Devine and Carty link up for Connacht

Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup clash with Montauban at Dexcom Stadium (k/o 8pm).

There are just three changes from the side that narrowly lost to Montpellier last weekend, with hooker Dave Heffernan, scrum-half Matthew Devine and out-half Jack Carty coming into the side after all three returned from injury.

Otherwise it’s as selected from last week, with another start for Academy loosehead prop Billy Bohan with Sam Illo on the opposite side, and a backrow of captain Cian Prendergast, Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen.

It’s a special day for the second row pairing, with both Darragh Murray and Josh Murphy making their 50th appearances for the province.

The centre combination of Cathal Forde and Harry West continues after excellent performances last week, as does the back three of wingers Finn Treacy and Shane Jennings, and full-back Sam Gilbert.

On the bench there’s two further injury returnees in Jack Aungier and Sean Naughton, while Academy centre Sean Walsh is again selected.

A win will ensure Connacht’s qualification to the last 16 of the competition, with their opponents and venue to be determined as the results come in over the weekend.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster says:

“Our review of Montpellier showed that if we can eliminate some individual errors, we are close to reaching the level of performance I know we’re capable of. There was a lot to be pleased of from that game, particularly in the 1st half and the performances of some young players.

It’s now up to us to use that first 40 as the template for what we need to produce for all 80 minutes, starting tomorrow against Montauban. We said at the outset that our aim was to qualify for the last 16 and take it from there, so we’ll be going out to claim all 5 points and see where that leaves us for the knockouts.

Congratulations also to both locks Darragh and Josh on reaching 50 caps for the province. It’s a great achievement.”

Connacht Rugby v US Montauban
Saturday 17th January 2026, 20:00 @ Dexcom Stadium

Number/Name/Caps
15. Sam Gilbert (7)
14. Shane Jennings (25)
13. Harry West (5)
12. Cathal Forde (61)
11. Finn Treacy (14)
10. Jack Carty (227)
9. Matthew Devine (26)
1. Billy Bohan (3)
2. Dave Heffernan (227)
3. Sam Illo (38)
4. Darragh Murray (49)
5. Josh Murphy (49)
6. Cian Prendergast (94) (C)
7. Paul Boyle (124)
8. Sean Jansen (36)

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (65)
17. Denis Buckley (271)
18. Jack Aungier (92)
19. Joe Joyce (45)
20. Sean O’Brien (22)
21. Ben Murphy (25)
22. Sean Naughton (7)
23. Sean Walsh (2)