Bundee Aki's return is great news for Connacht ahead of Champions Cup opener: Pete Wilkins
Bundee Aki scores a try in Ireland's World Cup Quarter-Final defeat to New Zealand
Connacht have been handed a major boost ahead of their Champions Cup opener against Bordeaux on Friday night, as Bundee Aki is set to be available for selection.
Aki hasn’t played since Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand due to a hamstring injury, but the talismanic centre has now recovered.
The 33-year-old was outstanding for Ireland in France, which saw him nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year.
Connacht will welcome Bordeaux, who currently sit in seventh place of the Top 14 table, to the Sportsground on Friday, and Aki’s return is very timely.
“Bundee is available and he’s good to go, which is great news for us and great news for him,” Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins said.
“That hamstring wasn’t an acute injury that had caused any issues but it was something that had lingered for him.
“It had been managed really well during that World Cup period and we just wanted to use this window to get it right for him.
“So he’s worked really hard on it, probably ahead of schedule in terms of the hard work he’s put in and the support he’s had around him from the medical staff.
“(We are) really pleased with how he’s tracked and he’ll be in the mix this week.”
Connacht will issue a further squad update on Tuesday, as doubts hang over Tiernan O’Halloran, Oisin Dowling and Jack Aungier’s fitness.
