Fintan Gunne handed first start as Leo Cullen names team to face Sharks

The Leinster Rugby team, proudly sponsored by Bank of Ireland, to take on the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Round 14 of the BKT United Rugby Championship on Saturday at Kings Park Stadium (KO: 5.15pm Irish time / 7.15pm local time, live on RTÉ2 and Premier Sports 2) has been named by Head Coach, Leo Cullen.

There are eight changes to the starting XV from last Saturday's defeat to the Vodacom Bulls, with Max Deegan to captain the side from number eight.

Fintan Gunne is set to make his first start in blue. The Academy scrum-half, who recently signed his first senior contract with Leinster, has made 11 appearances so far in his career, all as a replacement.

Academy second row Alan Spicer is in line for his first Leinster cap if he is called into action off the bench.

Ciarán Frawley will partner Gunne in the half-backs, with Charlie Tector and Liam Turner in the centres.

The back three is unchanged from last week, with Andrew Osborne and Tommy O'Brien on the wings and Jimmy O'Brien at full-back.

Up front, Cian Healy, John McKee and Thomas Clarkson make up the front row while Diarmuid Mangan is joined by Brian Deeny in the second row.

Will Connors continues in the number seven shirt after his Player of the Match performance at Loftus Versfeld, with captain Deegan and Alex Soroka completing the back row.

Lee Barron, Michael Milne and Rory McGuire provide the front row cover from the bench, with Scott Penny joining the uncapped Spicer among the replacements.

Spicer, who turned 20 earlier this month, is in the first year of the Leinster Academy and was selected in this year's Ireland squad for the U-20 Six Nations but missed out through injury. The former Belvedere College student plays with UCD in the AIL, having gotten his start in Minis rugby with Malahide.

Ross Byrne will provide experience from the bench alongside Academy duo Oliver Coffey and Henry McErlean.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Jimmy O’Brien (94)
14. Tommy O’Brien (40)
13. Liam Turner (36)
12. Charlie Tector (16)
11. Andrew Osborne (10)
10. Ciarán Frawley (96)
9. Fintan Gunne (11)

1. Cian Healy (287)
2. John McKee (33)
3. Thomas Clarkson (51)
4. Diarmuid Mangan (9)
5. Brian Deeny (34)
6. Alex Soroka (14)
7. Will Connors (55)
8. Max Deegan (127) CAPTAIN

Replacements:
16. Lee Barron (22)
17. Michael Milne (47)
18. Rory McGuire (7)
19. Alan Spicer (0)
20. Scott Penny (81)
21. Oliver Coffey (1)
22. Ross Byrne (179)
23. Henry McErlean (4)

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)