Leinster

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Ins: Reiko Ioane (Blues)

Outs: Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Cian Healy (retired), Ross Byrne, Rob Russell (both Gloucester)

Last season: Champions

First five games: Stormers (A), Bulls (A), Sharks (H), Munster (H), Zebre (H)

Prospects: A three-season gap without a trophy constitutes a silverware drought for a side like Leinster with Leo Cullen's men ending that unwelcome streak with victory over Glasgow in URC final in June.

Defeat by Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup semi-finals, however, again gave the impression that the prize they most desired had proved elusive.

Despite the conclusion of Jordie Barrett's short-term deal, Leinster have been able to replace like for like by bringing in his All Black colleague Reiko Ioane in what was one of the most talked about signings in recent Irish rugby history - a penny for Johnny Sexton's thoughts, anyone?

Cian Healy, the side's most capped player of all time, has retired while another hugely reliable performer, Ross Byrne has departed too.

But perhaps the toll of the British and Irish Lions series is the biggest unknown going into Leinster's season. Twelve of their number were in the original touring panel before Jamie Osborne and Tom Clarkson were added as injury cover later on.

Leinster will be favourites to be crowned champions once again but, with Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan and Joe McCarthy all to miss the start of the season through injury, how will those exertions down under impact their players across another long season for club and country?

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Luke McGrath will captain Leinster in Friday's United Rugby Championship title defence opener against the Stormers in Cape Town (18:00 BST).

Experienced scrum-half McGrath leads Leinster in the absence of skipper Caelan Doris, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery.

Ireland international Sam Prendergast starts at fly-half, while Robbie Henshaw partners Ciaran Frawley at centre after missing Ireland's summer games through injury.

With Hugo Keenan out injured, Jimmy O'Brien starts at full-back, with Tommy O'Brien - who scored two tries on his Ireland debut over the summer - and Jordan Larmour on the wings.

Ireland internationals Jack Boyle and Gus McCarthy join France prop Rabah Slimani in the front row, with Diarmuid Mangan and Brian Deeny behind.

Ryan Baird, Scott Penny and James Culhane make up the back row, while academy prop Andrew Sparrow is set to make his debut off the bench.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is without his British and Irish Lions contingent.

The Irish province are hoping to win their 10th title this season after reclaiming the trophy for the first time since 2021 last season.

Leinster beat the Stormers 36-12 when the sides met in Dublin in January, their last visit to DHL Stadium resulted in a 42-12 loss in April 2024.

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Henshaw, Frawley, Larmour; Prendergast, McGrath (capt); Boyle, McCarthy, Slimani, Mangan, Deeny, Baird, Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: McKee, P McCarthy, Sparrow, Deegan, Connors, Gunne, Byrne, Cooney.

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Full-back Hugo Keenan will miss Ireland's November schedule after having hip surgery following the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Keenan, 29, scored the winning try in the second Test that clinched a series victory for Andy Farrell's men over the Wallabies this summer.

The Leinster player had, however, travelled with a pre-existing hip issue and will now miss his side's start to the United Rugby Championship (URC) season, as well as Ireland's November Tests against New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa.

Keenan's injury is not the only absence Leinster will be dealing with in the early part of the season.

Lock Joe McCarthy is also a doubt for Ireland's autumn fixtures because of the foot problem he sustained on that summer tour down under.

Number eight Caelan Doris, who missed the Lions series with a shoulder injury suffered against Northampton Saints in May's Champions Cup semi-final, is expected to return before Christmas.

The remainder of Leinster's Lions contingent returned to training last week.

Leo Cullen's side start their URC title defence against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, 26 September.

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Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber has signed a contract extension to remain at the province until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

The 52-year-old joined Leinster in 2023 after guiding South Africa to back-to-back World Cup wins.

He joins attack coach Tyler Bleyendaal and scrum specialist Robin McBryde - a former Wales hooker and forwards coach - in signing new deals to remain with the URC champions.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen told the club's website: "I think we can all appreciate the work that Robin, Jacques and Tyler have done but also the mark that they have left and are leaving on Leinster in their time here.

"They have all brought tonnes of relevant experience and a different perspective to how we do things, and I think that's hugely important for the development of our group, that we hear other voices and other ways of operating.

"It's not just around the senior team as well, you see it with our academy players and the work that they do visiting the clubs and the schools and giving freely of their time. I'm delighted to have them all on board again."

Nienaber's previous contract tied him to Leinster only until 2026.

Leinster also confirmed their former out-half Emmet Farrell has been appointed to a new role of provincial kicking coach but will remain as kicking coach for the senior side.

Brian Colclough has taken over Farrell's former position as lead performance analyst for Cullen's side.

Leinster begin the defence of their URC title away to the Stormers on 26 September.

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British and Irish Lions assistant coach Simon Easterby said that Thomas Clarkson and Jamie Osborne "fully deserve" to be included in the squad against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.

The Leinster duo were late call-ups to the Lions squad as cover after featuring in Ireland's summer tour.

Osborne will make his debut at outside centre, partnering captain Owen Farrell, whilst Clarkson is amongst the replacements and Easterby believes their displays for club and country merit their inclusion.

