Connacht Squad Shows Four Changes For El Salvador Clash
Connacht have made four changes to their 22-man squad for their European Challenge Cup second round clash with Spanish side Cetransa El Salvador at the Sportsground on Friday night (kick-off 6.30pm).
Ronan Loughney and Danny Riordan have both overcome injuries and are included in the Connacht squad for the first of this season’s European matches to take place at the Sportsground.
Joe Merrigan and Andrew Browne are also included as Michael Bradley’s men look to get back on track in Pool 3 of the European Challenge Cup.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley said that his side were hoping to bounce back after their disappointing 15-6 loss to Brive last Friday.
“We have been away a lot since the start of this season and this game will be the first of four successive home matches. It will be a key period for us and we want to kick that off with a resounding victory on Friday evening,” he said.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Connacht’s eagerly awaited clash with Newcastle Falcons at the Sportsground on Friday, December 7, will be an all-ticket game. The match against Jonny Wilkinson’s and Carl Haymans’ Newcastle is poised to be a sell-out fixture.
Connacht are pairing the match with the Magners League encounter against Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground a week earlier with admission to the two games costing just €25 in total.
For this, rugby fans in the west will get to see Connacht face up to a Glasgow side with a host of Scottish internationals and take on a Newcastle Falcons side who will also come to Galway with a host of global rugby figures.
Fiona Keys, Connacht Rugby’s commercial manager, said there was big demand already for tickets for the Newcastle game and that it was decided to pair the fixture with the key Glasgow Warriors match the previous week.
“Basically, for a total of €25 supporters will be able to come to see two great games of rugby and we are all looking forward to these matches already.
“There is a big demand already for tickets for the Newcastle match. Of course, season ticket holders will not need to purchase a ticket for either match and they will gain admission with their season tickets,” she said.
Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster and the prices to gain admission to the two games are:
Ground Ticket = €25
Enclosed = €35
Senior/Student = €20
Junior = €10
Under 7s = complimentary
CONNACHT Squad (v Cetransa El Salvador): Forwards (12) – Andrew Browne, Andrew Farley (capt), Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney, Michael McCarthy, Joe Merrigan, Robbie Morris, John Muldoon, Johnny O’Connor, Ray Ofisa, Michael Swift, Brett Wilkinson.
Backs (10) – Tim Donnelly, Gavin Duffy, Peter Durcan, Keith Matthews, Conor McPhillips, Conor O’Loughlin, Danny Riordan, Ofisa Treviranus, Aidan Wynne, Darren Yapp.