A lot on the line as Connacht get set to host Ulster in first Interpro of the season

We're three weeks into the BKT United Rugby Championship, but with the World Cup in the rearview mirror and a first Irish Interpro ahead of us this weekend, it feels like the new season has finally arrived.

Connacht and Ulster will both be without their frontline internationals for this evening’s meeting at the Sportsground, but that will take little away from a game that already has plenty at stake.

It’s early days, but both sides have laid solid foundations for their season with two wins from two, but with a difficult run of games ahead for each province, maintaining that 100% record is a huge carrot to chase in Galway.

The hosts are looking a lot healthier than they were at this stage last season when they lost three games in a row to start the campaign, and the fact that they rallied to secure Champions Cup rugby means they should be aiming even higher in 2023/24, which has given them a far more generous opening.

Last season they found themselves on the road for each of those opening three games while works were being completed on their artificial turf at the Sportsground, but three home games in a row to start this term has given them an ideal opportunity to hit the ground running.

So far, Pete Wilkins’ side have made the home comforts count, with back-to-back 34-26 wins against the Ospreys and Glasgow putting them in a healthy position early on. What will please them most is how they've handled an off-season that threw up so many changes, with director of rugby Andy Friend, forwards coach Dewald Senekal and attack coach Mossy Lawler all moved on, with John Muldoon, Scott Fardy (below) and Mark Sexton all brought in.

Connacht have made a habit of slow starts in recent years, and a win against Ulster would be their first