JJ Hanrahan set to return from injury in major boost for Connacht

JJ Hanrahan is in line to make his long-awaited return from injury for Connacht in this week's EPCR Challenge Cup trip to Cardiff, with the province confirming the out-half is available for selection.

Hanrahan hasn't played since suffering an ACL injury in April of last year, after what had been an impressive debut season to that point with Connacht.

The Kerryman had established himself as first-choice out-half for the province last season, playing in 19 of their 21 games across the URC, Champions and Challenge Cups, before suffering his knee injury on 27 April against the Dragons, who he had joined Connacht from the previous summer.

"JJ is available for selection this week," Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins said.

"First and foremost I have to acknowledge the journey he's been on, the last game of rugby over in Dragons in April.

"It’s a lonely journey as you’ll all be aware with these long-term injuries. The way he has grafted away has been unbelievably professional.

"He’s broken up that rehab into bite-size chunks and gone about his business really well. For him to get to this point is fantastic and credit to him.

"In terms of where he’s at, he’s been training fully with the team for the last couple of weeks, and outside of that training we have been topping up his running load and contact load, as if to replicate the fact he’s been playing games on weekends.

"He’s fit and ready to go, how we use him this weekend we'll have to wait and see. It’s brilliant to have him back in the mix."

Hanrahan's injury (above) forced Connacht into an emergency signing of former All Black Josh Ioane, who has shared out-half duties with Jack Carty so far this season, but the return of 32-year-old Hanrahan is a major boost for the province, who