Quartet to make Connacht debuts

Connacht boss Michael Bradley has named his starting line-up for Friday’s pre-season friendly against Harlequins.

The province’s Churchill Cup stars, captain John Muldoon, hooker Sean Cronin, scrum-half Frank Murphy and centre Keith Matthews have all been left out, while star prop Brett Wilkinson has been left on the bench.

However, Bradley has been able to call upon the services of four of his summer signings for the game at the Stoop.

In the backs, Miah Nikora has been entrusted with the number 10 jersey, with Brian Tuohy lining out on the right wing.

Bernie Upton will start in the second row alongside Michael Swift, while Mike McComish gets the nod at number eight in a back row which will also features Mike McCarthy and Johnny O’Connor.

Meanwhile, Academy products Eoin Griffin and Tiarnan have been listed amongst the replacements.

Looking ahead to the first of Connacht’s pre-season fixtures, Bradley admitted that he is excited by the prospect of seeing a number of his most recent arrivals in action for the first time.

"Pre-season, as always, is about game-time so there'll be an opportunity for everybody in the three games,” the former Ireland international commented, alluding to the upcoming fixtures against Gloucester, on Saturday week, and the August 28 clash with Rotherham Titans.

"But the Harlequins game will be an opportunity for us to introduce a lot of our new signings this year.

"Our pre-season has gone very well and the lads have trained hard. We're happy with the intensity the players have shown and the progress they've made."

CONNACHT v Harlequins: Troy Nathan, Brian Tuohy, Niva Ta'auso, Aidan Wynne, Fionn Carr; Miah Nikora, Conor O'Loughlin; Ronan Loughney, Adrian Flavin (capt), Robbie Morris, Michael Swift, Bernie Upton, Mike McCarthy, Johnny O'Connor, Mike McComish.

Replacements (from): Andrew Browne, Kieran Campbell, Eoin Griffin, Jamie Hagan, Conor Higgins, Dermot Murphy, David Nolan, Ray Ofisa, Tiarnan O'Halloran, Brett Wilkinson.