Portugal play Connacht
Portugal have come to Ireland on a two-match tour, the first against Connacht in Galway on Sunday evening.
Portugal gathered many friends with their enthusiasm at the 2007 Rugby World Cup but may have slipped since then, ending fifth on the Six Nations B and beaten last weekend 21-13 buy Canada who play Ireland in Limerick on Saturday.
Portugal’s other match will be against Ulster at Ravenhill on Thursday.
Connacht has included two young players, David Nolan and John O’Brien who has been chosen for Ireland Under-20.
Also in the side are two players who have recovered from long term injuries, Tim Donnelly and Conor O’Loughlin..
Sunday’s game sees the eleventh international side visit the Sportsground since touring sides first came West with Argentina in 1973. With the opening of the new Connacht gym to precede the match on Sunday evening, all supporters have been invited to view the new facility once the game is over.
Teams:
Connacht squad: Kieran Campbell, Fionn Carr, Mel Deane, Tim Donnelly, Andy Dunne, Adrian Flavin, David Gannon, John Hearty, Ronan Loughney, John Lyne, Michael McCarthy, Joe Merrigan, Robbie Morris, Conor Muldoon, Troy Nathan, David Nolan, John O’Brien, Ray Ofisa, Conor O’Loughlin, Colm Rigney, Danny Riordan, Brett Wilkinson, Aidan Wynne.
Portuguese squad: Gustavo Duarte (Agronomia), Bernardo Duarte (Agronomia), Juan Severino (Agronomia), António Duarte (Agronomia), Lourenço Kadosh (Agronomia), Francisco Mira (Agronomia), Vasco Gaspar (Agronomia), João Júnior (CDUL), Diogo Fialho (CDUL), Afonso Sousa (CDUL), Gonçalo Foro (CDUL), Frederico Oliveira (CDUL), Nuno Taful (Técnico) (Direito), João Correia (Direito), Eduardo Acosta (Direito), Salvador Palha (Direito), Miguel Leal (Direito), Adérito Esteves (Direito), Gonçalo Silva (Évora), David dos Reis (Nimes), Valter Jorge (Belenenses), Laurent Balangue (Colomiers), Julian Bardi (Clermont Auvergne), José Pinto (Rugby Roma), Pedro Cabral (CR Madrid), Yannick Ricardo (Valance D’Agen)
Date: 9 Novermber 2008
Kick-off: 18.00
Venue: Sportsground, Galway
Referee: Simon McDowell
Touch judges: Dudley Phillips, Peter Roche
Assessor: Donal Courtney
