Connacht Defeats Zebre 43-12 in Opener

Connacht kicked off their European Challenge Cup campaign with a decisive 43-12 win against Zebre in Galway, scoring seven tries in total. After trailing initially, Connacht took control with key contributions from Chay Mullins, who scored twice, and Paul Boyle, who also added a double later in the match. Head coach Pete Wilkins opted to rest several Irish internationals, focusing on introducing new players, including debutant Chay Mullins. Notably, Caolin Blade celebrated his 200th appearance and Paul Boyle marked his 100th by co-captaining the team. The victory marks a positive start for Connacht as they aim for a strong showing in the Challenge Cup, with ambitions for knockout stages. This win also reflects Connacht's recent dominance over Zebre, having won their last three URC meetings against the Italian side.