Connacht may have managed to hold on to most of their frontline players for next season but there will be a significant shift in personnel at the Sportsground for the start of the Kieran Keane era.

Captain John Muldoon says Pat Lam’s decision to walk away from Connacht had no influence on his decision to extend his stay at the Sportsground.

Connacht prop Ronan Loughney deflected any accusations of complacency after the PRO12 champions fell to a six-try defeat as they launched the defence of their crown last weekend against Glasgow Warriors.

Connacht need only one point from this evening’s PRO12 fixture in Italy to guarantee a semi-final spot. But coach Pat Lam will want more, such is the expectation on Connacht to deliver a bonus-point winning performance.

Connacht’s European campaign becomes a lot more serious today when they face Brive in a must-win Challenge Cup fixture in France tonight.

John Muldoon becomes the first player to make 200 appearances in the Guinness Pro12 when he leads Connacht against Cardiff at Arms Park this evening (7.05pm).

Connacht’s star player Robbie Henshaw will be out of action for up to six weeks with a fractured hand.

Connacht’s biggest signing Mils Muliaina is leaving the province at the end of the season to take up a new contract in Italy.

European Challenge Cup Pool 2

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has signed a new three-year deal ahead of the province’s final chance to bag a Challenge Cup quarter-final.

Connacht welcome Edinburgh to the Sportsground on Friday night and head coach Pat Lam has made just one change from the side that beat Munster on New Year’s Day.

Connacht coach Pat Lam has confirmed that lock Quinn Roux will remain on loan with Connacht until at least the end of the 2014/15 season.

Connacht coach Pat Lam believes there is much more to come from his young squad after celebrating the New Year with a solid victory over Munster at the Galway Sportsground.

Ronan Loughney remains a doubt for Connacht's sold-out meeting with Munster on New Year's Day.

Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion and Rodney Ah You have returned to the Connacht squad for match day squad for the PRO12 Round 9 clash with Scarlets tomorrow night (kick off 7:30pm).

Mazda Ireland, official car partner to Connacht Rugby has launched its official ‘Mazda Rugby Roadshow’.

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

Mils Muliaina, who has 100 New Zealand caps, will make his Connacht debut in the Showgrounds tomorrow night, in the province’s PRO12 clash with Zebre.

Connacht coach Pat Lam is set to unleash the first of his three New Zealand signings tomorrow night in Swansea as they bid to win at the Liberty Stadium for the first time.

Connacht Rugby 48 La Rochelle 12

Connacht Rugby 48 La Rochelle 12

Connacht battered La Rochelle in tonight's European Challenge Cup game at the Sportsground in Galway.

Pat Lam has made five changes to the Connacht side that

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Coach Pat Lam has made eight changes to his side ahead of their match against Cardiff Blues in Galway on Friday.

Robbie Henshaw will make his 50th appearance for Connacht when he starts for them against Glasgow Warriors on Friday night.

Leinster and Connacht have both named strong sides for their PRO12 clash in Galway on Friday night.

Connacht have been boosted by the availability of their skipper John Muldoon ahead of their opening Guinness Pro12 game of the season against Dragons on Saturday.

Injured Munster skipper Peter O’Mahony, Leinster lock Devin Toner and Ulster winger Andrew Trimble have been nominated for the Hibernia College IRUPA Player of the Year Award.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

After putting out an unchanged sidefor the last four games, Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made a host of changes to the team to face Munster in tomorrow's interpro at the Sportsground, (kick off 6:15pm).

Head Coach Pat Lam has named an unchanged Connacht side for the fourth game in a row with the team traveling to take on Ulster tomorrow night at Ravenhill, kick off 7:05pm.

Scarlets 32 Connacht 30

Connacht 11 Edinburgh 7

Connacht claimed a precious 11-7 home win over Edinburgh as they lifted themselves off the bottom of the RaboDirect PRO12 table.

The Connacht team to face Edinburgh at the Sportsground at 5pm tomorrow has been named.

The Connacht team to face Glasgow Warriors in Sunday's round 13 RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Scotstoun Stadium (KO: 2pm) has been named.

Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion is one of several young players looking to prove a point against his more illustrious Leinster opponents in tonight’s Sportsground fixture.