Connacht duo set for debuts

New signings Brett Wilkinson and Adrian Flavin could make their debuts for Connacht next weekend when Michael Bradley's men take on Narbonne in France in a pre-season friendly.

Prop Wilkinson (22), who joined from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and 27-year-old hooker Flavin, who links up with Connacht from London Irish, are included in the 22-man squad for the trip to the south of France.

Connacht are bringing a strong squad to Narbonne for their encounter with the French side which will take place at Parc des Sports et de L'Amitie on Saturday evening (5.30 pm Irish time).

Connacht and Narbonne have a long-running rivalry, having clashed five times in the European Challenge Cup in the past eight seasons.

Connacht manager Tim Allnutt says they are looking forward to the clash.

"It will be a good workout for us. The players have done a very good pre-season and this will bring them on for the start of the competitive season," he said.

Connacht will open their Magners League campaign away to Borders at the start of September and will then have six home games on the trot in the competition.

Connacht (squad v Narbonne): B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop, J Fogarty, R Loughney, M Diffley, A Farley, D Gannon, M Lacey, C Rigney, M Swift, B O'Connor, C O'Loughlin, T Tierney, M McHugh, D Slemen, P Warwick, G Williams, J Hearty, K Matthews, D Riordan, M Mostyn.