Ulster take win against Connacht

Ian Humphreys had a hand in all three tries and kicked the rest of the points as Ulster beat Connacht to keep on course for the Magners League's last four.

Rory Best's sixth-minute try set Ulster on their way to a 14-6 half-time lead, with Adam D'Arcy crossing the whitewash on the half hour mark.A drop goal and penalty from Ian Keatley kept Connacht in touch after a high tempo first half, and Eric Elwood's men should really have been closer.
Sean Cronin's superbly-taken try, adding to five more points from Keatley's boot, closed the gap to 17-16 with Humphreys kicking his first penalty.
The Ulster out-half added another in the 66th minute and the win was secured when Darren Cave broke through for a seven-pointer.

O'Donohoe makes move to Connacht

Connacht have signed former Ireland Under-20 scrum-half Paul O'Donohoe from Leinster.
O'Donohoe is the latest member of Ireland's famous 2007 U-20 Grand Slam winning team to join the province, and will join up with Andrew Browne, TJ Anderson, Eoghan Grace and Niall O'Connor in the green of Connacht next season.
The scrum-half has made 16 appearances to date for Leinster including two run-outs in the Heineken cup against Glasgow and the Scarlets.

He also started for Leinster in Connacht's New Year's Day defeat in the RDS this season.
The former Belvedere College man has captained Leinster A this season and has played 19 times for A's including eight times in the British and Irish Cup.
Speaking on the new deal, the Dubliner said: 'I am delighted to be signing for Connacht next season.

Vainikolo moving to Connacht

Connacht have completed the signing of winger Fetu'u Vainikolo from Super Rugby franchise the Highlanders.

The 26-year-old has played for Northland in 2007 and in his 22 caps he scored 10 tries. In 2009 he moved to Otago where he earned a further 15 caps before making his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders in 2008 against the Reds.

Vainikolo scored an impressive 13 tries for the Highlanders between 2008 and 2010 and is known for his explosive ball-carrying ability.

"I am excited about furthering my career with Connacht. I have watched their progress with interest this season and been impressed with their style of play," he told the Connacht website.


"I am looking forward to hopefully scoring many tries in the green jersey."

Cronin returns to Connacht team

Sean Cronin returns to the Connacht starting XV to face Aironi this Saturday in the Magners League.

The Limerick native appeared in all of Ireland's Six Nations matches this year, bringing his number of international caps to 12.

Mike McCarthy continues his successful partnership with Michael Swift in the second row.

McCarthy recently signed a new two-year deal with the province and the 29-year-old's superb form this season saw him called into the Irish squad and earning his first cap for the Ireland Wolfhounds against the English Saxons.

Miah Nikora's knee injury rules him out of contention.

Connacht XV to face Aironi in the Magners League at Stadio Zaffanella, Saturday, 4.30pm:

1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Sean Cronin, 3 Jamie Hagan, 4 Michael Swift, 5 Mike McCarthy, 6 Andrew Browne, 7 Johnny O'Connor (cpt), 8 Ray Ofisa, 9 Frank Murphy, 10 Ian Keatley, 11 Fionn Carr, 12 Troy Nathan, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 14 Brian Tuohy, 15 Gavin Duffy.

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney, Rodney Ah You, Bernie Upton, John Muldoon, Cillian Willis, Keith Matthews, Shane Monahan.

Connacht 31-25 Bennetton Treviso

Connacht had to dig deep to record a narrow home win over Magners League opponents Treviso, who finished strongly to claim a late bonus point.
 With their stand-in captain Johnny O'Connor in the sin-bin, Connacht leaked a penalty try which Willem de Waal converted to get the Italians within a converted score of victory.

But Eric Elwood's men, who had stormed into a handsome early lead, held on to move above the visitors in the Magners League standings.

Troy Nathan and the excellent Frank Murphy scored tries to move Connacht 18-0 ahead, before Michele Sepe and Manoa Vosawai responded for Treviso.

Ian Keatley, who finished with 16 points, kicked the hosts into a 24-12 half-time lead, but Treviso put the hosts under huge pressure late on.

Treviso took their time to settle at the Sportsground and an early sin-binning for Fijian flanker Vosawai, for a dangerous tackle on Ray Ofisa, left them in trouble.

They were already 7-0 down at that point, with a Keatley pass creating an overlap and Brian Tuohy drawing the defender for Nathan to score a converted opener.

Sportsground trio commit to Connacht

Connacht trio Frank Murphy, Miah Nikora and Ronan Loughney have committed their future to the western province after signing two-year contract extensions.

