Connacht suffer Swift injury blow

CONNACHT’S longest serving player, Michael Swift, could miss the remainder of the season after fracturing a bone in his right hand during Saturday’s loss to Aironi in the Magners League in Viadana.

The 33-year-old played in all 18 Magners League games this season — and all six games in the Amlin Challenge Cup — but his hopes of completing the year with a 100% record have been dashed.

Swift is ruled out for the next two to three weeks and will miss the final two home matches against Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues but coach Eric Elwood is hopeful he may see some game time before the end of the campaign.

“He’s a tough operator as we have seen down through the years but we could yet have him back for the away games against Ulster and Munster.

“However, it all depends how quickly he recovers over the next couple of weeks but we will have to plan without him,” added Elwood.

Meanwhile Connacht signed Leinster academy prop Stewart Maguire on a two-year contract yesterday. Despite representing Wales at U16 and U18 level while in the Dragons academy, the 6’5” 20st 6lbs tight-head prop joined Leinster two years ago and made 11 appearances for the province’s A side. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years at Leinster, where the coaching staff have improved my fitness and level of play enormously, and helped me to be an important part of the Ireland U20 side last season,” he said.

“However, I feel I now need exposure to regular rugby at a higher level, and Connacht’s coaching staff convinced me I can have a big role to play in their match day squad next season.”