Connacht coach Kieran Keane is happy with his side’s progression in his first season in charge, but admits they need to beat Gloucester on Saturday to have any hope of Champions Cup rugby next season.

Cheetahs 26 Connacht 25: Two weeks ago, as Connacht headed off on a tour to Treviso in Italy and the Highveld in South Africa, they would probably have settled for a return of five points against two sides who have been chalking up the results in their own backyards.

Meanwhile, Finlay Bealham returns from a knee injury to make his 100th appearance for Connacht.

Connacht will hope that a home win over a 15th different French club at the Sportsground today will not only confirm a home quarter-final in the Challenge Cup but might also be enough to ensure a potential semi-final would also be back in Galway.

It’s an interpro, it’s an International trial and, for the respective coaches, it is above all else an important Guinness PRO14 game.

Connacht's five-match winning run came to an end as Cardiff Blues triumphed 36-30 at Arms Park.

Connacht captain John Muldoon said that Simon Zebo has probably put his international career ‘on the back burner’ by going to France, but the veteran star can understand why he has made the move.

Connacht 15 Worcester Warriors 8: You suspect the more Kieran Keane settles into life in Galway the more he appreciates exactly what his predecessor Pat Lam achieved, not just with limited resources but the manner in which he got them to play in the difficult climatic conditions.

Connacht v Scarlets: Connacht, having lost only once at home on their way to that memorable Guinness PRO12 crown a year ago, will be bidding to prevent a fifth league defeat at the Sportsground this season when facing a Scarlets side bidding for a semi-final place.

Irish lock Ultan Dillane says it was never his intention to leave Connacht despite interest from several clubs, with Munster believed to be among those pursuing him.

Connacht coach Pat Lam expects to face a much stronger Edinburgh team this Friday than the one Munster beat in Thomond Park last weekend.

Connacht have lost again at the Sportsground in the Guinness Pro12.

Not the start the defending champions would have wanted.

And so the saga has come to an end.

Point to point winner Road To Respect is yet to make the breakthrough after three runs on the racecourse, but Eoin Griffin’s five-year-old can right that wrong in the two-mile-six Cashel Maiden Hurdle this afternoon at Thurles.

Champion Hurdle runner-up Arctic Fire is the headline name that remains in Sunday’s Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

Cratloe relinquished a second senior crown inside seven days, when their footballers were surprisingly beaten by Clondegad on a final scoreline of 1-12 to 0-11 in the quarter-final of the Clare SFC at Cusack Park yesterday.

Emerging Ireland 33 Uruguay 7: Rhys Ruddock’s hopes of taking part in the World Cup rest upon the results of an x-ray after damaging his right arm just two months after surgery.

Tbilisi Cup

James Cronin and Stephen Archer will get their opportunity to show national coach Joe Schmidt that they can be relied upon for the World Cup after both Munster props were selected for the Emerging Ireland squad.

Flemenstar will make his long-awaited return in Saturday’s Webster Cup at Navan.

Trainer Eoin Griffin is keeping his fingers crossed Azorian has turned a corner after the highly-tried gelding gained an overdue success at Navan yesterday.

Felix Yonger should successfully revert to hurdling in the Ballsbridge Hurdle in Leopardstown today.

Paul Carberry (41 today) showed at Leopardstown yesterday that he is as good as ever when taking the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase on Apache Stronghold.

The Boylesports.com Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival is top of the agenda for Mallowney following a staggeringly easy win in the Underwriting Exchange Dan Moore Memorial Chase at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Dual Grade One-winning hurdler The Tullow Tank makes his eagerly-anticipated debut over fences at Fairyhouse today.

Fever Pitch, trained by Arthur Moore for JP McManus, won the fifth race of his life when taking the Wilderness Rated Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

Barry Geraghty followed-up a double for Rebecca Curtis in Aintree on Sunday with another brace in Wexford yesterday, highlighted by the wide-margin victory of Seefood in the listed M W Hickey Memorial Chase.

Joe Schmidt has angrily denied influencing provincial selection, rubbishing suggestions he has “blocked” Darren Cave’s path back to the Ireland squad.

Ruby Walsh retained his unbeaten record since his lengthy absence when partnering Old Castletown to an all-the-way win in the opening maiden hurdle in Tramore yesterday.

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith has pledged to continue recruiting in Ireland and wants to develop a partnership with the IRFU to provide a platform for Irish players in England.

Ireland won their first IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest tonight but only after a dogged fight from a gritty Romanian side.

Emerging Ireland head coach Dan McFarland expects much more resistance from Uruguay than the feeble Russian effort, but won’t be sidetracked for the second of three IRB Nations Cup games at the Stadeionul National Arcul de Triumf today (2 pm Irish time).

Ireland’s director of rugby Eddie Wigglesworth hit back at criticism aimed at the IRFU for participating in the IRB Nations Cup.

Rotation is clearly the policy within the Irish squad participating in the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest and, in advance of Wednesday’s clash with Uruguay.

IRB NATIONS CUP: