CONNACHT LINEUP

Trailfinders kick-off the 2026/27 season with a pre-season trip to Galway to take on URC side Connacht at Dexcom Stadium.

Ben Ward has named a strong side to take on the Irish outfit, with star quality in the starting lineup alongside genuine firepower amongst the replacements.

The front-row see’s Mikey Willemse Captain the side from Hooker, with Sam Grahamslaw and PJ Sheck either side of him at Loosehead and Tighthead Prop respectively.

In the engine room, it’s Bobby De Wee returning to the green and white after a period of absence due to injury. He’s joined by George Shaw to complete the tight-five.

It’s a dynamic Back-row, with Will Montgomery at Blindside Flanker and South-African Jarrod Taylor at Openside. David Bridge completes the pack at number Eight.

The half-back pairing is comprised of the experienced Craig Hampson at Nine and metronomic kicker Dan jones who will be looking to pull the strings from Fly-half.

A new midfield partnership features in the centres, with Francis Moore slotting in at Inside centre. He’s complimented by new signing Hayden Hyde at Thirteen.

The side features an electric back-three, with Patrick Campbell at Fullback, Fionn Gibbons at Eleven and Deago Bailey at Fourteen.

The replacements feature the likes of Kyle Hatherell, Mikey Summerfield, and Rory Scannell, giving Ben Ward the option for injection of genuine quality throughout the match.

The match kicks-off at 17:00 on Saturday the 5th September. Make sure to keep track of our instagram stories for live score updates.