CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley has been forced to name a 25-strong squad for Saturday’s Celtic Cup semi-final against Edinburgh at the Sportsground in Galway (2pm).

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named a 25-man squad for Saturday¹s Celtic Cup semi-final showdown against Edinburgh at the Sportsground in Galway (kick-off 2pm).

The Connacht team to play Celtic League leaders Ulster at the Sportsground on Saturday (K/O 2.30pm) shows seven changes from that which overcame Neath-Swansea Ospreys at St Helens at the weekend.

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 22 Connacht 33

ULSTER apart, these are vital weeks for the Irish provinces in the Celtic League.

Connacht have made four changes to the side that defeated Llanelli at the weekend for Saturday¹s Celtic League clash against The Borders at the Sportsground (kick-off 2.30 pm).

Eddie O'Sullivan and the other members of the Irish rugby management will be in attendance as Connacht take on London Irish in a pre-season friendly to mark the official opening of the new Connacht Rugby headquarters at the sportsground this Tuesday evening (kick-off 6.30 pm).

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney is confident that this evening’s friendly against Connacht at Thomond Park (kick-off 6. 30) will be beneficial where preparations for Sunday week’s Heineken European Cup quarter-final clash with Leicester are concerned.

Pontypridd 12 Connacht 9

Connacht 30 Pontypridd 35

MATT WILLIAMS was in surprisingly upbeat mood at Dublin Airport yesterday given Leinster’s onerous task .

The Connacht team to play Narbonne tomorrow in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup tie shows five changes from that which played against Munster in the Celtic League quarter-final at the weekend.

Connacht coach Steph Nel has announced a 22 man squad for Saturday evening's Parker Pen Challenge Cup first leg clash against Narbonne at Parc des Sports et de L'Amitie.

THE Irish Rugby Football Union face a revolt from within their own ranks if any attempt is made to dump Connacht from their Provincial plans.

The Connacht team to play Munster in the Celtic League quarter-final at Musgrave Park on Friday evening has been announced.

Mont de Marsan 12 Connacht 26

Connacht, the only side in the Celtic League with a 100% record after five games, have made seven changes from the side that defeated Bridgend for Saturday's top of the table clash with Pontypridd at the Galway Sportsground (kick-off 3 pm).

Bridgend 23 Connacht 24

EDINBURGH have made a flying start to the Celtic League campaign, but coach Frank Hadden may be cursing Romania for making their qualification a little bit harder.

JEREMY STAUNTON will be encouraged to make use of his pace in the wide, open spaces of Musgrave Park on Friday night.

Borders 27 Connacht 28

Borders 27 Connacht 28

Wasps 33 Connacht 27

Former Scottish captain Eric Peters will make his debut for Connacht in a pre-season friendly against London Wasps at Adams Park in High Wycombe on Sunday (kick-off 3 pm).

Buccaneers, despite having nothing other than pride to play for, had no intention of making it easy for Cork Con at Ericsson Park and in the end Ronan O¹Gara and his men had to dig deep to set up a home semi-final date with Garryowen in two weeks.

Connacht 30