Fijian Dawai Begins Training With Connacht
Ahead of next Saturday’s GUINNESS PRO12 round 10 game at home to Benetton Treviso (kick-off 3pm), the Connacht Rugby medical team have provided the following update.
Tom McCartney, Denis Buckley, Nepia Fox-Matamua and John Cooney all came through the 18-7 win over Cardiff Blues last week with no-ill effects following their recent return from injuries.
Craig Ronaldson sustained an injury to his thigh early on against Cardiff and is awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of the injury. Matt Healy has been integrated fully into team training this week following his return from the hand injury sustained against Edinburgh.
Eoin Griffin has undergone surgery for a chest muscle injury sustained in Ulster Bank League action with Buccaneers and is due to return in March 2017. All other injured players are as reported last week.
Meanwhile, Ireland internationals Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Kieran Marmion and Niyi Adeolokun are all on a week’s break following their involvement with the national team this month.
Following his involvement with Fiji, the province’s latest signing, back rower Naulia Dawai, arrived in Galway on Monday and joined full training today.
Connacht forwards coach Jimmy Duffy said at today’s media briefing: “We have discussed Treviso at length. They are always a really tough opposition for us. We had a tough day at the office up front over there last year, and that is something we haven’t forgotten. We are definitely not taking this lightly.
“We are getting better – confident and happy with the base we have laid down now – and it’s really important we can build on that going forward.”