Mayo players in Connacht team for New Year's Day interpro

The Connacht Rugby management team have named their matchday 23 for tomorrow's URC interpro against Munster Rugby at The Sportsground (kick-off 5.15 p.m.).

There are two changes from the club’s last outing against Leicester Tigers two weeks ago, with URC top try-scorer Mack Hansen making a welcome return from injury to start on the wing for the first time in a month. The other change is in the second row where Oisín Dowling comes into the starting side.

The rest of the starting XV is unchanged, meaning Mayo players Matthew Burke and Dave Heffernan start in the front alongside Finlay Bealham. Ultan Dillane partners Dowling in the second row, while flankers Cian Prendergast and Conor Oliver and number eight Jarrad Butler make up the rest of the forward division.

Hansen forms a back three with winger John Porch and full-back Tiernan O’Halloran, while internationals Kieran Marmion, captain Jack Carty, Bundee Aki and Sammy Arnold make up the half-back and centre pairings respectively.

Included on the bench is academy scrum-half Matthew Devine, with the Ballinasloe RFC man named in a pro matchday squad for the first time.

Commenting on the team selection, head coach Andy Friend said: “This is obviously a very important game if we’re to achieve our aim of a top four finish in the URC. We’ve no game in the competition for a month after this weekend so it’d be great to have another win under our belt, albeit it against a very strong Munster team.

“The last four games between the teams have been decided by a single score so we've to make sure we're on top of our game for the full 80 minutes and take our chances when they come.”