Connacht to unleash Aki and Hansen in South Africa

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Connacht coaching team have selected a 28-man squad to travel to South Africa for the upcoming URC games against the Lions and the Sharks.

Ireland internationals Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham and Bundee Aki have been included in the squad

The squad departed from Dublin on Sunday for Johannesburg, where they will be based for the first week ahead of Saturday’s game with the Lions.

On Sunday, April 24 the travelling party then head for Durban in preparation for their game against the Sharks on Saturday 30th, before arriving back in Galway on Monday 2nd May.

Connacht are currently 10th in the United Rugby Championship standings and they will be targeting three wins from their remaining three games to try and squeeze into the top eight.

Connacht travelling party:

Forwards: Jack Aungier, Finlay Bealham, Paul Boyle, Denis Buckley, Jarrad Butler, Oisín Dowling, Jordan Duggan, Leva Fifita, Dave Heffernan, Greg Mcgrath, Jonny Murphy, Niall Murray, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast, Gavin Thornbury, Dylan Tierney-Martin.

Backs: Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Shayne Bolton, Jack Carty, Tom Daly, Tom Farrell, Conor Fitzgerald, Mack Hansen, Kieran Marmion, Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Alex Wootton