Pre-season friendlies: Connacht will attract a feast of pre-season rugby to the Sportsground in August after the province lined up four games in a month, the highlight being an encounter with Australian Super 14 side Queensland Reds.

The series of matches kicks-off on August 9th when the western province take on Leeds. One week later they will play Harlequins (16th) and then London Welsh the following Friday (22nd).

The concluding match will see a first ever encounter with Queensland Reds on Tuesday, August 26th. It's a game former Reds and current Connacht lock Andrew Farley will be looking forward to.

"It's exciting. It's been seven years since I played for Queensland so there are a lot of fresh young faces in that side since I was there and they've a lot of talent," said Farley.

"They're starting to play a brand new style of rugby now and it'll be a good experience for our guys to play a southern hemisphere side at the Sportsground.

"What is also worth noting is that the Reds will have played with the new ELVs for the previous season and it'll be good for us to play against a side who've already adapted to that style of play."
 
Connacht pre-season fixtures at the Sportsground, Galway

Connacht v Leeds - Saturday, August 9th (6.30pm)
Connacht v Harlequins - Saturday, August 16th  (6.30pm)
Connacht v London Welsh - Friday, August 22nd (6.30pm)
Connacht v Queensland Reds - Tuesday, August 26th (7.30pm)