James Ryan to captain Leinster

The Leinster Rugby team, proudly sponsored by Bank of Ireland, to take on Ulster Rugby in the Round of 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup, on Saturday evening in a sold-out Aviva Stadium, has been named by Leo Cullen (KO: 5:30pm – live on RTÉ 2, BT Sport 4 and RTÉ Radio).

James Ryan is set to captain the team, with 14 players who featured for Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations returning to the match day squad.

Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, with Jordan Larmour and James Lowe (pictured below) named on the wings.

Jimmy O’Brien and Robbie Henshaw form the centre partnership for the first time, while Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park complete the back line.

Tadhg Furlong makes his first European appearance of the season. He is joined in the front row by Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan.

Ryan is partnered in the second row by Ross Molony. This season’s leading Heineken Champions Cup try scorer Josh van der Flier is in the back-row alongside Ryan Baird and Jack Conan.

On the bench, hooker John McKee (pictured below) is in line to make his European debut.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Hugo Keenan (51)
14. Jordan Larmour (86)
13. Jimmy O’Brien (66)
12. Robbie Henshaw (73)
11. James Lowe (69)
10. Ross Byrne (143)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (122)
1. Andrew Porter (103)
2. Dan Sheehan (41)
3. Tadhg Furlong (129)
4. Ross Molony (158)
5. James Ryan (69) CAPTAIN
6. Ryan Baird (48)
7. Josh van der Flier (124)
8. Jack Conan (127)

16. John McKee (15)
17. Cian Healy (259)
18. Michael Ala’alatoa (42)
19. Jason Jenkins (12)
20. Scott Penny (53)
21. Luke McGrath (190)
22. Harry Byrne (46)
23. Ciarán Frawley (62)

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)