"It goes without saying the quality of those two individuals. Tom has fought through a pretty tough position at Leinster, never mind in the Irish squad, and he's put in some brilliant performances," he said.

"Jamie has had a brilliant couple of years. The performance he had in South Africa last summer and his performance for Leinster playing 12, 13 or wing, it's pretty impressive the positions he can cover and the quality he brings.

"I'm really pleased for the two of them, they fully deserve being here and I have no doubt they will perform tomorrow."

The Lions starting team does not include any of the players who featured in the first-Test win against Australia.

Easterby dismissed the idea that Tuesday's game is a "distraction" ahead of the second Test against Joe Schmidt's side on Saturday.

Instead, he urged the players that are involved to take the Pasifika game as a chance to force their way into Andy Farrell's plans with a good performance at the Marvel Stadium.

"The players know there is an opportunity there," Easterby added.

"Faz [Andy Farrell] in his selection overall has given guys opportunities based on the performances they have created on tour.

"I believe the group is so competitive at the minute and I don't think that will be any different with the prize of featuring in the second or third Test."

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Leinster and La Rochelle have again been paired together in the draw for the Investec Champions Cup pool stages.

The four-time champions and former Irish fly-half Ronan O'Gara's side have met six times in the past five seasons, including twice in finals won by the French outfit.

The other sides in Pool Three are English pair Leicester Tigers and Harlequins, Top 14 side Bayonne and United Rugby Championship (URC) rivals the Stormers, although Leinster will not play the latter given that they are in the same domestic competition.

Munster have also been handed a familiar opponent and will play Castres of the Top 14 for the 20th time in this competition.

The southern province, who will be under new head coach Clayton McMillan next season, will also play Bath, Toulon and Gloucester with Edinburgh the other URC representative in Pool Two.

Ulster will start the season in the Challenge Cup for the first time in their history and have been paired with Cardiff, Exeter Chiefs, Cheetahs, Racing 92 and Stade Francais.

They faced Exeter in last season's Champions Cup, and Racing the season before that, although have not faced Stade Francais since 2009 or the Cheetahs since they departed what was then the PRO14 in 2020.

The Challenge Cup does not have the same rule against playing teams from your own league so Ulster could face Cardiff given they will play four opponents from their six-team pool.

Former England coach Stuart Lancaster will guide Connacht in the second-tier competition with the western province handed a more varied draw than their Irish rivals.

They are in Pool One along with Montauban, promoted to the Top 14 this season, and Georgian side Black Lion.

URC duo Ospreys and Zebre, as well as French side Montpellier, are also in the group.

Full fixture dates, times, and locations will be confirmed at a later date.

EPCR pools involving Irish sides

Champions Cup Pool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby

Champions Cup Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, La Rochelle, Bayonne, DHL Stormers

Challenge Cup Pool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht Rugby

Challenge Cup Pool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Francais, Ulster Rugby

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Perth

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Tadhg Furlong pronounced himself ready for the challenges of a third Lions tour before Saturday’s first game on Australian soil against Western Force in Perth.

The 32 year-old is a veteran of the past two tours to New Zealand in 2017, which ended in a draw, and South Africa four years ago, when the Lions lost.

The Leinster prop, however, was a stalwart of both series playing in all six Tests and he’d like to extend that run Down Under.

"Would it be cool to say that I played in all three again?

"Yeah, it would. Is it something that motivates me at the minute? No.

"I think obviously after the result last weekend, we're looking straight ahead for this Saturday, so it's just about trying to get my best out on to the pitch and trying to get results with the lads,” explained Furlong.

Not so long ago there were doubts Furlong would make the squad. A calf strain was the latest in a long line of injuries that kept him sidelined for most of last season, missing Leinster’s URC win a couple of weeks ago.

"They're all short-term injuries, and you're always trying to get back for this game or that game.

"It's more a feeling of 'would you get picked, have you done enough'?"

Furlong will pack down in the front row against Western Force alongside his Leinster team-mate and Saturday's Lions captain Dan Sheehan.

"Knowing Dan, he doesn't overthink it a whole lot, and he always plays well, and I think he has the respect of the group.

"I'm delighted for him as a friend and a team-mate.

"He was a big old hooker and I remember him coming into a few scrum sessions.

"It's hard to find your slot, what's comfortable, what works for you.

"Then it just exploded for him. I'm not sure at what point, but when he came onto the scene, he came onto the scene quick."

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Leinster captain Jack Conan says winning the United Rugby Championship helped his side "silence a few critics".

Leo Cullen's team won the competition for the first time since 2021 - and ninth time overall - after a comfortable 32-7 victory against the Bulls at Croke Park.

And Conan was pleased with the success after the Irish side's recent shortcomings in European deciders.

"Definitely feeling a bit of relief, just so delighted for everyone who has put in so much work the last few years," he told TG4.

"I'm glad we showed up and performed and were able to silence a few critics."

Conan, who will now link up with the British and Irish Lions for their summer tour of Australia, revelled in winning the trophy at the GAA headquarters and in front of a crowd as Leinster's last triumph in the competition four years ago was behind closed doors due to Covid.

