly, Rory Moloney (capt), Cillian Gallagher.

Replacements: Pat O’Toole, Matthew Burke, Cian Romaine, Matthew Cosgrove, Stephen Kerins, Conor McKeon, Adam Leavy.