Leinster Rugby: Garry Ringrose captain, Furlong returns against Connacht

The Leinster team to take on Connacht Rugby tomorrow evening in Galway in the United Rugby Championship has been named by Leo Cullen (KO: 7.35pm – live on RTÉ, Premier Sports and URC TV).

Cullen has made a number of changes to last week’s match day 23 with the URC Player of the Match from the win over Sharks, Garry Ringrose, back to start as captain.

In the back three, Jimmy O’Brien starts again at full back with Liam Turner making his first appearance of the campaign on the right wing and Rob Russell on the left. Charlie Ngatai again wears the inside centre jersey with captain Ringrose outside him at 13.

Cormac Foley makes his first start of the season, with Ross Byrne in the number ten jersey this week. In the pack, Dan Sheehan is again selected to start but Ed Byrne and Tadhg Furlong are on either side of him this week in what will be Furlong’s first appearance of the season.

Ross Molony is joined this week in the second row by James Ryan, while in the back row, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan all start. After scoring his first try for Leinster Rugby last week, John McKee is once again in the matchday squad wearing number 16. Andrew Porter and Michael Ala’alatoa make up the front row replacements.

Joe McCarthy and Ciarán Frawley are back in the squad after the tour of South Africa with Emerging Ireland. They are joined on the bench by Martin Moloney, Nick McCarthy and Robbie Henshaw.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Jimmy O’Brien (56)
14. Liam Turner (6)
13. Garry Ringrose (105) CAPTAIN
12. Charlie Ngatai (4)
11. Rob Russell (7)
10. Ross Byrne (132)
9. Cormac Foley (7)
1. Ed Byrne (88)
2. Dan Sheehan (32)
3. Tadhg Furlong (127)
4. Ross Molony (143)
5. James Ryan (60)
6. Caelan Doris (56)
7. Josh van der Flier (116)
8. Jack Conan (118)

16. John McKee (5)
17. Andrew Porter (94)
18. Michael Ala’alatoa (29)
19. Joe McCarthy (12)
20. Martin Moloney (8)
21. Nick McCarthy (48)
22. Ciarán Frawley (58)
23. Robbie Henshaw (71)