Connacht close to naming new coach

Connacht Rugby will announce details of next season's coaching ticket imminently, according to Andy Friend.

The Westerners’ director of rugby will depart for his native Australia at the end of the season.

Former defence coach Peter Wilkins has been head coach since the start of this season and also went on the Ireland tour to New Zealand last summer as part of Andy Farrell’s management team.

"Hopefully, there’s be an announcement this week, if not, early next week, it’s imminent," said Friend, whose side play Zebre away in the BTK URC on Saturday.

"I believe there has been a candidate identified and hopefully the club is in a position to announce something in a short space of time."

Connacht sit 10th in the table after a poor start but have bounced back to win their last two league games.

Friend will be able to call on Ireland squad members Caolin Blade and Cian Prendergast in Parma, while he also confirmed that back Byron Ralston (below) will be out until May after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury suffered against Newcastle in the Challenge Cup.

"The high shot off the ball that was missed by everybody," said Friend about the tackle.

"It wasn’t missed by poor auld Byron, he’s copped a pretty serious injury there.

"The bloke played on for about another eight or nine minutes, made a couple of very good tackles in that time with a busted leg. That just shows you his character, his toughness. You don’t want those incidents the game."

On the subject of players potentially losing focus amid the uncertainty around next season’s management team, Friend said: "We’ve been addressing that as a team and as individuals.

"It comes down to individuals really, you’ve got to keep them on track. We are all still currently employed to get this