Big names return for Connacht

Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan and Gavin Duffy return to the Connacht squad to play Bayonne in the Amlin Challenge Cup at The Sportsground on Friday night (7pm).

Coach Eric Elwood has named a 25-man squad sees the inclusion of extra cover at front row and the backline as Darragh Fanning and Barry Fa’amausili retain their places.

The return of Ray Ofisa and Keith Matthews will help bolster the side as Connacht look to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to I Cavalieri in Italy.

CONNACHT SQUAD (v Bayonne):

Forwards: Adrian Flavin, Andrew Browne, Barry Fa’amasuili, Bernie Upton, Brett Wilkinson, Dermot Murphy, Jamie Hagan, John Muldoon, Johnny O’Connor, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, Ray Ofisa, Ronan Loughney, Sean Cronin.

Backs: Cillian Willis, Darragh Fanning, Fionn Carr, Frank Murphy, Gavin Duffy, Ian Keatley, Keith Matthews, Miah Nikora, Niva Ta’auso, Shane Monahan, Troy Nathan.