Connacht injury problems mounting

Guinness Pro12 champions Connacht will have to start their title defence this weekend without forwards Nathan White and Ben Marshall as their long-term concussions persist.

The western province has already lost centre Dave McSharry to a concussion- related retirement this month and head coach Pat Lam has been forced to rule out Ireland international tighthead prop White and lock Marshall from his preparations for this Saturday’s Pro12 opener at home to Glasgow Warriors.

Lam, who has a string of players unavailable due to various injuries, lost the services of both White and Marshall last spring as Connacht pushed to secure the home play-off berth that would ultimately secure their first Pro12 title in May. He has had to wait patiently while the province’s medical staff have overseen the recoveries of both forwards.