Wainwright and Evans back for Dragons at Connacht

Aaron Wainwright was named last season's player of the season by the Welsh Rugby Writers

United Rugby Championship: Connacht v Dragons

Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway Date: Saturday, 26 October Kick off: 19:35 BST

Coverage: Live on S4C via BBC iPlayer. Live text commentary BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.

Aaron Wainwright will play his first game of the season after being named by Dragons to face Connacht in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

The Wales number eight has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Australia in July.

But head coach Dai Flanagan said Wainwright has worked "flat out" to make a timely return for the region in Galway just days after being included in Wales' squad for the autumn series.

Full-back Cai Evans also makes his first appearance of the season amid eight Dragons changes.

Connacht make six changes from the side beaten by Leinster.

Peter Dooley and Dylan Tierney-Martin make their first starts of the season in the front row while lock Niall Murray replaces his brother Darragh.

Caolin Blade and Jack Carty form a new half-back pairing and Cathal Forde comes in at outside centre.

Dragons have lost their last four games since beating Ospreys on the opening weekend and have not won away in the league since April 2022.

Lock Matthew Screech packs down behind a new-look front row of props Chris Coleman and on-loan Cameron Jones, either side of hooker Oli Burrows.

The return of Evans sees Angus O’Brien move to form a new half-back partnership with Dane Blacker, while Ewan Rosser starts on the wing.

Flanagan said: “I like Connacht, they have a blend of a very good team with 23 guys who are really fighting for the cause.

“They are well coached and have an identity with their style of play that they don’t go too far away from.

“There are not too many teams better at playing into the wind in Galway than Connacht."

Connacht lost their last two games but have won their last 11 league encounters with Welsh regions, including five of the last six again Dragons.

Head coach Pete Wilkins said: “Dragons are a seriously competitive side - abrasive at the contact zone, a well-drilled forward pack, and a very smart kicking game - so it’s up to us to match them physically and then attempt to impose our game."

Connacht: Piers O’Conor; Shayne Bolton, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Santiago Cordero; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Niall Murray, Cian Prendergast (capt), Sean O’Brien, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Sean Jansen, Matthew Devine, Josh Ioane, Hugh Gavin

Dragons: Cai Evans; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser; Angus O’Brien, Dane Blacker; Cameron Jones, Oli Burrows, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (capt), Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harri Keddie, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Aki Seiuli, Luke Yendle, Steve Cummins, Taine Basham, Rhodri Williams, Lloyd Evans, Harry Wilson.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Dan Carson & Sam Holt (IRFU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)