Connacht pencil in Samoa fixture

Rugby: Connacht have lined-up an international match against Samoa to be played at the Sportsground on Tuesday, November 9th…

Rugby:Connacht have lined-up an international match against Samoa to be played at the Sportsground on Tuesday, November 9th, subject to final approval from the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Connacht boss Gerry Kelly said he was “99 per cent certain” the fixture will go ahead.

“We are delighted to have a fixture of this calibre in the Sportsground, it continues a tradition of national teams visiting the west,” said Kelly, noting that season tickets will be valid for the game.

“Portugal played here (2008) and South Africa in 2007, the year they went on to win the World Cup, so we are well used to hosting teams from other nations.”

READ MORE

The western province have an association with Samoa as Gavin Willams and Ofisa Treveranus were both capped by the Samoan national side having played with Connacht, while Ray Ofisa and Niva Ta’auso (current Connacht players) are also from the Navigators Islands.

As part of their autumn northern hemisphere tour, Samoa plan to play Ireland, England and Scotland before returning for a one-off test match against Japan.

Coach Eric Elwood has named an extended squad ahead of Friday’s pre-season game against the Harlequins at the Sportsground.

The 27-man squad includes summer signings Ezra Taylor, Cillian Willis, Shane Monahan and Darragh Fanning, while long-serving flanker Johnny O’Connor takes the captain’s armband in absence of the injured John Muldoon.

Kick-off on Friday is 6.30pm.

Connacht squad (v Harlequins): Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan, Michael Swift, Bernie Upton, Andrew Browne, Johnny O'Connor (C), Mike McComish, Conor O'Loughlin, Ian Keatley, Fionn Carr, Aidan Wynne, Niva Taauso, Tiernan O'Halloran, Troy Nathan. Replacements from:Rob Sweeney , Dermot Murphy, Dave Nolan, Mike McCarthy, Ray Ofisa, Ezra Taylor, Eoin Griffin, Keith Matthews, Miah Nikora, Darragh Fanning, Shane Monahan, Cillian Willis