CONNACHT HEAD COACH Pat Lam has named just 22 players in his matchday squad for Sunday’s Challenge Cup clash with Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Stadium (KO 3pm).
The province’s crippling injury crisis means 20 players were unavailable to Lam this weekend.
Connacht had hoped to name a 23-man squad, including eight front row players, before Ronan Loughney pulled up with a back injury during training earlier today.
Highly-promising 19-year-old loosehead Conan O’Donnell will make his first start for the province on Sunday, while out-half Shane O’Leary earns the same honour. Alongside him in the halfback pairing is the exciting Caolin Blade.
Craig Ronaldson returns in midfield after recovering from concussion, while Rodney Ah You comes into the team at tighthead. Danny Qualter gets his first start this season in the second row and Andrew Browne returns from injury alongside him.
The back row sees Eoghan Masterson make his comeback from injury, while George Naoupu captains the team from number eight.
Georgian native and Athlone man Saba Meunargia is among the replacements, after the academy prop was added to Connacht’s Challenge Cup earlier this week.
Connacht (v Newcastle):
15. Danie Poolman
14. Rory Parata
13. Peter Robb
12. Craig Ronaldson
11. Niyi Adeolokun
10. Shane O’Leary
9. Caolin Blade
1. Conan O’Donnell
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Danny Qualter
5. Andrew Browne
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Eoghan Masterson
8. George Naoupu
Replacements:
16. Shane Delahunt
17. Finlay Bealham
18. Saba Meunargia
19. Aly Muldowney
20. Dave Heffernan
21. Ian Porter
22. Jack Carty
Unavailable from European registered Squad: Tom McCartney, Denis Buckley (injured and deregistered), Ronan Loughney, Nathan White, Ben Marshall, Quinn Roux, Nepia Fox-Matamua (injured and deregistered), John Muldoon, James Connolly, Eoin McKeon, John Cooney, Kieran Marmion, AJ MacGinty, Bundee Aki, Dave McSharry, Robbie Henshaw, Fionn Carr, Matt Healy, Darragh Leader, Tiernan O’Halloran.
