AFTER MISSING OUT on selection for the first two rounds of the Six Nations through injury, Connacht prop Finlay Bealham is set to return to action this weekend when the province resume their Guinness Pro14 campaign.
Bealham wasn’t considered by Joe Schmidt due to the knee problem he sustained in training prior to Connacht’s Challenge Cup clash with Oyonnax, but has returned to training this week and should feature against Ospreys this Friday [KO 7.30pm].
Kieran Keane has also been boosted by the return to fitness of several players after the two-week break including James Cannon (shoulder), Andrew Browne (achilles), Sean O’Brien (shoulder), Craig Ronaldson (hip), Steve Crosbie (knee) and Cormac Brennan (shoulder).
Both Niyi Adeolokun and Peter Robb remain a number of weeks away from a return after sustaining hamstring problems, but the province’s medical staff are happy both players’ rehab is ‘progressing well’, while Eoin McKeon (calf) also falls into that category.
Denis Buckley (ankle) is on track to be back by the end of this month but Keane must plan without long-term absentees JP Cooney (hamstring), Jarrad Butler (hand) and Jake Heenan (shoulder) for a while longer.
Connacht are also set to be without four of their internationals — Bundee Aki, Kieran Marmion, Quinn Roux and Ultan Dillane — for Friday’s visit of the Ospreys, unless Schmidt decides to release those not involved in his squad for Italy.
Heading into this four-game block of fixtures, Connacht sit fifth in Conference A, and will be looking to bring their European form into the Pro14.
It has also been announced that Friday’s game in Galway will be streamed live on TG4′s YouTube page (here), becoming only the second-ever Pro14 match to be available live online.
The broadcaster will have live coverage of Leinster’s trip to Edinburgh on Friday evening before showing Munster’s clash with Zebre from Thomond Park on Saturday.
TG4′s Pro14 schedule:
Friday 9 February
- Edinburgh v Leinster, TG4, 7.30pm
- Connacht v Ospreys, TG4 YouTube, 7.30pm
Saturday 10 February
- Munster v Zebre, TG4, 7.15pm
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