While the senior squad travel to London for the final pool game of this season’s Heineken Cup, the Connacht Eagles will welcome Llanelli RFC to the Sportsground for round 6 of the British & Irish Cup.
Eagles Head Coach Nigel Carolan has made five personnel changes to the starting XV that lined out against Rotherham in the last round.
Following his return from a hamstring injury, Craig Ronaldson will start at outhalf. The 23-year-old former Lansdowne captain, has played in 12 senior games before Christmas in both the PRO12 and the Heineken Cup.
Frank Murphy, captain, makes up the half back pairing with Ronaldson.
Academy backs Steve Macauley and Rory Parata have both been promoted from the bench for this weekend’s game.
Up front, the pack has been boosted by the return from injury of senior lock Aly Muldowney, who partners Danny Qualter in the second row. Galway-born Aaron Conneely has been named at openside flanker.
The Eagles have won their two home games in pool 3 of the B&I Cup and will be looking to keep that record alive.
Llanelli will be confident coming off the back of their seven-try bonus point win over Bedford Blues last weekend.
Connacht Eagles v Llanelli RFC: Kick-off at the Sportsground is at 2pm on Saturday, January 18th and it’s free entry for all.
Connacht Eagles’ lineup v Llanelli RFC
15 Shane Layden
14 David Panter
13 Rory Parata
12 Conor Finn
11 Steve Macauley
10 Craig Ronaldson
9 Frank Murphy (captain)
1 Ronan Loughney
2 Dave Heffernan
3 JP Cooney
4 Danny Qualter
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Sean O’Brien
7 Aaron Conneely
8 Eoghan Masterson
Replacements (from):
16 James Rael
17 Finlay Bealham
18 Aaron McCloskey
19 Rory Moloney
20 Caolin Blade
21 Tadhg Leader
22 Brian Murphy
British & Irish Cup Fixtures
Round 1
Llanelli RFC 76 v 14 Connacht Eagles Sat 12th Oct 2012 KO 2pm Parc y Scarlets
Round 2
Connacht Eagles 27 v 25 Rotherham Titans Sat 19th Oct 2012 KO 2.30pm The Sportsground
Round 3
Connacht Eagles 17 v 8 Bedford Blues Sat 7th Dec 2012 KO 2.30pm The Sportsground
Round 4
Bedford Blues 50 v 17 Connacht Eagles Sat 14th Dec 2012 KO 2pm Goldington Road
Round 5
Rotherham Titans 57 v 3 Connacht Eagles Sat 11th Jan 2013 KO 2pm Clifton Lane
Round 6
Connacht Eagles v Llanelli Sat 18th Jan 2013 KO 2pm The Sportsground