Connacht, despite a lot of movement in the close season, have retained the bulk of last year¹s squad with eleven of the fifteen that started in the famous victory over Leinster at Donnybrook staying with the side as they prepare for the new-look Celtic League which kicks off in September.
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 O¹Loughlin 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 Mary¹s 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 O¹Sullivan and Justin Meagher as well as Irish-qualified Christian Short, who joins from Bracknell in England having previously been with London Irish.
Connacht Squad 2003/2004:
Backs: Mark McHugh; Ted Robinson, Conor McPhillips, Matt Mostyn, Darren Yapp, Tim Allnutt, Shane Moore, Wayne Munn, Eric Elwood, David Hewitt, Chris Keane, Mike Walls, Conor O¹Loughlin, Paddy O¹Sullivan (Dev.), Justin Meagher (Dev.).
Forwards: Dan McFarland, Warren O¹Kelly, Bernard Jackman, Marnus Uijs, John Fogarty, Peter Bracken, Adrian Clarke, Fabian Boiroux, Damian Browne, Andrew Farley, Mike McCarthy, Michael Swift, John Muldoon, Paul Neville, Tom Carter, Michael Carroll, Ray Hogan (Dev.), Henry Bourke (Dev.) Christian Short (Dev.). Note: Two more back row forwards to be added to squad.