Farrell set for 100th Connacht appearance

Tom Farrell will become the latest Connacht centurion when he lines out in Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship opener against Ospreys at The Sportsground (3pm).

Farrell joined Connacht in 2017 from Bedford Blues and has become a key member of the squad from outside centre, scoring 19 tries.

There are also debuts for up to six summer signings with Joe Joyce, JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Smith are named in the starting XV, while Tadgh McElroy, Seán O’Brien and Liam McNamara could earn their first Connacht caps if called upon from the bench.

The rest of the matchday squad has a settled look to it, with a front row of Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin and Jack Aungier.

Lock Oisin Dowling partners Joyce, while the backrow sees number 8 Jarrad Butler joined by flankers Cian Prendergast and Shamus Hurley-Langton.

Scrum-half Caolin Blade is named as captain, while centre Cathal Forde starts alongside Farrell.

Wingers Byron Ralston and Diarmuid Kilgallen complete the side with Smith selected at full-back..

Connacht: Andrew Smith; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Cathal Forde, Byron Ralston; JJ Hanrahan, Caolin Blade (capt); Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; Oisín Dowling, Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Jarrad Butler.

Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Peter Dooley, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Niall Murray, Seán O'Brien, Colm Reilly, Jack Carty, Liam McNamara.

More to follow...

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