Flavin to lead Connact against former side

Former London Irish hooker Adrian Flavin will captain Connacht against the Exiles against Guinness Premiership League leaders London Irish in the European Challange Cup at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has taken the unusual step of naming his side five days ahead of the fixture as he bids to play his entire squad over the next two games against Irish and at home to Dax.

“We are taking the two games as a pair and will be using our full squad over the two games. We have made a lot of changes as the same team, more or less, has played the last three matches against Munster, Leinster and the Scarlets in thirteen days and could not be expected to play five games in a row.

“We need a win and probably a bonus point from these two games and that should be enough for us to qualify,” said Bradley.

CONNACHT (v London Irish): D Riordan; F Carr, J Hearty, M Deane, T Nathan; A Dunne, K Campbell; J Lyne, A Flavin (capt), R Loughney; M Swift, A Farley; A Browne, D Gannon, C Rigney.

Replacements: J Merrigan, B McGovern, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, C O’Loughlin, I Keatley, M Roberts.