Connacht team announced

The Connacht squad are in Treviso and Head Coach Pete Wilkins has named his side for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Benetton Rugby at Stadio Comunale di Monigo (1pm).  

Wilkins has made seven changes to the side that lost last weekend to the Lions. There are two changes in the front row - Jordan Duggan comes in at loosehead and Dave Heffernan at hooker.

Shamus Hurley Langton and Paul Boyle start in the back row. Caolin Blade misses out through injury while JJ Hanrahan undergoes return to play protocols, so it's a new half back partnership with Michael McDonald and Jack Carty who will captain the side.

Joining Andrew Smith and Tiernan O'Halloran in the back three is Diarmuid Kilgallen.

The bench sees Eoin de Buitléar, Jarrad Butler, Shane Jennings and Shayne Bolton all come in.

Commenting ahead of the game, head coach Pete Wilkins says:

“Tomorrow is a hugely significant game for both ourselves and Benetton. There is very little between the teams from 4th to 11th in the URC table, and one result can see any team make a big rise up the standings.

Benetton are a team with international quality throughout their squad, and we have always found our encounters over in Treviso to be an enormous physical and mental test. Having been disappointed with both our performance and result last weekend, it is now about delivering the appropriate response. So it is a challenge that we are hugely excited about and will travel to Italy highly motivated and determined to deliver a big performance.”

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS BENETTON RUGBY

13:00, Saturday 30th March 2024 @ Stadio Comunale di Monigo

Number/name/caps

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (232)
14. Diarmuid Kilgallen (22)
13. David Hawkshaw (25)
12. Cathal Forde (24)
11. Andrew Smith (10)
10. Jack Carty (207) (C)
9. Michael McDonald (7)
1. Jordan Duggan (44)
2. Dave Heffernan (192)
3. Jack Aungier (63)
4. Niall Murray (69)
5. Joe Joyce (13)
6. Cian Prendergast (62)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (33)
8. Paul Boyle (88)

16. Eoin de Buitléar (5)
17. Denis Buckley (243)
18. Sam Illo (17)
19. Darragh Murray (20)
20. Jarrad Butler (123)
21. Colm Reilly (24)
22. Shane Jennings (7)
23. Shayne Bolton (11)