Connacht to play Wasps in friendly

Connacht will play a pre-season friendly against the London Wasps side now being coached by their former supremo Warren Gatland.

The New Zealander took over the Zurich Premiership side earlier this year after being sacked as Irish coach.

Gatland helped turn around the fortunes of the relegation-threatened London side, taking them from near the bottom of the Premiership to European qualification.

The game will take place at Wasps' new ground at Adams Park in High Wycombe on Sunday, August 18.

The game is of particular significant for Wasps coach Gatland as he spent two seasons coaching at Connacht before becoming the Irish national coach.

It is one of three pre-season friendlies which Connacht will play - on August 14 they entertain Zurich Premiership finalists Bristol Shoguns, while on August 22 Munster travel to Galway.

Connacht will open their Celtic League campaign the following week away to new Scottish side, Borders.