IRISH coach Eddie O’Sullivan will release nine players back to their provinces tomorrow to assist their Celtic League programmes this weekend.

Tongan international Andrew Mailei will sign for Connacht on a one-year deal as a direct replacement for Mark McHugh, who is out of the game with a long-term injury.

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley has made four changes to the side that lost to a controversial injury-time penalty against the Ospreys for Saturday’s European Challenge Cup tie against Italy’s Armatori Catania.