Ireland U-20 Winger Ryan To Make Connacht Debut

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster has made ten personnel changes for Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship derby clash with Ulster at a sold-out Dexcom Stadium (kick-off 5.30pm).

Year 1 Academy winger Daniel Ryan will make his senior debut on the right wing. The 19-year-old joined the Connacht Academy in the summer, having impressed at schools level with St. Michael’s College.

Ryan, a recent Ireland Under-20 debutant, is one of two Academy players in the matchday 23, with promising prop Fiachna Barrett (21) among the replacements to face the Ulstermen.

There will also be a milestone appearance for veteran loosehead Denis Buckley who earns his 270th cap for the province, which puts him second on Connacht’s all-time list behind only John Muldoon.

Winger Finn Treacy and half-backs Jack Carty and Ben Murphy are the other changes in the back-line, as ninth-placed Connacht bid to bounce back from last week’s disappointing 48-28 defeat away to the Dragons.

Hooker Dave Heffernan and captain Cian Prendergast are the only players retained up front. Ireland prop Finlay Bealham completes the front row, while Joe Joyce and David O’Connor will join forces as the westerners’ lock pairing.

Prendergast, the scorer of two tries in Newport, shifts to openside flanker, with Josh Murphy coming in at blindside and Sean Jansen, who touched down recently against the Ospreys and the Dragons, replacing Paul Boyle in the number 8 position.

Connacht have lost their last nine interprovincial derbies since their win over Munster on New Year’s Day in 2024. Their only victory when coming up against Ulster in Galway since 2018 was 22-20 in November 2023.

Speaking ahead of the first of their two festive interpros, head coach Lancaster said: “It has been a tough start to the week with such a disappointment last weekend, but there is nothing better to get over the game against the Dragons than an interpro against Ulster at home.

“I have learned a lot about the playing group since I started in July, and I know for sure the players want to give our loyal supporters something to cheer about in this fixture having felt we let ourselves down in Wales.

“Ulster are a quality side and we can clearly see the improvements from last season, so we need to be at our best and all support and energy our supporters can bring will make a huge difference.”

He added: “We are about a month away from the Dexcom’s new stand opening. It will be a game changer for the province but in the meantime, please get behind the lads and shout from the terraces all you can – it really does make a difference.

“It is great to give Daniel Ryan his first cap. He has been great since he arrived and more than deserves his chance. I really believe the future for Connacht is to keep investing in our Academy players, and it’s exciting to see Fiachna on the bench also.

“Finally, a special mention to Denis Buckley on his 270th appearance, becoming Connacht’s second highest-capped player. It is some achievement.”

CONNACHT (v Ulster): Sam Gilbert; Daniel Ryan, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; Jack Carty, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (capt), Sean Jansen.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, Seán O’Brien, Matthew Devine, Josh Ioane, Hugh Gavin.