"It's incredibly special and not something you dream of growing up or even in the last few years it's been a while since we played here," he added in the post-match press conference.

Leinster led 19-0 at half-time and Conan believes the strong defensive effort to shut out South African visitors Bulls after racing into the lead helped his side over the line in the second half.

"To hold them out at half-time, credit to the lads for putting their heads in where you wouldn't put a shovel, the mental lift that gave us was huge," he admitted.

"Before the game we spoke about taking it moment by moment and not getting ahead of ourselves. We knew it was going to be unbelievably physical and there was no point focusing on the bigger picture, but we dealt really with how direct they were.

"I'm delighted for the lads that they have performed."

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United Rugby Championship final - Leinster v Bulls

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 June Kick-off: 17:00 BST

Coverage: Live text coverage on BBC Sport website & app

British and Irish Lions trio Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Furlong and Hugo Keenan will play no part in Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls on Saturday.

Gibson-Park was named to start but was ruled out through injury on Saturday morning and has been replaced by Luke McGrath, with academy scrum-half Fintan Gunne a late call-up to the replacements.

Both tight-head prop Furlong and full-back Keenan have been dealing with calf complaints, although fellow Lions Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier are fit to start against the visiting South Africans.

The fixture in Croke Park is the last game before Andy Farrell's full party for the tour of Australia assemble and will be played six days before the first game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June.

Furlong, 32, has struggled with injuries all season, last featuring in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May and made just nine appearances in 2024-25 for his province and Ireland.

Keenan, 29, did start Leinster's URC quarter-final against Scarlets on 31 May but missed out against Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals a week later.

Flanker Van der Flier, who had a hamstring injury, also last featured against the Scarlets, while Garry Ringrose will be making his first appearance since 10 May against Zebre after a calf issue.

The inclusion of the pair and McGrath are the three changes made by Leo Cullen after the semi-final victory against the Warriors last week, meaning that nine Lions will be on show in Dublin.

James Lowe, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and Jack Conan all also start while Ronan Kelleher is on the bench.

The Bulls make one change from their semi-final victory over Sharks with Marco van Staden coming in at flanker to replace the injured Cameron Hanekom and former Ulster back-row Marcell Coetzee switching from blind-side to number eight.

Leinster are aiming for a ninth URC victory but a first since 2021, while the Bulls are seeking a first title having been beaten in two finals in their four seasons in the competition.

Line-ups

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Barrett, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan (captain)

Replacements: Kelleher, Boyle, Slimani, Snyman, Deegan, Gunne, R Byrne, Osborne.

Bulls: Le Roux; Moodie, Kriel, Vorster, De Klerk; Goosen, Papier; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Wiese, Van Heerden, Van Staden, Nortje (captain), Coetzee.

Replacements: Van der Merwe, Tshakweni, Smith, Kiersten, Carr, Burger, Johannes, Williams.

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British and Irish Lions squad members Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Josh van der Flier are injury doubts for Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls.

Furlong, Ringrose and Keenan are nursing calf injuries while Van der Flier's hamstring issue will be assessed before Saturday's game against the South African side at Croke Park, Dublin (17:00 BST).

Tight-head prop Furlong has endured an injury-plagued season and last played in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May.

The 32-year-old has managed just eight appearances for Leinster while he missed all but one of Ireland's Six Nations matches.

Centre Ringrose has missed the play-offs since coming off injured against Zebre on 10 May, while Van der Flier sustained his hamstring problem in the URC quarter-final win over Scarlets.

Fit-again back Jordan Larmour is available to face the Bulls after being part of the extended matchday squad in last weekend's semi-final win over Glasgow, while wing Tommy O'Brien came through that game with no issues after returning from a foot injury.

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Joe McCarthy says "everyone loves to hate Leinster" and admitted the team are using the perceived ill will as fuel in their quest for silverware after they hammered Glasgow to reach the United Rugby Championship final.

Leinster beat last year's champions 37-19 at Aviva Stadium on Saturday to set up a decider against South African side Bulls at Croke Park next week.

The Irish province have had a point to prove after being stunned at home by Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals as they aim to avoid a fourth consecutive season without a trophy.

"We know everyone loves to hate Leinster. That definitely drives us on," lock McCarthy told RTE after the Glasgow game.

"We've a great fanbase. We don't really care about the outside noise, what you guys [the media] or other people say.

"We're going to rip into next week. It'll be a tough team we're playing so there's no shortage of motivation."

McCarthy, 24, and several of his Leinster team-mates will hope to finish the season with a trophy against the Bulls on Saturday (17:00 BST) before linking up with the British and Irish Lions squad.

"We definitely needed that, it's our first URC final [in the competition's current iteration],"added McCarthy, who started all 11 of Ireland's Test matches in 2024.

"It's massive for us. We need the fans behind us now, we're into Croke Park.

"It's exactly where we want to be, it's a great buzz. There's always pressure, we've never reached a URC final.

"We've disappointment this year already so we want to finish strong and get the fans back on our side."