Current Pro 12 champions, Connacht, are taking on Top 14 side Montpellier tonight and Pat Lam has named an experimental line-up for the game.
A number of players have been ruled out through injury, while those who were involved in internationals over the summer have been given an extended break.
Notable inclusions include former Leinster player Cian Kelleher at fullback. Jack Carty gets the nod at 10, with AJ MacGinty having found pastures new. While new signing Dominic Robertson-McCoy gets the nod in the pack.
Head coach Lam will be hoping for a good showing in France, with the squad ramping up their pre-season as they prepare to kick off their title defence at home to Glasgow Warriors on Saturday 3rd September.
The 1st Connacht team of the 2016/17 season named as Lam's men face Montpellier tonight @ https://t.co/gqgglj0BBa pic.twitter.com/VcnCPObZ7t
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) August 11, 2016
Connacht v Montpellier, Thursday August 11th, Saint-Affrique, kick off 8pm (local time).
Connacht team
15. Cian Kelleher
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Bundee Aki
11. Cormac Brennan
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy
4. Sean O’Brien
5. Danny Qualter
6. Eoin McKeon
7. Jake Heenan
8. John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Tom McCartney, Ivan Soroka, Ronan Loughney, Saba Meunargia, JP Cooney, Cian Romaine, Lewis Stevenson, James Connolly, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Conor McKeon, Conor Lowndes, Shane O’Leary, Ed O’Keeffe, Peter Robb, Rory Parata, Josh Rowland.
