Connacht Rugby is holding an Open Day in aid of The Meningitis Trust ahead of their preseason clash with Saracens this Saturday, August 21, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm

Admission will be free for children and adults €10 prior to 5pm (including entry to the open day and ticket for the Connacht V Saracens game), otherwise tickets cost €15 per adult after 5pm.

Connacht Rugby is helping The Meningitis Trust with their main goal of reaching every household in Ireland with a meningitis signs and symptoms card. All donations on the day will go to The Meningitis Trust which supports people who has been touched by meningitis and the Trust’s services  and support are a lifeline to help them rebuild their lives. It also raises awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and associated septicaemia.

There will be lots of entertainment including bouncing castles, face painting, obstacle courses for children as well as an opportunity to meet Connacht's three Irish internationals: captain John Muldoon, Gavin Duffy and Sean Cronin. Parents will also be given an opportunity to join in on the fun participating in games and kicking competitions for both mums and dads. There will also be plenty of refreshments provided and prizes.

For further information please on the Open Day contact Claire Mulcahy on (091) 561568 or email Claire@cbirfu.com and for more information on the Meningitis Trust see www.meningitis-trust.ie or call 1800 523 196.

Meanwhile, Connacht has announced it will play a match against Manu Samoa at the Sportsground on Tuesday, November 9. Connacht Rugby has a long association with Samoa - Gavin Willams and Ofisa Treveranus have both been capped by the Samoan National side having played with Connacht, whilst Ray Ofisa and Niva Ta’auso (both regulars on the Connacht team) also hail from the Navigators Islands.

“We are delighted to have a fixture of this calibre in the Sportsground, it continues a tradition of National teams visiting the West, Portugal played here the year before last and South Africa played here in 2007, the year they went onto win the World Cup, so we are well used to hosting teams from other nations,” says Connacht CEO, Gerry Kelly.

“Season tickets will be valid for this match and we are hoping that the midweek fixture will enable plenty of people who cannot make weekend games to attend.”

Manu Samoa will play Ireland, England and Scotland before returning to play a one off test match against Japan as part of their October tour to the Northern Hemisphere.