AFTER THE LACK of high-level pre-season competition was widely blamed for Connacht’s poor season as defending Pro12 champions last season, the province has confirmed they will play two friendlies within three days this August.
Before the visit of Pat Lam’s Bristol to the Sportsground on 26 August, a fixture included in the season ticket, the western province will renew acquaintances s with Premiership runners-up Wasps.
Dai Young’s side, who will also face Ulster in the pre-season, suffered a controversial late 20 – 18 loss to Connacht in the Champions Cup in December, but will host the Wednesday evening fixture (23 August) this around.
New head coach Kieran Keane is due in Galway before the end of the month to oversee pre-season preparations after his weakened Waikato Chiefs side lost to the Lions on Tuesday.
He will return to New Zealand for the conclusion of the Super Rugby season, but with the final of the southern hemisphere tournament set for 5 August – and the Chiefs sitting fifth in the Australasian group – he will have ample time to get to Connacht in time for the pre-season hit-outs.
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