Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup meeting with Georgian side Black Lion at Dexcom Stadium (k/o 8 pm).
The side is captained by the in-form Paul Boyle, whose return to the starting XV is one of 11 changes that started the game against Ospreys last weekend. Hooker Dave Heffernan, number 8 Sean Jansen, out-half Jack Carty, and new signing Sam Gilbert have been retained, with Gilbert moving to full-back. Carty is partnered at half-back by the returning Caolin Blade, while Cathal Forde and Hugh Gavin are named at centre. Wingers Shayne Bolton and Chay Mullins complete the back three.
In the pack, there are starts for props Jordan Duggan and Sam Illo, while the Murray brothers, Darragh and Niall, complete the tight five. In the back row, there’s a return to action for Shamus Hurley-Langton, having missed the last few weeks due to injury.
On the bench, there’s a potential debut for Academy prop Billy Bohan, who is included in the matchday 23 for the first time. Fellow Academy prop Fiachna Barrett is also on the bench, as is the returning David Hawkshaw from injury.
Connacht team v Black Lion:
Number/Name/Caps (* denotes uncapped)
15. Sam Gilbert (2)
14. Chay Mullins (12)
13. Hugh Gavin (12)
12. Cathal Forde (55)
11. Shayne Bolton (30)
10. Jack Carty (223)
9. Caolin Blade (221)
1. Jordan Duggan (67)
2. Dave Heffernan (224)
3. Sam Illo (34)
4. Darragh Murray (43)
5. Niall Murray (84)
6. Paul Boyle (119) (C)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (58)
8. Sean Jansen (31)
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (59)
17. Billy Bohan *
18. Fiachna Barrett (3)
19. Joe Joyce (41)
20. Seán O’Brien (17)
21. Matthew Devine (22)
22. David Hawkshaw (45)
23. Harry West (2)
Unavailable: Bundee Aki, Jack Aungier, Finlay Bealham, Peter Dooley, Oisín Dowling, Mack Hansen, Josh Ioane, Shane Jennings, Temi Lasisi, Oisín McCormack, Seán Naughton, Cian Prendergast, Byron Ralston.
