The Guinness PRO12 Play-Offs kick-off this weekend with Leinster v Ulster on Friday 20 May and Connacht v Glasgow Warriors on Saturday 21 May.
Connacht – who made the knockout stages for the first time having led the table for six of the 22 rounds of the regular season – will be looking for a repeat of their round 22 victory over reigning champions, Glasgow Warriors, when the two meet again at the sold-out Sportsground in Galway.
All four teams will have their eye on the ultimate prize, a place in the Guinness PRO12 Final at Murrayfield on 28 May, so there is all to play for but only one captain can eventually lift the trophy.
The Sportsground becomes the eighth different venue to host a Guinness PRO12 Play-Off, no home team has ever been overturned in any of these encounters. Connacht are appearing in the Play-Offs for the first time having comfortably achieved their best ever finish, second, at the end of the regular season. Connacht’s last five matches in the Guinness PRO12 have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst their only defeat at home in any tournament this season was 3-10 to Ulster in the PRO12 on 26th December.
Defending Champions Glasgow Warriors are bidding to become only the second side ever to retain their title after Leinster did so in 2014. The Scotsmen’s nine game winning run ended against the same opponents at the same venue in round 22. This is Warriors fifth successive appearance in the play-Offs and they are bidding to reach a third successive final.
Connacht’s victory over Glasgow two weeks ago ended a run of eight successive Warriors wins in the fixture.
CONNACHT v GLASGOW WARRIORS
Saturday May 21st
At the Sportsground, 6.30pm
Live on Sky Sports / TG4 / BBC Scotland / BBC ALBA
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 53rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (WRU) Stefano Penne (FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)
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