CONNACHT’S BACK ROW options have been strengthened today with positive reports on both George Naoupu and Johnny O’Connor coming from the medical team.
Naoupu was stretchered off during last weekend’s comfortable home win over the Dragons.
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However scans have shown that the powerful number eight, who had contributed a try shortly before his departure, suffered only a minor neck injury.
Naoupu will be monitored closely to determine if he is fit to face Harlequins at the Stoop on Saturday, but it is more likely that he will next play in Connacht’s final Heineken Cup pool game of the season; at home to Zebre on Friday January 18.
Bumped and bruised
Openside flanker O’Connor is likely to get a chance to show the experience he gained in four years playing in the Premiership. The former London Wasp missed out on the Dragons win with illness, but with Willie Faloon still sidelined with a fractured eye-socket, he will be a welcome return to the pack.
Among the bumped and bruised in the squad are Michael Swift (pictured), Kieran Marmion and Dave McSharry. All three will be available to Eric Elwood having taken a full part in training today.
On another morale-boosting note to the pack, the western province was today able to announce also announced today that Naoupu, along with Jason Harris-Wright, Mick Kearney and academy graduate Eoin McKeon have signed new two-year deals keeping them in Galway until the summer of 2015.
“George is a strong and natural leader in our team.” Elwood said in a statement released today. “He is a phenomenal ball carrier and shows an exceptionally high work rate game after game. His has a brilliant ability to switch from back row to lock seamlessly.”
While CEO Tom Sears added:
“Our squad for next season and beyond is developing very well, we are actively looking to bring in the best players we possibly can and we are confident that more of our current players will commit and we will be able to bring in some high quality signings for next year.”
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CONNACHT’S BACK ROW options have been strengthened today with positive reports on both George Naoupu and Johnny O’Connor coming from the medical team.
Naoupu was stretchered off during last weekend’s comfortable home win over the Dragons.
However scans have shown that the powerful number eight, who had contributed a try shortly before his departure, suffered only a minor neck injury.
Naoupu will be monitored closely to determine if he is fit to face Harlequins at the Stoop on Saturday, but it is more likely that he will next play in Connacht’s final Heineken Cup pool game of the season; at home to Zebre on Friday January 18.
Bumped and bruised
Openside flanker O’Connor is likely to get a chance to show the experience he gained in four years playing in the Premiership. The former London Wasp missed out on the Dragons win with illness, but with Willie Faloon still sidelined with a fractured eye-socket, he will be a welcome return to the pack.
Among the bumped and bruised in the squad are Michael Swift (pictured), Kieran Marmion and Dave McSharry. All three will be available to Eric Elwood having taken a full part in training today.
On another morale-boosting note to the pack, the western province was today able to announce also announced today that Naoupu, along with Jason Harris-Wright, Mick Kearney and academy graduate Eoin McKeon have signed new two-year deals keeping them in Galway until the summer of 2015.
While CEO Tom Sears added:
“Our squad for next season and beyond is developing very well, we are actively looking to bring in the best players we possibly can and we are confident that more of our current players will commit and we will be able to bring in some high quality signings for next year.”
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