URC teams: Mack Hansen back for Connacht as Thaakir Abrahams makes Munster bow; Aidan Morgan gets nod at Ulster

Mack Hansen and Santi Cordero both start for Connacht in Saturday's BKT URC clash with Munster, while Pete Wilkins has handed debuts to three players.

Cian Prendergast captains the side with Hansen starting his first competitive match since a serious shoulder injury on New Year's Day.

Cordero comes straight into the starting XV after featuring for Argentina in the Rugby Championship, and Josh Murphy also starts his first game since May 2023 after completing his medical placement.

New half-back duo Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane, and Piers O’Conor at outside centre, make their Connacht bows at Thomond Park (5.30pm, live on RTÉ).

Prop Jack Aungier starts at tighthead alongside double centurions Denis Buckley and Dave Heffernan, while Joe Joyce and Darragh Murray are in the second row. Conor Oliver completes the pack as the openside flanker.

Cathal Forde is named at inside centre, while Shayne Bolton completes the back three on the left wing alongside Hansen and Cordero.

Meanwhile, for Munster, Thaakir Abrahams (above), Tom Farrell and Billy Burns all make their debuts, while Diarmuid Barron skippers the team.

Jean Kleyn makes a welcome return from a 10-month absence due to an eye injury and starts in the second row for Graham Rowntree's side.

Mike Haley is named at full-back, with Abrahams, and Shane Daly, who didn't miss a single minute of URC action last season, on either wing.

There are first-time half-back and centre partnerships as Craig Casey and Billy Burns start together, and Alex Nankivell and Farrell partner up in midfield.

Jeremy Loughman, Barron and John Ryan pack down in the front row, with Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.

Academy flanker Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes complete the starting XV.

Els