Connacht challenge is to get to Reading

Connacht could be heading for the Madejski stadium in Reading and a Challenge Cup final date if they overcome Harlequins in the two-leg semi-final.

The final takes place on Saturday, May 22nd, at 12.0 p.m. and will be contested by the winner of the Connacht v Harlequins and Bath v Montferrand semi-finals. The venue does have an Irish connection as London Irish play their home games in the English Premiership there.

Meanwhile, Leinster coach Gary Ella welcomes back a brace of senior players ahead of Friday night's game against The Borders. Tighthead prop Peter Coyle has recovered from the injury to his arm and he returns to join promising young Lansdowne prop John Lyne and UCD hooker David Blaney in the front row.

Aidan McCullen, knocked out by a punch from Cardiff forward Rob Appleyard in a recent Celtic League game between the teams, returns to the back row. The mandatory 21-day rest for a player suffering concussion ends on the day of the match. Brian O'Meara return at scrumhalf as Ella continues his rotation policy.

Felipe Contepomi, carried off on a stretcher against Connacht at the Sportsground last Saturday week, has recovered from a groin problem. The damage was initially feared to be a tear but it is just a strain and he is named at outhalf. He has just returned from Argentina, where he accompanied President Mary McAleese on her recent visit.

The Connacht team to play Llanelli at Stradey Park on Friday night in the Celtic League (live on BBC Wales) shows four changes from that which defeated Leinster last time out. Wayne Munn returns to the side on the left-wing with Mike Walls at scrumhalf. Adrian Clarke comes back in at tighthead prop, while Paul Neville returns at blindside flanker.

LEINSTER: J Norton; J McWeeney, G Brown, C Warner, B Burke; F Contepomi, B O 'Meara; J Lyne, D Blaney, P Coyle; C Potts, B Gissing; A McCullen, D Dillon (capt), N Ronan. Replacements: S Brophy or J Moran, B Blaney, A Kearney, S Crawford, B O'Riordan, M Leek, J Downey.

CONNACHT (v Llanelli): M Mostyn; C McPhillips, D Yapp (capt), M McHugh, W Munn; E Elwood, M Walls; D McFarland, B Jackman, A Clarke; D Browne, A Farley; P Neville, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: J Fogarty, P Bracken, M Swift, T Carter, C O'Loughlin, S Moore, J Meagher.

FIXTURES

Today

Senior Friendly: Clontarf v DLSP (7.30).

Universities: Dublin University v USA Universities, College Park (tbc).

Friday

Under-21 international: Ireland v Scotland, Stradbrook (2.30).

Celtic League: Llanelli v Connacht, Stradey Park (7.05); Ulster v Edinburgh, Ravenhill (7.30); Leinster v Borders, Donnybrook (7.30); Glasgow v Munster, Hughenden (7.35).

Leinster Senior Club: Naas v Waterpark, Forenaughts (7.45).

Saturday

Six Nations Championship: Wales v Italy, Millennium Stadium (1.30); Ireland v Scotland, Lansdowne Road (4.0); France v England, Stade de France (8.0).

Youths International: Ireland Under-18 v Italy Under-18, Donnybrook (11.30)

Leinster Senior Club: Terenure College v Dungannon, Lakelands (12.0).