Ulster Rugby vs Leinster

Leinster Rugby are just through their eighth week of pre- season training under the stewardship of head coach Leo Cullen and like all teams it has been a case of getting to know the new faces while also getting to grips with the new voices from the side of the pitch. TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION

Some of the Academy names will be familiar to rugby supporters in general having performed well for the Irish U20s over the last few seasons. The likes of Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, Garry Ringrose, Cian Kelleher, Billy Dardis, Peter Dooley and Ross Molony have all performed well at U20s level but will now be hoping to seize the moment in the absence of so many Leinster players due to the World Cup. Similarly new recruits to the Senior squad like twins Bryan and Ed Byrne, Dan Leavy, Cathal Marsh, Gavin Thornbury and Josh van der Flier have already made their debuts and will be looking to kick on this season. The pre-season schedule has already included open training sessions in Edenderry and Skerries and after this evening’s game against Ulster, Leo Cullen’s men face Moseley RFC in the final pre- season game at home next Friday in Donnybrook. Leinster begin the Guinness PRO12 season on Friday 4th September with an away trip to Edinburgh.

On the playing side back came Johnny Sexton and Isa Nacewa from sabbaticals abroad, while second row Mick Kearney joined from Connacht and Ian Hirst and Royce Burke-Flynn joined from the amateur ranks and indeed from the same club, Clontarf. Another to return was defence coach Kurt McQuilkin who had previously served in a similar position under Michael Cheika and was part of the back room team that brought a first ever Heineken Cup to Leinster. John Fogarty, has also come on board as scrum coach and his name will be familiar to supporters in Munster, Connacht and Leinster having had spells in all three provinces as a player. Like McQuilkin, Fogarty was also a part of that 2009 Heineken Cup breakthrough playing hooker on that fateful day. Of course, the majority of those same eight weeks have been spent with only a fraction of the playing staff available to Cullen and his coaching team, as the rest of the players prepare for the Rugby World Cup with Ireland which is now only weeks away. That has afforded the Academy players and indeed the younger Senior squad members an opportunity to impress upon the coaching staff just what they have to offer in the blue of Leinster.

CLUB STATS //Location Dublin, Ireland //Founded 1879 //Ground Royal Dublin Society Arena //Capacity 18,000

//Next Game Edinburgh Rugby (A) Fri 4th Sep 15, 19:35

STAFF // Coach Leo Cullen // Captain Jamie Heaslip

CONTACT Newstead Building A, UCD, Belfield Dublin 4

T +353 1 269 3224 F +353 1 269 3142 E information@leinsterrugby.ie

TICKET OFFICE T +353 1 223 5103

www.leinsterrugby.ie

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