Tonga's Mailei to sign for Connacht

Tongan international Andrew Mailei will sign for Connacht on a one-year deal as a direct replacement for Mark McHugh, who is out of the game with a long-term injury.

Mailei will come from NPC semi-finalists North Harbour and he will provide competition and back-up along the three-quarterline.

"We have been looking for a player to strengthen the midfield area and give us options and we are very pleased Mailei will be joining us here in Connacht," coach Michael Bradley told the Galway Advertiser newspaper.

"He has international experience, he is a line-breaker going forward, is strong defensively and can play in a number of positions. We are quite excited about him joining us."

Mailei will join his former teammate Andrew Gallagher and Taranaki's Irish-qualified prop Hamish Mitchell in Galway.

Meanwhile, the late withdrawals of hooker John Fogarty (rib cartilage) and centre John Hearty (hamstring) should not hinder Connacht's destruction of Italian club Catania at The Sportsground.

Joe Merrigan will make his European debut at hooker and Ted Robinson will come in on the left wing.

CONNACHT (v Catania): Matt Mostyn; Conor McPhillips, Darren Yapp, Keith Matthews, Ted Robinson; Paul Warwick, Chris Keane; Ray Hogan, John Fogarty, Stephen Knoop, Christian Short, Andrew Farley (Capt), John Muldoon, Matt Lacey, Colm Rigney.

Replacements: Dan McFarland, Joe Merrigan, Adrian Clarke, David Gannon, Brendan O'Connor, Conor O'Loughlin, tbc.