FRANK MURPHY CAPTAINS CONNACHT tomorrow in their opening Magners League match against the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Sean Cronin and Gavin Duffy return, as expected, and start at hooker and full-back respectively. New signing Ezra Taylor starts at number eight. Two more new arrivals, Cillian Willis and Rob Sweeney, are named on the bench.

Speaking during the week about the clash Head Coach Eric Elwood said that though Connacht have a good record against the Dragons in the Sportsground (Connacht have won four out of the last five home games against them) neither team has a run of form as it’s the first match so nothing was taken for granted.

CONNACHT (to play Dragons, 17.30- Sportsgrounds): Gavin Duffy, Troy Nathan, Niva Ta’auso, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy (Capt.), Ezra Taylor, Ray Ofisa, Michael McCarthy, Bernie Upton, Michael Swift, Jamie Hagan, Sean Cronin, Brett Wilkinson

REPLACEMENTS: Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney, Rob Sweeney, Dave Nolan, Mike McComish, Cillian Willis, Miah Nikora, Tiernan O’Halloran