Connacht have made a number of significant signings for the new season which include the acquisition of former Australian lock Warwick Waugh.

The 33 year old, 6ft 8inches, who has played 28 times for Australia, joins Connacht having spent

the past two seasons with Beziers in France.

Another player who featured in France last season is 20 year old prop Fabian Boiroux, who joins Connacht from Montferrand.

Centres Shane Moore (23) and Dermot O¹Sullivan (24) have played extensively for a variety of Irish sides including Schools, U-19s, U-21s, Colleges, Students and Irish Universities.

Scrum-half Michael Walls (22) has played for the Irish U-18s, while flanker Tom Carter (21) and winger James Norton (21) have both been capped by the Irish Schools.

Three of the Connacht side - full-back Gavin Duffy (21), prop Peter Bracken (24) and flanker Johnny O¹Connor (22) - were in the Irish squad which has returned from training camp at Spala in Poland.

Eric Elwood (33), who became the first player to be capped 100 times for Connacht when he lined out against Narbonne in January in the Parker Pen Shield, starts his 14th campaign for Connacht.

There have been changes in the backroom team as well as Connacht bid to build on the progress made in the past couple of seasons.

One of the biggest boosts Connacht have received is the decision by the main sponsors Bank of Ireland to extend their backing of the side for another two years. Bank of Ireland have been the main sponsors of Connacht for the past three years.

Coach Steph Nel has signed a new contract which will keep him in Ireland for the next three years.

John McKee, a New Zealander who has worked extensively in Australia and who last season was on the coaching staff with Montferrand in France, has joined the coaching staff.

Galway journalist John Fallon has taken a year leave of absence from the Connacht Tribune to take over as Team Manager.

Connacht have, for the first time, appointed a full-time physiotherapist with Northern Ireland native Brian Downey, who has worked extensively in Britain and Australia, taking up the position.

Des Ryan and Susan Mitchell are once again the Fitness Advisors, with Tom Newell as Logistics Manager.

Connacht will play three warm-up matches, starting on Wednesday, August 14, when they entertain Zurich Premiership finalists Bristol Shoguns at the Sportsground (6pm).

Connacht will then travel to High Wycombe to take on Warren Gatland's Wasps on Sunday, August 18 for a 3 pm kick-off at Adams Park.

Connacht will play Heineken Cup finalists Munster at the Sportsground the following Thursday

afternoon, August 22, in a game which will have a 2 pm kick-off.

Connacht have been given an extremely tough Celtic League draw. They will open their campaign away to new Scottish side Borders in Selkirk on Friday, August 30.

The following Friday evening, September 6, Cardiff come to Galway looking for revenge after being defeated 6-3 in the Arms Park on the opening day of the Celtic League last season.

After that, Connacht will be looking for a first ever win over Leinster at Donnybrook while Newport will also be on a revenge mission when they come to Galway on Friday, September 20.

After that, Connacht travel to Bridgend and Glasgow, while Pontypridd will make their first trip west of the Shannon when they come to Galway on Saturday, October 5.

In the Parker Pen Challenge Cup, which this season is being run on a knockout basis, Connacht will face French Division Two champions Mont de Marsan.

The first leg will take place in south-west France on Saturday evening, October 12, with the second leg in Galway the following Saturday.

Connacht Squad

Tim Allnutt (28) Canterbury, New Zealand

Peter Bracken (24) Irish Youths, Irish Schools, Irish Students

Damien Browne (22) Irish U-19s, Irish U-21s

Fabian Boiroux (20) French Development (formerly Montferrand)

Tom Carter (21) Irish Schools, Irish Students

Gavin Duffy (21) Irish Schools, Irish U-21s, Ireland A

Eric Elwood (33) Irish U21, Irish A, Ireland Senior

Jerry Flannery (23) Irish Schools, Irish Universities, Irish U-21s, Irish Students

Rowan Frost (27) York, England

Chris Keane (23) Irish Colleges

Ronan McCormack (25) Irish Schools, Irish Students

Dan McFarland (30) English Students

Mark McHugh (24) Irish Youths, Irish Universities, Irish U-21s, Irish Students

Martin McPhail (21) Irish Universities, Irish U-21s

Shane Moore (23) Irish Schools, Irish U-19s, Irish U-21s, Irish Students

Wayne Munn (26) South African Sevens, Barbarians Sevens

Paul Neville (23) Irish U-19s, Irish U-21s, Irish Sevens

James Norton (21) Irish Schools, Irish U-21s

Johnny O'Connor (22) Irish U-19s, Irish U-21s, Irish U-25s, Ireland A

Dermot O'Sullivan (24) Irish Colleges, Irish Students, Irish Universities

Eoin Reddan (21) Irish Schools, Irish Students

Colm Rigney (24) Irish U-25s

Ted Robinson (24) Irish Students

Michael Swift (24) England U-16, England U-18, Irish Exiles, Irish U-21s

Marnus Uijs (26) South Africa

Michael Walls (22) Irish U-18s

Warwick Waugh (33) Australia Senior

Darren Yapp (27) Bristol, England

Development Players

Henry Bourke (21) Irish Schools, Irish U-21s, Irish Students

Wesley Maxwell (19) Irish U-19s

Alan Maher (21) Irish Schools, Irish U-19s, Irish U-21s

John Muldoon (20) Irish Youths, Irish U-21s

John O'Sullivan (22) Irish U-19, Irish Colleges, Irish U-21

Connacht Colts

Oisin Grennan (21) Connacht Schools

Justin Meagher (22) Connacht U-21

Cathal Murphy (21) Irish Youths, Irish U-21

Ed O'Donoghue (20) Australia U-19

Paddy O'Sullivan (20) Connacht U-21