CONNACHT HAVE NAMED an experienced side for their European Challenge Cup showdown with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road tomorrow night.

Paul Boyle captains the side in the number 8 jersey in the absence of the suspended Jarrad Butler.

Ultan Dillane partners the in-form Gavin Thornbury in the second row while Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham, make up an experienced tight five.

Tom Daly and Sean O’Brien are at centre for the third game on the trot while Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty are named in a familiar half-back partnership again.

“We had difficult decisions to make across the park with our starting XV,” said head coach Andy Friend. “It’s a testament to our squad that we’ve got a really strong bench while others will miss out entirely, and that’s what you want going into knock-out European rugby.

“It’s no secret that the Connacht record in Europe needs to improve, but this is a group of players that know how to break hoodoos on the road. Leicester Tigers in Welford Road is one of the great challenges in European rugby and I have full confidence in the squad to get the win and really put us in the mix for silverware at the end of the season.”

Connacht 

15. John Porch  

14. Alex Wootton  

13. Sean O’Brien  

12. Tom Daly  

11. Matt Healy  

10. Jack Carty  

9. Kieran Marmion  

1. Denis Buckley   

2. Dave Heffernan  

3. Finlay Bealham  

4. Ultan Dillane  

5. Gavin Thornbury 

6. Eoghan Masterson 

7. Conor Oliver 

8. Paul Boyle  (C)

Replacements

16. Shane Delahunt 

17. Jordan Duggan 

18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy 

19. Oisin Dowling 

20. Abraham Papali’i  

21. Caolin Blade 

22. Conor Fitzgerald 

23. Peter Sullivan 

The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud

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