United Rugby Championship Round 4 Team Announcements

The teams for Friday's Round 4 fixtures of the BKT United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.

TEAM NEWS HEADLINES

#CONvMUN

• Jack Carty will start and captain Connacht as he makes his return from injury
• Ireland Under 20 Grand Slam winner Fionn Gibbons set to make his Munster debut if called from the bench

#EDIvLIO

• Fijian star Viliame Mata returns from injury to start for Edinburgh Rugby
• Ruan Dreyer runs on for his 100th appearance for the Emirates Lions

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

Connacht v Munster

The Sportsground, Galway – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 25th league game)

AR 1: Frank Murphy (IRFU) AR 2: Dan Carson (IRFU)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery + & URC.tv

Connacht: Conor Fitzgerald, John Porch, Byron Ralston, David Hawkshaw, Mack Hansen, Jack Carty (CAPT) Kieran Marmion, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Gavin Thornbury, Oisín Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Josh Murphy, Colm Reilly, Tom Daly, Paul Boyle

Munster: Joey Carbery, Conor Phillips, Malakai Fekitoa, Dan Goggin, Patrick Campbell, Ben Healy, Conor Murray, Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Keynan Knox, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony (CAPT), Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Edwin Edogbo, Jack O'Sullivan, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Fionn Gibbons

Connacht Director Of Rugby Andy Friend said: “We won’t hide from the fact our performances and results haven’t been good enough. We’ve been guilty of too many unforced errors, and at this level you’re going to be punished. As is always the case against Munster, the team who brings the greater level of physicality, linked with superior discipline and minimal error count is that team that usually comes out on top, so those three things are a key focus for us this week. With the new pitch and our friends, family and supporters behind us, we’ll be doing everything in our power to get that first win of the season.”

Edinburgh Rugby v Emirates Lions

The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 27th league game)

AR 1: Ru Campbell (SRU) AR 2: Jonny Perriam (SRU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery + & URC.tv

Edinburgh Rugby: Henry Immelman, Darcy Graham, Matt Currie, James Lang, Emiliano Boffelli, Blair Kinghorn, Henry Pyrgos, Boan Venter, Stuart McInally, Luan de Bruin, Glen Young, Grant Gilchrist (CAPT), Luke Crosbie, Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata

Replacements: Dave Cherry, Pierre Schoeman, WP Nel, Marshall Sykes, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel Charlie Savala, Chris Dean

Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee, Stean Pienaar, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw, Quan Horn, Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba, Sti Sithole, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Reinhard Nothnagel (CAPT), Sibusiso Sangweni, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn

Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Emmanuel Tshituka, Ruhan Straeuli, Morne van den Berg, Jordan Hendrikse, Zander du Plessis

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Mike Blair said: “We’re excited to be back home after a two-week tour and the squad are really looking forward to Friday night lights in front of the Edinburgh supporters – it’s always a special experience playing under the lights and we’re anticipating a brilliant atmosphere. It’s the second season of celebrating ‘club appreciation night’ and it’s something that definitely adds that extra bit of motivation for the squad. We’re proud to represent our grassroots clubs and it’s important we recognise those local teams that do so much to support us on a weekly basis. We’ve made a number of changes to the starting line-up and we’re excited to see guys get their opportunity for what will be a really tough match-up. Emirates Lions come into the game having won two straight in Wales, so we’ll have to be at our very best come kick-off tomorrow night.”

Emirates Lions Backline and Attack Coach Ricardo Loubscher said: “It’s been a great start for us, and we are obviously pleased with the momentum. There is a buzz of excitement inside the camp because of overall alignment and in terms of how we want to play the game. Two wins away from home again, is quite pleasing and we want to continue the trend.”