Connacht sweating over fitness of hookers

Eoin de Buitlèar is not expected back for a month and Shane Delahunt could be longer, leaving Dylan Tierney-Martin and Dave Heffernan, out of the last three games with a thigh injury, to cover the slot heading to Newport this weekend.

INJURIES: Dave Heffernan back from injury and available for this weekends BKT URC fixture.Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

The Connacht management are keeping their fingers crossed that none of their two remaining hookers get injured ahead of their trip this weekend to take on the Dragons with every point vital in their quest for a knockout spot.

The experienced Shane Delahunt, believed to be one of a number of players being let go at the end of the season, is out with a hip injury and now academy hooker Eoin de Buitléar, who crowned his debut against Zebre with a try two weeks ago, is ruled out with a finger injury picked up in Italy.