Former Munster and Leicester Tigers scrum-half Murphy joined Connacht at the start of the 2008/09 season and to date has made 60 appearances scoring 20 points. The 29-year-old said: 'It's great being part of such a dedicated and hard-working squad and management and being part of Connacht for the next two years means a lot to me.'

Nikora, a former New Zealand Schools, under-19 and under-21 international, joined Connacht at the start of last season from ITM Cup side Tasman. He quickly established himself as a fans' favourite in The Sportsground with match winning kicks against both Bourgoin in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final and against Edinburgh in the Magners League.

'I'm delighted to be able to commit to Connacht for the next 2 years' said Nikora, 'I've really settled in here, and so have my family. There's a great work ethic in the squad and the coaching staff provide a dynamic environment in which to work in.'

Connacht make several changes.

Connacht have made a number of changes to their team for the match with Bayonne in the Amlin Challenge Cup on Saturday.
There are two changes in the pack with Bernie Upton replacing Michael Swift and Mike McComish returning to reclaim the number eight jersey.
 

Eoin Griffin is the only player to remain in a new backline that sees former Blackrock College winger Shane Monahan come in on the right wing, with Brian Touhy in on the left.
 

Frank Murphy and Ian Keatley return at half-back and Niva Ta'auso returns to the centre, this time at 12, which allows Fionn Carr to line out at full-back.

Jamie Hagan extends Connacht stay

Connacht prop Jamie Hagan has signed a new two-year contract with the province.

The 23-year-old from Balbriggan joined Connacht in 2009 from the Leinster academy and has appeared in 27 Magners League games and 11 Amlin Challenge Cup games for the Westerners since then.

Hagan was capped for Ireland Youths and scored a try against England U18 in 2005 and was part of the Ireland U20 team, coached by Eric Elwood and Dan McFarland, which won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2007

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The 6' 3", 120kg tight-head prop has been a cornerstone of the Connacht scrum for the past season and a half.

Connacht sign Ulster duo as Naoupu returns.

Connacht have completed the signings Ulster duo Niall O'Connor and Mark McCrea along with the re-signing of former favourite George Naoupu from Japan.

Scrum-half O'Connor, who played over 50 times for Ulster, and McCrea, who plays on the wing and played 25 times for the northern province will both join on a two-year contract at the end of the season.

And Naoupu will return to the Sportsground for the 2011/2012 season.
 

The 6'5, 115kg 27-year-old backrow joined Connacht in 2009 before moving to the Kobe Steelers in Japan last season.

He appeared 14 times in his six-month spell at Connacht, including scoring a try in the famous victory over Bourgoin in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final last season.
Naoupu, who has represented New Zealand Schools, U19, Colts and 7's, will rejoin Connacht on a two-year contract.

Newport Gwent Dragons 17-16 Connacht

Newport Gwent Dragons secured revenge over Connacht for an opening day Magners League thrashing in Galway this season by clinching a one-point victory at Rodney Parade.

It was an ugly win but coach Paul Turner saw his side earn a fifth triumph of the campaign which lifts the Welshmen above Glasgow Warriors into ninth spot.

Connacht had the initiative for a rare double before kick-off, having thrashed the Dragons 40-17 in September.

But, as Wales national coach Warren Gatland and his his assistants Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins watched from the stands ahead of their RBS 6 Nations Championships squad announcement later this month, it was vital for the Dragons to fire.

Connacht make changes for Dragons clash

Connacht's team to play the Newport Gwent Dragons in their Magners League clash sees a number of positional changes and two personnel changes.

Sean Cronin, back from an IRFU imposed break (under the Player Welfare Management Programme), replaces Adrian Flavin at hooker in the starting lineup.

Mike McComish has recovered from the illness that ruled him out of last weekend's clash against Leinster and he replaces Shane Conneely on the bench.

The rest of the pack remains unchanged with Academy star Eoin McKeon retaining his place at number 8 following an impressive display last weekend.

The reshuffled backine sees the adaptable Ian Keatley move to fullback with former New Zealand Youths Troy Nathan, who qualifies for Ireland through residency, shift to the wing.

Nathan has 64 caps for Connacht and has shown his versatility having played in every position in the backline for the Province.

Academy graduate Eoin Griffin moves to outside centre and he is joined on the wing by Fionn Carr, with Brian Tuohy providing cover from the bench.

Connacht team to play Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Thursday 6 January:

Ian Keatley, Troy Nathan, Eoin Griffin, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr, Miah Nikora, Cillian Willis, Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin,Jamie Hagan, Michael Swift, Michael McCarthy, Andrew Browne, Johnny O'Connor, Eoin McKeon

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Rodney Ah You, Dylan Rogers, Bernie Upton, Mike McComish, Frank Murph, Niva Ta'auso, Brian Tuohy