Connacht can expect to face some familiar foes in the forthcoming European Challenge Cup season beginning this December.
Drawn in Pool One this week, Connacht will face four opponents from amongst fellow United Rugby Championship sides Cardiff and Zebre Parma, and Top 14 French outfits Lyon and Perpignan, with South Africa’s Toyota Cheetahs also in the mix. Two games will be played at home, two away.
Connacht has played both French sides on previous occasions. In what was their first meeting last season, Connacht lost to Lyon in the Champions Cup by 34-20 in France. That put paid to their qualification for Champions Cup rugby.
It is several years since Connacht and Perpignan met. The last occasion was in 2018 when Connacht prevailed by 22-10 at the Sportsground, now Dexcom Stadium. Bundee Aki was one of three try scorers alongside Darragh Leader and Kyle Godwin. Perpignan and Lyon finished in 10th and 11th places respectively in the French Championship last season.
The exact make-up of the pools and fixture dates will be made later in the summer.
In other rugby news, Connacht prop, New Zealander Dominic Robertson McCoy, is heading to Aurillac in France where he will play alongside former Connacht stalwart Eoghan Masterson.
