Rugby:There was mixed news on the injury front for Connacht coach Michael Bradley as he prepares to welcome the might of Toulon to the Sportsground for their Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final on Friday night.
The news that his captain, John Muldoon, was passed fit to lead the province out in Galway is an undoubted fillip for Bradley. Frank Murphy, Jamie Hagan and Niva TA’auso have also been cleared to play.
But the Cork man will have to plan without centre Keith Matthews and flanker Ray Ofisa. Matthews has been ruled out with an ankle injury while Ofisa suffered another bout of vertigo during the crushing defeat at the Scarlets last Sunday.
Robbie Morris remains a concern and Conor Higgins is included in an extended 26-man squad in case the English prop fails to make it. Bradley will finalise his starting XV tomorrow.
The ERC today announced details of the Challenge Cup final with the venue dependent on the result of Connacht’s game.
Should the westerners overcome Toulon this weekend, they will meet the winners of Wasps and Cardiff at Kingsholm in Gloucester on Sunday May 23rd.
If they fail to reach the decider, the final will take place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on the same day.
Connacht squad:F Carr, G Duffy, I Keatley, F Murphy, T Nathan, M Nikora, C O'Loughlin, N Ta'auso, B Tuohy, A Wynne; S Cronin, A Flavin, J Hagan, C Higgins, R Loughney, M McCarthy, M McComish, R Morris, J Muldoon, G Naoupu, J O'Connor, M Swift, B Upton, B Wilkinson.