Connacht have landed themselves a quarter-final berth in the European Challenge Cup today despite narrowly losing away to Catania in Italy last night.

The western province faced an anxious wait to see if results elsewhere this afternoon would work in their favour. And they did.

Michael’s Bradley’s side advanced when Newcastle travelled to France and beat Brive 24-17, which guaranteed Connacht one of the three best runners-up places. Connacht have now reached the quarter-final stage for the fourth successive year.