Gus McCarthy in line to make Leinster debut this weekend

Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has named his match day 23 – proudly sponsored by Bank of Ireland – ahead of tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship Round 15 match against DHL Stormers in DHL Stadium (KO: 6.05pm Irish time, live on TG4 and Premier Sport).

There are a number of changes from the team that played against the Emirates Lions last weekend and there are a number of notable additions to the bench with Gus McCarthy in line to make his debut and both Charlie Tector and Martin Moloney in line to make their first appearance of the season after long-standing injury issues.

In the starting XV, it’s a back three of Henry McErlean, Liam Turner and Rob Russell for the match in Cape Town, with Charlie Ngatai and Ben Brownlee lining up at centre.

Cormac Foley and Sam Prendergast are the starting halfbacks selected by Cullen.

In the front row, Michael Milne, John McKee and Michael Ala’alatoa start this week, with Brian Deeny and Jason Jenkins selected behind them in the second row. Deeny was selected to start last week but was a late withdrawal through injury but has come through the week well.

In the back row, Rhys Ruddock, captain Scott Penny and Max Deegan complete the pack.

Gus McCarthy is in line to make his debut at hooker tomorrow should he be introduced. The 20-year-old captained his school Blackrock College to a Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup success and was also captain of the Ireland U-20s that won the Grand Slam and reached the World Championship Final in South Africa.

There is also a welcome return to action for back row forward Martin Moloney who hasn’t played since October 2022 against the Scarlets, and also for outhalf Charlie Tector, who returns nearly a year to the day since his last involvement against the Bulls in April 2023.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Henry McErlean (2)
14. Liam Turner (28)
13. Ben Brownlee (7)
12. Charlie Ngatai (23)
11. Rob Russell (29)
10. Sam Prendergast (14)
9. Cormac Foley (17)

1. Michael Milne (37)
2. John McKee (25)
3. Michael Ala’alatoa (65)
4. Brian Deeny (16)
5. Jason Jenkins (35)
6. Rhys Ruddock (227)
7. Scott Penny (68) CAPTAIN
8. Max Deegan (109)

16. Gus McCarthy (0)
17. Ed Byrne (100)
18. Thomas Clarkson (37)
19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (3)
20. Diarmuid Mangan (2)
21. Fintan Gunne (2)
22. Charlie Tector (7)
23. Martin Moloney (10)