Connacht Add To European Challenge Cup Squad

Challenge Cup
By LDTT
March 16 2006

Connacht have registered Galwegians prop Ross Davies and Southern Hemisphere centres Andrew Mailei and Gavin Williams for the knock-out stages of the European Challenge Cup.

Each of the Challenge Cup quarter-finalists are allowed to nominated between one and three players for the tournament's final stretch, which begins on Friday, March 31 with the last-eight clash between Newcastle Falcons and Connacht (Kingston Park Stadium, kick-off 7.30pm).

Davies, a noted tighthead, comes in as front row cover, while Tongan international Mailei, who scored his first try for the province last time out against Leinster, and Williams, the son of former All Black winger Bryan Williams, will bolstered the westerners' injury-hit midfield sector. Young centres John Hearty (broken jaw) and Keith Matthews (hip) both sustained injuries in the recent defeat to Leinster.

However, fit-again duo Darren Yapp and Mark McHugh will come into the centre reckoning for the Newcastle game, possibly with James Downey as well. The 6ft 4in Downey returned from a long term injury to put in a 15-minute cameo in Clontarf's 20-16 AIB League win at UCD on March 4.

Mailei, who signed a one-year deal in October, has played six times for Connacht in the Celtic League, while Williams has made two league appearances since joining in November.