Connacht name team to face Harlequins

Johnny O'Connor will lead Connacht out against Harlequins in their first pre-season match on Friday at the Sportsground in Galway.

The 27-man squad listed includes summer signings Ezra Taylor, Cillian Willis, Shane Monahan and Darragh Fanning, all starting on the bench, while Ireland U-20 Tiernan O'Halloran starts on the wing.

It will be former Ireland out-half Eric Elwood's first experience as head coach as he plots to take Connacht off the bottom of the Manger's League where they have ended for the last three seasons.

CONNACHT (v Harlequins):

1 Brett Wilkinson

2 Adrian Flavin

3 Jamie Hagan

4 Michael Swift

5 Bernie Upton

6 Andrew Browne

7 Johnny O’Connor (Capt)

8 Mike McComish

9 Conor O’Loughlin

10 Ian Keatley

11 Fionn Carr

12 Aidan Wynne

13 Niva Ta’auso

14 Tiernan O’Halloran

15 Troy Nathan

Replacements from: Rob Sweeney , Dermot Murphy, Dave Nolan, Mike McCarthy, Ray Ofisa, Ezra Taylor, Eoin Griffin, Keith Matthews, Miah Nikora, Darragh Fanning, Shane Monahan, Cillian Willis.