The Connacht Rugby matchday squad has been named for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Emirates Lions in Johannesburg (k/o 3 pm).
There are six changes from the side that played the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend. Shayne Bolton has recovered from injury to start on the right wing in his native country, while hooker Dave Heffernan, locks Josh Murphy and Joe Joyce, number 8 Sean Jansen and scrum-half Matthew Devine also come into the side. Heffernan lines out alongside Peter Dooley and Finlay Bealham in the front row, while captain Cian Prendergast and openside flanker Conor Oliver complete the pack. Jack Carty continues at out-half, as does the centre pairing of Cathal Forde and David Hawkshaw. Shane Jennings is named on the left wing, while Piers O’Conor continues at full-back. The bench sees the return of Hugh Gavin after missing last week through injury, as well as Eoin de Buitléar after over two months out following thumb surgery.
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY SQUAD VS EMIRATES LIONS
15:00, Saturday 26th April 2025 @ Emirates Airline Park
Number/Name/Caps
15. Piers O’Conor (16)
14. Shayne Bolton (23)
13. David Hawkshaw (41)
12. Cathal Forde (49)
11. Shane Jennings (22)
10. Jack Carty (219)
9. Matthew Devine (17)
1. Peter Dooley (51)
2. Dave Heffernan (217)
3. Finlay Bealham (217)
4. Josh Murphy (36)
5. Joe Joyce (35)
6. Cian Prendergast (84) Captain
7. Conor Oliver (94)
8. Sean Jansen (23)
16. Eoin de Buitléar (12)
17. Jordan Duggan (60)
18. Sam Illo (30)
19. Oisín Dowling (75)
20. Paul Boyle (113)
21. Colm Reilly (27)
22. Hugh Gavin (8)
23. Santiago Cordero (19)
It’s must-win territory for both of these teams if they are to have any chance of forcing their way into the play-off mix. They are down in 14th and 12th in the table, respectively going into the Johannesburg clash, but still in with a mathematical chance of making the knock-out stage. However, there is no room for error with both of them having gone through a rocky patch in the BKT URC. The Emirates Lions have lost their last four league games, while their Irish guests have suffered three successive defeats. However, Connacht did pick up two points last weekend in a dramatic 34-29 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town where they had a final play try chalked off. Coach Cullie Tucker said: “We weren’t given much of a chance by the media over here, but the boys put in a great shift. “We have got some very good characters who announced themselves and told the people who they are. To score a try at the end to win the game and to have it chalked off is pretty frustrating.” He continued: “We are in the land of physicality and the Lions are another very physical team, with a strong set-piece, while they have some fantastic individual rugby players. “They will stretch us, they will test us and then you’ve got the altitude on top of that. It will be another incredibly tough test, but the boys are in good spirits and we are really looking forward to it.”
