Two Mayo players named on Connacht Rugby matchday squad for clash with Zebre

Two Mayo rugby talents have been named on the Connacht Rugby matchday squad for tomorrow’s visit to Zebre Parma in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

There are five changes from the side that started last week’s historic fixture with Leinster at Dexcom Stadium. With Billy Bohan, Darragh Murray and Cian Prendergast unavailable, they have been replaced by Jordan Duggan, Niall Murray and Sean O’Brien.

The other changes are the inclusion of Jack Aungier at tighthead prop who replaces the injured Sam Illo, and Chay Mullins on the left wing.

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Otherwise it’s as selected from last week, with Dylan Tierney-Martin at hooker, Josh Murphy in the second row, and a back row of captain Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen.

Caolin Blade and Josh Ioane continue at 9 and 10, as does the centre partnership of Cathal Forde and Harry West. The in-form Shane Jennings and Sam Gilbert complete the side in the back three.

The replacements includes three Academy players in Matthew Victory, Fiachna Barrett and Sean Naughton, while Oisin McCormack is also named in the matchday squad for the first time this season. He wears the #23 jersey in a 6-2 split on the bench.

Barrett, who hails from Geesala is one of two Mayo players on the squad, as fellow former Ballina RFC club man Harry West will start. 

West started in the outside-centre position last week when Connacht Rugby opened their new Clan Stand at the Dexcom Stadium and he scored a try in the second half that temporarily nudged Connacht 20-13 ahead.

The third Mayo player on the Connacht team, Dave Heffernan, is still out. Last week the Ballina man had to sit out the clash versus Leinster due to a calf injury picked up the week before.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster says: “We were all gutted not to win last week on such a special night for the club, but we’ve had to quickly move on. The same amount of points are on offer this weekend and we know a win will keep us in the hunt for a playoff spot.

We’re obviously missing the lads away on Ireland duty but overall we’ve been able to keep selection relatively consistent these last few weeks, particularly in the backs. It’s been a long stretch of games but we’ll do everything we can to finish it on a high and hopefully head into the next block of games with a spring in our step.”

Zebre Parma v Connacht Rugby
Saturday 31st January, 15:00 @ Stadio Serigo Lanfranchi

Number/Name/Caps
15. Sam Gilbert (9)
14. Shane Jennings (27)
13. Harry West (6)
12. Cathal Forde (63)
11. Chay Mullins (15)
10. Josh Ioane (23)
9. Caolin Blade (219)
1. Jordan Duggan (71)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (67)
3. Jack Aungier (94)
4. Josh Murphy (51)
5. Joe Joyce (47)
6. Paul Boyle (126) (C)
7. Sean O’Brien (24)
8. Sean Jansen (37)

16. Matthew Victory (1)
17. Peter Dooley (57)
18. Fiachna Barrett (7)
19. David O’Connor (16)
20. Niall Murray (89)
21. Ben Murphy (27)
22. Sean Naughton (8)
23. Oisín McCormack (2)