In-form Connacht eager to improve on wretched record against the Ospreys
CONNACHT will look to continue their rich vein of form against their weakened rivals in the Guinness Pro12 when they face Welsh side Ospreys in round 5 of the competition at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow, Saturday (1:30pm).
With World Cup players due to filter back in their droves to Connacht’s rival clubs in the coming weeks, it is imperative the Westerners plunder a result over in Wales to keep the pressure on the chasing clubs heading into the heavy Winter period.
Connacht will be boosted by the signing of USA Eagles out-half AJ MacGinty for the rest of the season, although it remains to be seen if MacGinty will feature in the squad for the game against the Ospreys.
The 25-year-old started three of the USA's Pool ‘B’ fixtures in the Rugby World Cup and despite a winless campaign, he kicked 25 points to bring his tally to 90 in eight international appearances.
The Dubliner moved to New York in 2012 where he played for NYAC before travelling to Marietta, Georgia to pursue a Masters in Exercise and Sports Science later that year. In Georgia he played for Life University Men's Club until gaining eligibility for the Eagles in February of 2015.
MacGinty earned his first call up to the Eagles for their Select's tour of South America in April. His first cap came against Samoa in the opening round of the 2015 Pacific Nation's Cup in which he played the full 80 minutes at out-half, kicking 11 of his side's 16 points.
The creative playmaker, at one time a scrum-half, played schools rugby with Blackrock College. He then moved into the club game with Blackrock RFC's Academy and also featured for Blackrock's 1st XV.
MacGinty met with his new Connacht team-mates at the Sportsground in Galway earlier this week before joining up for full training with the squad on Tuesday. Commenting from the Sportsground, MacGinty said: "I am very happy to join Connacht for the season ahead. This is a great opportunity for me to develop as a player under the tutelage of Pat and his impressive coaching team. I can't wait to get started.”
Head Coach Pat Lam highlighted MacGinty had been on Connacht’s radar long before the World Cup, where he described the out-half’s performances as impressive. “We're very pleased that he's now joining Connacht Rugby.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.