Bradley has boosted the squad with a series of new signings which include the return to the province of former Irish international Matt Mostyn (from Newport) and the AIL top try scorer, hooker Bernard Jackman from Clontarf.

Jackman will not be short of acquaintances in the front row as Clontarf props Warren O¹Kelly and Adrian Clarke have also signed to bolster a line which also includes the experienced Dan McFarland and Ireland A international Peter Bracken.

Hooker Marnus Uijs will start his fourth campaign with Connacht while another No.2, John Fogarty, joins from Munster.

Former Australian U-21 lock Andrew Farley has joined from Swansea along with the Irish qualified Mike McCarthy who joins from Wasps having been capped at U-21 level by England.

Ireland U-21 John Muldoon from Portumna has been rewarded with a full-time contract for the first time and he will be joined in the back row by Michael Carroll from Blackrock College. Connacht have left two vacancies in the back row as they consider a number of options.

Another Irish U-21, Conor O'Loughlin from Buccaneers, is one of three scrum-halves in the squad along with Chris Keane and Mike Walls.

Eric Elwood, the only Connacht player to start more than 100 games for the province, will begin his 15th campaign for the side in a back line where Mark McHugh, Shane Moore, Darren Yapp, Tim Allnutt, Ted Robinson and Wayne Munn are all retained from last season.

In addition to the return of Matt Mostyn, Connacht have also signed St Mary's College winger Conor McPhillips as well as David Hewitt who had a superb season as an out-half and full-back for Clontarf.

Connacht have awarded Development Contracts to the Galwegians duo of prop Ray Hogan and hooker Henry Bourke, Buccaneers backs Paddy O'Sullivan and Justin Meagher as well as Irish-qualified Christian Short, who joins from Bracknell in England having previously been with London Irish.