Three Academy players named in Leinster's starting XV

The Leinster to take on Edinburgh Rugby in Round 1 of the BKT United Rugby Championship tomorrow evening in the Hive Stadium has been named by Head Coach Leo Cullen.
Jack Conan captains the side at number eight, with Max Deegan and Scott Penny filling out an unchanged back row from the 54-26 pre-season win over Northampton Saints two weeks ago.

Conor O’Tighearnaigh, who started against both Bordeaux-Bègles and Northampton in pre-season, partners James Ryan in the second row as one of three Academy players to earn a starting berth.

Former Ireland Under-20 captain Gus McCarthy makes his first senior start for Leinster and is joined in the front row by Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson.

Third year Academy star Charlie Tector has been given the nod at centre alongside Garry Ringrose.

Jamison Gibson-Park returns from a hamstring injury which saw him miss Ireland’s drawn Test series with South Africa over the summer to form a half-back partnership with Sam Prendergast at out-half.

Jamie Osborne has been named at full-back after some impressive displays there against the Springboks, with Tommy O’Brien and Jordan Larmour on the wings.

Two players will be waiting to make very different milestones off the bench. New signing Rabah Slimani prepares for his Leinster debut, while Cian Healy will equal Devin Toner’s record of 280 Leinster appearances if he is introduced to the game.

Healy made his senior debut as a teenager back in May 2007. Then just 19 years old, Healy came off the bench to replace Reggie Corrigan in a 31-0 win over the now-defunct Border Reivers at Donnybrook.

John McKee, Brian Deeny and James Culhane provide the rest of the forward cover in a team that mixes youth with experience.

Rob Russell joins the veteran half-back duo of Luke McGrath and Ross Byrne as the final replacements for Friday night’s season opener.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Jamie Osborne (48)
14. Tommy O’Brien (35)
13. Garry Ringrose (124)
12. Charlie Tector (8)
11. Jordan Larmour (108)
10. Sam Prendergast (18)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (142)

1. Michael Milne (41)
2. Gus McCarthy (1)
3. Thomas Clarkson (41)
4. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (4)
5. James Ryan (83)
6. Max Deegan (113)
7. Scott Penny (72)
8. Jack Conan (148) CAPTAIN

Replacements
16. John McKee (27)
17. Cian Healy (279)
18. Rabah Slimani (0)
19. Brian Deeny (22)
20. James Culhane (8)
21. Luke McGrath (212)
22. Ross Byrne (162)
23. Rob Russell (32)

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)