Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins has named his squad to face Zebre in their European Challenge Cup opener tomorrow night in Dexcom Stadium at 8pm.
There are major milestones for Caolin Blade and Paul Boyle, with both players making their 200th and 100th appearances for the province respectively. Monivea native Blade first made his debut in May 2014 and last week scored his 50th try for the club, becoming only the second player after Matt Healy to reach the milestone. Boyle meanwhile first played for the club in January 2018, and like Blade has gone on to receive international caps.
Boyle will line out as co-captain for the game, with Cathal Forde named as co-captain alongside him.
Elsewhere there’s a debut for winger Chay Mullins, who has been named to start on the right wing. Mullins joined the Connacht Academy setup in 2022 and signed his first Pro contract in the summer, before representing the Ireland Sevens at the Paris Olympics.
He lines out in a back three of full-back Shane Jennings and Santiago Cordero on the opposite wing, with David Hawkshaw at #13 having impressed off the bench last week, while Jack Carty continues at out-half.
In the forwards, Jack Aungier keeps his place at tighthead while loosehead Jordan Duggan and hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin start, and there’s a new-look second row of Darragh Murray and Oisín Dowling. Last year’s Connacht Player of the Year Shamus Hurley-Langton makes his first start of the campaign at openside flanker, with Josh Murphy on the opposite flank.
There are two further potential debutants on the bench, both of whom are Connacht natives in the Academy setup. Tighthead prop Fiachna Barrett from Geesala Co. Mayo is named in the matchday 23 for the first time, as well as Galway native out-half Seán Naughton.
Also on the bench is Oisín McCormack who could feature for the first time since making his debut two years ago.
Head coach Pete Wilkins says:
“There’s plenty of player milestones happening this week, but first and foremost we’ve named a strong 23 that we feel can start our Challenge Cup campaign on a positive note. With Bladey’s 200th, Boyler’s 100th, a debut for Chay and potential debuts for Fiachna and Seán, they’re all deserving landmarks for each of the five lads at various stages of their career. I’m sure they’ll get the reception they deserve from the fans.”
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS ZEBRE PARMA
20:00, Saturday 7th December 2024 @ Dexcom Stadium
Number/Name/Caps
15. Shane Jennings (16)
14. Chay Mullins *
13. David Hawkshaw (35)
12. Cathal Forde (38) (CC)
11. Santiago Cordero (9)
10. Jack Carty (214)
9. Caolin Blade (199)
1. Jordan Duggan (50)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (43)
3. Jack Aungier (71)
4. Darragh Murray (29)
5. Oisín Dowling (63)
6. Josh Murphy (23)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (43)
8. Paul Boyle (99) (CC)
16. Eoin de Buitléar (8)
17. Temi Lasisi (2)
18. Fiachna Barrett *
19. David O’Connor (3)
20. Oisín McCormack (1)
21. Matthew Devine (6)
22. Sean Naughton *
23. Byron Ralston (32)
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