SAMOA open their northern hemisphere tour in Galway this evening when they take on a young Connacht side at the Sportsground (7.05pm).

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood reckons some of the emerging talent in the province will get a glorious chance to prove themselves when Samoa come to Galway next Tuesday.

The teams for this weekend's round of AIL rugby fixtures have been announced today.

Blackrock College will be able to call on the strike power of their Ireland U20s Andrew Conway and Brendan Macken in Division 1A against a Dolphin disrupted without their regular number eight James Coughlan, who has been called up by Munster.

The teams for this weekend's round of All-Ireland League rugby matches have been announced.

CONNACHT head coach Eric Elwood is expecting the Scarlets to be smarting tomorrow after an opening-day Magners League loss against Benetton Treviso last weekend.

CONNACHT’S new coaching director Eric Elwood is sweating on the availability of players before a ball has been kicked in this season’s Magners League.

ERIC ELWOOD will have a final chance to see some of the new signings in action before the real work begins as his Connacht side take on Saracens tomorrow at the Sportsground, Galway (6.30pm).

IT MIGHT, in reality, be the Airtricity League versus the Football Conference but any meeting of Ireland and England comes with added spice and tonight’s International Challenge Trophy game at the RSC in Waterford (7.30) is no exception.

Leaders Cork Constitution plan to utilise Munster's Jeremy Manning at out-half with David Lyons slipping back to full-back for the first-versue-second tussle with St Mary's College in Division 1A of the AIB League at Templeville Raod on Saturday.

Cork Constitution bring back Munster-capped tight-head Stephen Archer into their front row for the clash with Garryowen in Division One of the AIB League at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

Leinster wing Michael Keating comes back into the Clontarf side as they go toe-to-toe with Shannon in the AIL at Castle Avenue on Saturday.

Leaders St Mary's College will give a debut to scrum-half Cormac Quinn in a first versus second encounter with Blackrock College, who have been decimated by Magner's League and Ireland U19 commitments, at Templeville Road.

Cork Constitution will give an AIL debut to possible Ireland Under-20 second row Brian Hayes at home to UL-Bohemian at Temple Hill tomorrow.

Cork City 1 Galway 0