Rugby:New Zealand Maori prop Clint Newland could be in the Leinster team to face Edinburgh at the RDS on Saturday, after signing a short-term deal with the province.
Leinster’s lack of frontrow cover since the injury to Stan Wright led to an approach for the 30-year-old, who will be at the club until February.
Confirming the deal today, forwards Coach Jono Gibbes said: “We’re pleased to sign Clint and he will add experience to the group in place of the injured Stan Wright who, in recent seasons, has been the scrum leader in the Leinster pack.”
Newland has featured 94 times for Hawke Bay since 1999 and has been capped 24 times in the Super 14/15 by the Highlanders since 2008.
After arriving in Ireland on Tuesday he is available for selection ahead of the team announcement scheduled for Friday lunchtime.
Connacht, meanwhile, have added two props to their ranks by singing up South African Dylan Rogers and Kiwi Rodney Ah You in the absence of Robbie Morris through injury.
Rogers has played with the University of Cape Town and Griqualand West, while Ah You, who signed from Canterbury (NPC), has been capped by the All Blacks at under-19s and under-20s.
Both players can play on either side of the scrum.
“We’re delighted to have the two guys on board” said coach Eric Elwood today. “They offer us options to mix our team up a bit, the inclusion of the Italian teams in this year’s Magners League means an extra 25 per cent games and with the Amlin Challenge Cup as well it is important to be able to give guys a rest and rotate the squad”.
“We are also very happy to be able to give these young promising rugby players a chance to prove their worth on the big stage. Connacht have always offered opportunities for players to hold their hand up and rise to the challenge, these guys are big mobile forwards and we feel they will fit into our setup very well”.
Elwood also named his squad to face Treviso in the Magners League on Saturday. New prop Barry Fa’amausili joins centurion Brett Wilkinson in squad showing a mix of experience and youth.
Connacht Academy graduates Dermot Murphy and Ronan Loughney, along with Adrian Flavin and Jamie Hagan make up the frontrow while Cillian Willis, Frank Murphy, Miah Nikora and Ian Keatley form the half backs.
Elwood will finalise his match day 22 at 12 noon tomorrow.
Connacht squad (v Treviso):A Flavin, B Fa'amausilli, B Upton, B Wilkinson, D Murphy, E Taylor, J Hagan, J Muldoon, J O'Connor, M McCarthy, M Swift, R Loughney, R Ofisa, C Willis, D Fanning, F Carr, F Murphy, G Duffy, I Keatley, K Matthews, M Nikora, N Ta'auso, T Nathan