After six rounds of Greene King IPA Championship action, the Cornish Pirates play their first British & Irish Cup game of the season on Sunday.

For their Pool 3 opener they are away to Connacht Eagles, where there is a 2.30pm kick-off at the Galway Sportsground.

Selection for this game on the Emerald Isle shows a number of changes in personnel from the team that faced Yorkshire Carnegie last time out.

Matt Evans moves to full-back, there is a fresh wing pairing in Jack Arnott and Alex O’Meara, Tom Hendrickson will partner Alex Dancer in the centre, and Mike Pope is named at scrum-half.

In the pack, Tom Channon returns at hooker, whilst four forwards who made appearances off the bench last weekend – namely props Paul Andrew and Tyler Gendall, plus lock Edd Pascoe and flanker Sam Simmonds - have starting roles. Welcomed back to full fitness, Matt Bolwell will also make his first appearance of the season in the back-row.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, coach Gavin Cattle has said: “Yes, the cup is a great competition and a change of scenery but in terms of going about our business nothing changes for us.”

The Cornish Pirates know little about Connacht Eagles or what to expect from them, other than being aware that the senior Connacht side play Toulouse in the Champions Cup on Saturday.

Gavin added: “Because we know nothing about the opposition, this week we will focus fully on ourselves and put that vision into our rugby style, both in attack and defence.

“The trophy is important but it’s also about us having pride to put on the shirt, and giving players an opportunity to put their hands up for places, to help us build and progress.”

The Cornish Pirates full selection is as follows: Cornish Pirates: 15 Matt Evans, 14 Jack Arnott, 13 Tom Hendrickson, 12 Alex Dancer, 11 Alex O’Meara, 10 Laurence May, 9 Mike Pope; 1 Paul Andrew, 2 Tom Channon, 3 Tyler Gendall, 4 Chris Morgan (capt), 5 Edd Pascoe, 6 Matt Bolwell, 6 Sam Simmonds, 8 Dan Lee. Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Jack Andrew, 18 Josh Caulfield, 19 John Stevens, 20 Alex Day, 21 Will Cargill, 22 Bar Bartlett.

As for a first home game for the Cornish Pirates in the competition, that is on Sunday week, when the Pirates will welcome Ospreys Premiership Select to the Mennaye Field (ko 2pm).

Tickets for the match can be purchased at the gates on the day, but the advice is to purchase them in advance, either through the ticket office (Tel: 01736-331961, open Monday to Friday 9am – 12 noon), or on-line. For further information please visit www.cornish-pirates.com/tickets

Also, for those interested in hospitality, please contact Tom Magill – email info@cornish-pirates.com, or telephone 01736 335314.