Connacht name team ahead of Dubarry Park clash

Connacht Eagles have named their side for the first home game in the new British and Irish Cup to take place in Dubarry Park on Friday night. Connacht Eagles is the province's second side and they will take on the Newcastle Falcons in Dubarry Park with a 7.45pm kickoff. A number of players from the Athlone region or who are Buccaneers players are named in the squad including Jack Carty, Shane Layden, Danny Qualter, Mark Dolan, Conor Finn, Eoghan Grace and Dave Heffernan Head Coach Nigel Carolan has made a host of changes to his squad ahead of this round two fixture. Fit again Brian Murphy replaces Conor Finn and joins Tadhg Leader in the centre. Steve Macauley replaces Matt Healy on the wing and Shane Layden moves from last week's full back position to the wing. Matthew Jarvis will start tomorrow at full back. Up front, there is an entirely new front row trio. Kevin O'Byrne makes an appearance from the bench as hooker and is joined by year 1 Academy member Finlay Bealham (loosehead) and Rodney Ah You (tighthead). Both TJ Anderson (captain) and Eoin McKeon return to B&I cup duty this weekend. They join Eoghan Grace in the back row. Connacht Eagles XV 15 Matthew Jarvis 14 Shane Layden 13 Brian Murphy 12 Tadhg Leader 11 Steve Macauley 10 Jack Carty 9 Marcus Walsh 1 Finlay Bealham 2 Kevin O'Byrne 3 Rodney Ah You 4 Mick Kearney 5 Danny Qualter 6 TJ Anderson (captain) 7 Eoghan Grace 8 Eoin McKeon Replacements (from): 16 Peter Reilly 17 JP Cooney 18 Jonathan Gardiner 19 Dave Heffernan 20 Mark Dolan 21 Conor Finn 22 Darragh Leader