Leinster team named for trip to La Rochelle

Ringrose and Ryan co-captain the team in La Rochelle

The Leinster Rugby team, proudly sponsored by Bank of Ireland, to take on La Rochelle in Pool 4 of the Investec Champions Cup on Sunday afternoon in Stade Marcel Deflandre has been named by Head Coach Leo Cullen (KO: 3:15pm Irish time, live on TNT Sports 1 and Newstalk).

Garry Ringrose and James Ryan co-captain the team for the first time in European competition, as hooker Dan Sheehan is set to make his 50th appearance for Leinster.

Nine of the team that started last season’s Champions Cup Final are named in the starting lineup for the trip to France.

Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, with Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O’Brien named on the wings.

Ringrose is joined by Robbie Henshaw in the centre, with Harry Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park completing the backline. Byrne is set to make his first start in the Champions Cup, following seven previous appearances from the bench.

In the pack, Sheehan is joined in the front row by Andrew Porter and Michael Ala’alatoa.

Ryan packs down with Joe McCarthy in the second row, for the first time in an away European match.

After starting in the second row last week, Ryan Baird moves into the back-row where he is joined by Will Connors and Caelan Doris. Connors is set for his first European appearance in over three years.

Among the replacements, prop Thomas Clarkson and scrum-half Ben Murphy are set to make their Champions Cup debuts.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets)

15. Hugo Keenan (58)
14. Jordan Larmour (94)
13. Garry Ringrose (118) CO-CAPTAIN
12. Robbie Henshaw (79)
11. Jimmy O’Brien (74)
10. Harry Byrne (56)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (129)
1. Andrew Porter (110)
2. Dan Sheehan (49)
3. Michael Ala’alatoa (52)
4. Joe McCarthy (22)
5. James Ryan (75) CO-CAPTAIN
6. Ryan Baird (56)
7. Will Connors (40)
8. Caelan Doris (70)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (50)
17. Cian Healy (266)
18. Thomas Clarkson (30)
19. Jason Jenkins (24)
20. Josh van der Flier (130)
21. Ben Murphy (8)
22. Ciarán Frawley (74)
23. Charlie Ngatai (20)

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)