Mayo men in Connacht squad for trip to Ospreys

Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for the EPCR Challenge Cup pool opener against Ospreys at Brewery Field in Bridgend this weekend.

The squad for the encounter, which will kick off at 3.15 p.m. on Sunday (December 7), features two Mayo men – Dave Heffernan in the starting team and Harry West among the replacements.

Hooker Heffernan is flanked by the vastly experienced Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham as the trio start together for the first time in the campaign.

There’s a new-look second row pairing of Joe Joyce and David O’Connor, with just one change in the back row, where Sean O’Brien comes in on the openside flank while Josh Murphy and Sean Jansen are retained.

Two-time British and Irish Lion Bundee Aki has been handed the captaincy. He will be partnered in the centre by Sam Gilbert, who makes his full Connacht debut having come off the bench against the Sharks last weekend.

The back three sees Shane Jennings make his first appearance of the season on the wing, with Finn Treacy on the opposite side and the in-form Seán Naughton continuing at full-back.

On the bench there’s a potential debut for year one academy centre Sean Walsh. The 19-year-old, who came through the pathway system at Corinthians RFC and Coláiste Éinde, wears the number 22 jersey. West wears number 23 on a bench that features experienced players such as Paul Boyle and Jack Aungier.

Looking forward to the game, Lancaster said: “We enter the Challenge Cup with strong ambitions of winning it, and we also want to use these next two weeks to give some players an opportunity to impress.

“We’ve a good mix of youth and experience for Sunday, with the likes of Bundee as captain and plenty of other centurions, especially in the front row.

“On the flipside to that, Sean is one of the academy players who I’ve been really impressed by and is fully deserving of his inclusion in the 23.”

The Connacht starting XV is: Seán Naughton, Shane Jennings, Sam Gilbert, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy, Jack Carty, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Seán O’Brien, Sean Jansen. The replacements are: Eoin de Buitléar, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Paul Boyle, Colm Reilly, Sean Walsh, Harry West.