O'Connor to return to Connacht

Former Ireland international Jonny O'Connor will return to Connacht at the start of next season.

The flanker left the province for London Wasps four years ago and has won 12 caps for Ireland.

The news will be a real boost for the province who have watched the likes of Paul Warwick (Munster) and Ray Hogan (Bristol) recently join a long list of high profile departures.

The 27-year-old's signature, however, is thought to be the first of a number soon to be announced by Connacht.

The Galway man, who still has designs on making the Irish side in time for the World Cup in September, has only recently recovered from a career threatening injury.

In April last year he was nearly paralysed when playing for Wasps against Llanelli.

Speaking on the horrific injury lately he said: "I was lying on the ground and I couldn't move at all so in my mind I was thinking 'this is it for me - my rugby career is over'.

"It ended up affecting me down my left hand side - almost like having a stroke.

"I lost the strength in my arms. Basically I started from nothing when I started back at training. I could hardly lift a bag of sugar, so it took a long time to get back to where I had been. Now I just want to get back involved with Ireland."

Meanwhile, Connacht captain John Fogarty has been left out of the 22-man squad to face Border Reivers at the Sportsground on Friday.

The hooker is suffering from a hamstring injury and will be replaced by Conor Muldoon.

Andrew Farley returns from a shoulder injury to replace Ryan Strudwick.

Kick-off at the Sportsground is at 6.30pm.

Peter Durcan, Andrew Farley, Adrian Flavin, David Gannon, John Hearty, Ray Hogan, Chris Keane, Stephen Knoop, Matt Lacey, Mark McHugh, Conor Muldoon, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa, Conor O'Loughlin, Colm Rigney, Daniel Riordan, David Slemen, Michael Swift, Paul Warwick, Brett Wilkinson, Gavin Williams, Darren Yapp.

John Fogarty (hamstring), Ronan Loughney (knee), Joe Merrigan (leg), Keith Matthews (knee), Conor McPhillips (groin), Matt Mostyn (knee), Brendan O'Connor (arm), Tom Tierney (ankle).