Connacht vs Sharks Challenge Cup preview: How to watch, confirmed lineups and recent form

Home team	Connacht
Away team	Sharks
Venue	Dexcom Stadium
Competition	European Challenge Cup
Kick off time	20:00
Watch Live in the UK	Premier Sports

Connacht vs Sharks Challenge Cup preview as the sides meet at the Dexcom Stadium.

Connacht picked up a home draw for the last sixteen despite finishing third in their group, winning two of their four matches. The Sharks also won two of their group games, but this was in the Champions Cup. They finished fifth in their group on points difference and dropped down into the Challenge Cup.

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Connacht vs Sharks confirmed lineups and team news

Connacht (1-15):

Bohan, Heffernan, Illo, Joyce, D Murray, Murphy, Hurley-Langton, Prendergast, Devine, Ioane, Mullins, Aki, Forde, Jennings, Gilbert

Replacements (16-23):

Tierney-Martin, Dooley, Bealham, N Murray, Boyle, Reilly, Naughton Devine

Sharks (1-15):

Nche, Swart, Koch, Etzebeth, Slabbert, Mavesere, J Potgieter, Hatton, Braude, Smith, Mapimpi, M Potgieter, Malan, van der Merwe, Kunene

Replacements (16-23):

Bester, Mazibuko, Mdanda, Rahl, Tsituka, Everson, Masuku, Hooker

Recent Form:

Connacht (Home team): W-W-W-W-W

Connacht have been in great form, winning all of their last five games. They haven’t scored more than 31 points in a game since they played Montauban in the Challenge Cup in January. In their last game against the Ospreys, they won 21-14 in a close encounter that saw Conancht take the lead three times. The Ospreys brought it back to level on two occasions, but a 75th-minute winning try helped them get the match over the line.

Sharks (Away team): W-W-L-L-W

The Sharks have had a good run at home when welcoming European sides to South Africa. Their away form has been poor this season, only winning against the Stormers. Their last away win outside of South Africa came against Ulster last April. In the last round of the URC, the Sharks won 21-15, having found themselves 12-7 behind after 28 minutes. Two tries late in the first half put them 21-12 in front. There was only one score in the second half, and it came from a penalty with seven minutes to go.

Connacht vs Sharks head-to-head record (last five matches):

Date	Competition	Winner	Score
29th November 2025	URC	Connacht	44-17
28th September 2024	URC	Connacht	36-30
18th November 2023	URC	Connacht	12-13
7th January 2023	URC	Connacht	24-12
30th April 2022	URC	Sharks	41-21

Connacht have won the last four meetings between these teams, including all three in Ireland. The only win the Sharks have over Connacht was in their first meeting in South Africa. The last two meetings have seen the Irish side score 80 points, with at least 36 points in each game.