Connacht supporters will have a final chance to purchase tickets at the reduced for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at the Magners League game against the Dragons at the Sportsground on St Patrick’s Day.
Tickets for the eagely awaited clash with Bourgoin at the Sportsground on April 10 (kick-off 1pm) are selling well and fans have availed at the offer of reduced prices for regular supporters.
A large volume of tickets was sold at Connacht’s Magners League clash against Glasgow Warriors for the European showdown and fans will have one final chance to avail of the reduced prices on St Patrick’s Day.
Tickets will be on sale at the Sportsground for next Wednesday’s clash with the Dragons (kick-off 6.30pm) at the following prices for the Bourgoin game:

Ground Tickets     €20
Concession     €15

Child        €10
Supporters can buy a maximum of five tickets each.



Tickets will go on public sale through ticketmaster.ie and in Ticketmaster outlets from Thursday 18th March 2010.  Elverys Tuam and Elverys Claremorris now have Ticketmaster outlets in their stores.


On the 18th March remaining tickets will go on general release at the following prices:

Ground Tickets        €25

Concession        €20

Child           €10
Plus booking fee from Ticketmaster (postage and packing.admin etc)

Connacht's Tiernan O'Halloran will start on the wing for the Ireland U-20 side who take on Wales in the
Six Nations Championship at Dubarry Park on Friday evening.

O'Halloran will start on the left-wing, while Connacht's Eoin Griffin is included among the replacements.

There is also a new look to the front row as Jack O'Connell moves from tighthead to loosehead with Stewart Maguire moving up from the replacements for his first start. Bryan Cagney will move to the bench.

There are two new faces on the bench with Leinster's Risteard Byrne and Munster's Gareth Quinn McDonogh coming into the 22 for the first time.

Speaking of his selection and of the task at hand, Clarke said "Whilst the decision to alternate the squad was given much consideration, the changes reflect the quality of the player group."

"Stewart Maguire has been impressive when he has been launched from the bench and Tiernan O'Halloran has returned to the fine form he was displaying prior to sustaining an injury in a warm up match in December. Gareth's inclusion in the replacements is reward for his performances in the AIB League with Shannon as is that of Risteard Byrne with UCD."

"Planning and preparation has gone well. There is an appetite within the squad to continually develop as individuals and as a team. The attention to detail and focus to improve reflect the respect we have for Wales and the squad ambition to build on our performances in the championship"

Ireland Under 20 take on Wales U20 on Friday 12th March at 19.35hrs in Dubarry Park, Athlone.

Ireland U20 team to play Wales U20:
15 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster)
14 - Darren Hudson (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
13 - Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster)
12 - Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11 - Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht)
10 - James McKinney (Queen's University/Ulster)
9 - John Cooney (UCD /Leinster)
1 - Jack O'Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster)
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
3 - Stewart Maguire (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
4 - David O'Callaghan (UCC/Munster)
5 - Ben Marshall (UCD/Leinster)
6 - Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster) (Capt.)
7 - Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8 - Patrick Butler (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements:
16 - Risteard Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
17 - Bryan Cagney (UCC/Munster)
18 - Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 - Robin O'Sullivan (Bective Rangers/Leinster)
20 - Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
21 - Gareth Quinn McDonogh (Shannon/ Munster)
22 - Eoin Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht)

The 10th season of the tournament will see the Magners League expanded to four nations as Italy joins Ireland, Scotland and Wales in a high profile 12-team cross-border competition designed to considerably enhance both playing standards and commercial viability for the competing countries.

The three Celtic Unions have unanimously agreed to the introduction of two new Italian super sides and the four-year agreement will see Benetton Treviso and Aironi Rugby, (whose players will be drawn from MPS Rugby Viadana, Banca Monte Rugby Parma, Plusvalore Gran Parma, BluGeo Colorno, Vibu Noceto, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Mantova), competing against defending champions Munster and the other nine Celtic teams on a home and away basis.

The move to welcome Italian sides comes at the end of a year-long review of the viability of expanding the tournament, the detailed analysis and due diligence undertaken by the sports consultancy arm of Deloittes and focusing on the basis of long term financial capacity to support the teams and commit to the league.

David Jordan, Director of Celtic Rugby, said: "This is another massive step forward for the Magners League and follows the decision to go to a top four Play-Off system to determine our champion team.

"As well as providing more fixtures for the teams already involved this will also bring both a major cash injection into the competition and greater exposure across Europe.

"The implementation of the Plays-Offs and the Magners League Grand Final this season has already seen a marked improvement in the competitiveness of the League and the arrival of two Italian teams will provide another boost to the competition.

Giancarlo Dondi, President of Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR), said: "I am very pleased that, after months of intense negotiations, an agreement that will see two Italian teams join the Magners League at the start of next season has been reached.

"I am sure that the Magners League will bring benefits to all Italian rugby and will have a positive impact on the competitiveness of our national team."

The Dragons will come to the Sportsground on St Patrick’s Day in the next in an exciting list of home matches for Connacht.
A huge crowd is expected for the 6.30pm kick-off on St Patrick’s Day as the Newport Gwent Dragons, fresh from their win over Munster, come to Galway.
Tickets will be on sale at the match, at a reduced rate, for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final on Saturday, April 10.
Connacht’s regular supporters will have the option of buying tickets at the following prices at the game:
Ground Tickets        €20

Concession        €15

Child            €10

Supporters can buy a maximum of five tickets each.



On the 18th March remaining tickets will go on general release at the following prices:

Ground Tickets        €25

Concession        €20

Child            €10

Plus booking fee from Ticketmaster (postage and packing.admin etc)

UPCOMING MATCHES AT THE SPORTSGROUND

Wed, 17th March: Connacht v Dragons (6.30pm, Magners League)
Fri, 2nd April: Connacht v Edinburgh (6pm, Magners League)
Sat, 10th April: Connacht v Bourgoin (1pm, Amlin Challenge Cup)
Sun, 18th April: Connacht v Munster (5.05pm, Magners League)