Connacht step up preparations in appealing friendly with Wasps

CONNACHT Rugby’s preparations for the upcoming year continue with a pre-season friendly this Saturday against English Premiership side Wasps at the Sportsground (5pm).

Over 30 players got a run out in the opening pre-season friendly against Castres in France last Friday, and new coach Pat Lam – in charge in front of the Connacht faithful for the first time since taking over from Eric Elwood at the end of last season – is likely to give game time to as many squad members as possible again this weekend.

Scrum-half Frank Murphy (29), who missed all of last season with a knee injury, has recovered and is likely to make a welcome reappearance for Connacht on Saturday.

Elsewhere on the injury front, Mick Kearney sits out this game having suffered mild concussion in the 42-31 defeat to Castres last Friday; while Dave Nolan, Dave McSharry and Kyle Tonetti are on the long-term injury list.

Connacht’s highest capped player Michael Swift is also on the road to full recovery and is in line to be available for the start of the league season in early September.

Wasps, who have several English internationals in their ranks, also lost their opening warm-up match against French opposition, Clermont Auvergne, away last week.

Connacht’s star Summer signing, New Zealander Craig Clarke, will be unveiled to the fans at College Road and is available for media work but is unlikely to play.

Clarke, fresh from winning his second successive Super Rugby title with the Chiefs, has been lured to Galway with a lucrative three-year contract.

A fringe All-Black player in 2012, Clarke said he is looking forward to his new adventure in the West of Ireland and teaming up with his former coach Lam.

Connacht’s first competitive match of the 2013/2014 season is at home to Zebre on Saturday, September 7.

They have another friendly away to Newcastle Falcons on Saturday August 24; both of the friendlies against English opposition will be ideal preparation their first Heineken Cup game of the season in October against Saracens on Friday October 11 at the Sportsground.