Connacht heads to South Africa without World Cup stars

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Connacht management team have named a 29-man travelling squad to South Africa for the United Rugby Championship fixtures against the Sharks and Bulls.

They fly to Durban – where they will be based for the majority of the two weeks – on Monday.

Their opening game is against the Sharks at Kings Park this coming Saturday.

They then fly to Pretoria ahead of their clash with the Bulls next Saturday, November 25.

Unavailable for selection are Bundee Aki, Jack Aungier, Shayne Bolton, Santiago Cordero, Mack Hansen, Shane Jennings, Oisin McCormack and Gavin Thornbury.

CONNACHT squad

Forwards: Finlay Bealham, Denis Buckley, Peter Dooley, Oisín Dowling, Dave Heffernan, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sam Illo, Sean Jansen, Joe Joyce, Tadgh McElroy, Darragh Murray, Niall Murray, Conor Oliver, Sean O’Brien, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Cian Prendergast, Dylan Tierney-Martin.

Backs: Caolin Blade, Jack Carty, Tom Farrell, Cathal Forde, JJ Hanrahan, David Hawkshaw, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Byron Ralston, Colm Reilly, Andrew Smith.

Never nice to lose in that fashion, but that could be an important bonus point by the end of the season.

Safe travels home to the @ConnachtClan and everyone who made the trip. pic.twitter.com/f2zcgPmyUg

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— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) November 11, 2023