12 years ago Connacht U18s will take on Languedoc, from the South West of France, on Sunday 22nd August at the Sportsground (kick-off at 3.00pm). 
The match is part of the underage teams preparation for the Inter-Provincial series in September where Connacht take on their Leinster, Ulster and Munster counterparts at Youth and Schools level. The U18 side are managed by Michael Horan and coached by Eamonn Molloy and Jimmy Duffy and have been training for 9 weeks over the summer with a comprehensive program covering areas such as speed, weights, team and unit skills under the supervision of the coaches and fitness advisor Antoine Mobian and Neil O’Toole. The preseason continues the following Friday with a match against the Irish Exiles at the Sportsground (ko 5.00pm)
Academy Manager Nigel Carolan had this to say: “This is the introduction for the players to Inter-Provincial rugby and we will hope to replicate the success of previous years (Connacht have won the Youth Inter-Provincial series for the last 4 years). The underage setup has seen a steady stream of players make it the Connacht senior side in recent years, players such as Ronan Loughney, Aidan Wynne and Dave Nolan all played for Connacht at U18 level so this squad of players know what they can achieve”
U18 Fixtures
U18 Warm-Up Sun. Aug. 22 Connacht v Languedoc Sportsground 3.00 p.m.
U18 Warm-Up Fri. Aug. 27 Connacht v Exiles Sportsground 5.00 p.m.
U18 Schools Interpro Wed. Sept. 8 Leinster v Connacht Donnybrook
U18 Schools Interpro Wed. Sept. 15 Munster v Connacht Garryowen
U18 Clubs Interpro Sat. Sept. 18 Connacht v Ulster Sportsground 1.00 p.m.
U18 Schools Interpro Wed. Sept. 22 Connacht v Ulster Buccaneers
U18 Clubs Interpro Sat. Sept. 25 Munster v Connacht
U18 Clubs Interpro Sat. Oct. 2 Leinster v Connacht Barnhall 2.00 p.m.
