Connacht sign three Irish players in bid to ease injury crisis
Tuesday 10 January 2017 16:35, UK
Connacht have signed three Irish players as they attempt to ease their injury crisis ahead of crucial back-to-back Champions Cup fixtures.
Fly-half Steve Crosbie, centre Tom Farrell and loosehead prop Peter McCabe have all joined the PRO12 champions, who were without over 20 players for last Saturday's loss at the Ospreys.
Crosbie, 23, arrives in Galway following a short stint with Munster. A former Ireland U20 international, he can also play in midfield and is a product of the Leinster academy system.
Connacht's centre options are boosted further by the signing of 23-year-old Farrell from Bedford Blues. He made 12 appearances for the English Championship side this season and represented Ireland at U19 and U20 level.
Prop McCabe joins on loan from Munster. The Cork-born loosehead made his senior debut against the Ospreys in November and started in Munster's win over the Maori All Blacks.
Live European Rugby Champions Cup
There was also good news on the injury front for Connacht with skipper John Muldoon expected to return in Saturday's Champions Cup tie with Zebre, live on Sky Sports Mix, while Craig Ronaldson, Dominic Robertson McCoy and Josh Rowland have all been integrated into team training.
Ireland forward Ultan Dillane does not require surgery on his ankle injury and is expected to return in four weeks.
Jack Carty suffered a medial knee ligament sprain in last weekend's loss to the Ospreys and is ruled out of the Zebre game. Jake Heenan is also unavailable due to a minor knee injury but both could feature in the round six tie at Toulouse on January 22.
