Gloucester 40 Connacht 32 (AET): It had all the hallmarks of past heartbreaks. Connacht, punching above their weight, looked set to close in on the ultimate prize, only to be denied at the bitter end, whether by their own hand, or by questionable refereeing decisions.

In a return to Kingsholm, injury-hit Connacht go head to head with English Premiership side Gloucester for the chance to play Champions Cup rugby next season.

In a big day for Irish teams in the Guinness Pro12, Connacht’s needs are probably greater than the rest.

Connacht 13 Glasgow 31 :Pat Lam promises his under-pressure Connacht can rescue their sixth place promotion spot after Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 setback against Glasgow.

Connacht 20 Ulster 27: Ulster’s title hopes and Connacht’s less ambitious but equally important Champions Cup qualification dreams both remain on target after a seven-try Pro 12 thriller at the Galway Sportsground.

A Pro 12 title and a top six qualification are on the line in today’s meeting of Ulster and Connacht in the Galway Sportsground (2.40pm).

Munster 42 Connacht 20: Munster moved closer to a home Guinness Pro12 semi-final in some style at Thomond Park on Saturday evening, running in six tries to thump derby rivals Connacht.

Connacht coach Pat Lam is taking nothing for granted after victory over Munster, naming virtually an unchanged side for tonight’s visit of Edinburgh to the Galway Sportsground (7.35pm).

Connacht 24 Munster 16

Bayonne 27 Connacht 29

Connacht head to Bayonne for tonight’s return leg (Stade Jean-Dauger, 7.45pm) of the back-to-back Challenge Cup fixtures with a new starting side featuring five debutants.

Connacht’s first All Black, Mils Muliaina, makes his debut for the province tonight when Connacht host Zebre at the Galway Sportsground (7.35pm).

Connacht 16 Newport 11

Ospreys 45 Connacht 20

There is considerably more positivity surrounding the future of Connacht Rugby this week with the signature of their first All Black and the appointment of new chief executive Willie Ruane, but it may not translate into a much-needed win when they face a wounded Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium this evening (6.30pm).

Connacht 15 Cardiff 22

With European Cup qualification out of the equation, Connacht are still intent on a best-place finish to this season’s Pro12 when they entertain Cardiff Blues in their final home game of the season this evening (5pm).

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Dragons 8 Connacht 24

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Connacht 38 Treviso 6

RABODIRECT PRO12

In a night of farewells, Connacht bring the curtain down on this season’s RaboDirect Pro12 tonight when they entertain semi-finalists Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground.

Johnny O’Connor will wear the Connacht number seven jersey one last time tomorrow night.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel changes from the team that lost to Ulster last weekend for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Treviso at the Sadio di Monigo (8.30pm).

Andrew Trimble knows what to expect when he travels to the Sportsground this evening for the big RaboDirect Pro12 derby battle where there is more than bragging rights up for grabs.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel and two positional changes to his pack for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Treviso.

One of the strengths of Munster rugby over the year has been the ideology that opponents must be respected at all costs, not necessarily feared but at least respected.

Having seen his team win their last three league encounters, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has kept changes to a minimum for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster at Musgrave Park (5.45pm).

It is 12 years since Connacht came away from Cardiff Arms Park with a win, and coach Eric Elwood says that needs to change when the sides meet this evening in the RaboDirect Pro12 (7.30pm).

After coming through 65 minutes in last weekend’s victory over Ospreys unscathed Connacht skipper Gavin Duffy will lead the province from the start in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 showdown against Cardiff Blues at Arms Park.

Flanker John Muldoon (pictured) is thrilled to be finally starting his first match tonight for Connacht since October.

Robbie Henshaw returns to provincial duty and is one of three changes Connacht boss Eric Elwood has made to his starting XV for tomorrow night’s clash with the Ospreys at the Sportsground (7.45pm).

RaboDirect PRO12: Scarlets v Connacht

Kyle Tonetti will earn his first start for Connacht this season having been named at inside centre in Eric Elwood’s starting team to face Scarlets in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting at Parc Y Scarlets (7.30pm).

Failure to manage a bonus point in last weekend’s loss to Harlequins has made it mathematically impossible to catch pool runners-up Biarritz, but pride and a third Heineken Cup win are at stake for Connacht this evening.

Flyhalf Dan Parks returns to the Connacht starting XV for their final Heineken Cup Pool 3 encounter with Zebre at the Sportsground tomorrow night (8pm).

Harlequins 47 Connacht 8

With Dan Parks unavailable through injury Eric Elwood has selected 22-year-old Matthew Jarvis at flyhalf for Saturday's Heineken Cup round 5 game against Harlequins at the Stoop (1.35pm).

Biarritz Olympique 17 Connacht 0

Connacht are preparing for a massive Biarritz backlash when the two sides clash in Parc des Sports Aguiléra this evening.

Eric Elwood has named a side which shows only one change to the starting XV following last Friday's 22-14 win over Biarritz for the return Heineken Cup Pool 3 fixture at the Parc des Sports Aguilera on Friday (8pm).

A heavy list of injuries and poor weather will not help Connacht’s hopes of claiming a home victory over French heavyweights Biarritz this evening.

Ireland second-row Mike McCarthy makes his return to the Connacht starting XV for the province’s Heineken Cup Pool 3 meeting with Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque at the Sportsground on Friday (8pm).

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made three personnel changes up front for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with Edinburgh at the Sportsground (5pm).

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made just three changes to the team that beat Benetton Treviso 18-3 in round eight for the province’s visit to the Newport Gwent Dragons in Friday evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Rodney Parade (7pm).

Connacht 18 Benetton Treviso 3

Former Stormer Danie Poolman makes a timely first start for Connacht against Italian visitors Benetton Treviso at the Galway Sportsground today (5pm).

Danie Poolman will make his first start for Connacht after being named at outside centre for the RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Benetton Treviso this Saturday at The Sportsground (5pm).

Connacht’s Eric Elwood is once again putting his faith in youngsters with Ireland U20 player Darragh Leader making his debut tomorrow against the Ospreys in Liberty Stadium (2.30pm).