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URC teams: Doris and Van der Flier back for Leinster, Ulster name five academy players, Aungier to win 100th Connacht cap

5 April 2026; Caelan Doris, left, and Josh van der Flier of Leinster after the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Caelan Doris (l) and Josh van der Flier are fit again

Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier return to a Leinster side containing 13 changes for their BKT URC trip to Benetton on Saturday.

The Ireland back rows were out with injury over recent weeks but make a timely comeback ahead of next weekend's Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon, moreso with Max Deegan suspended for the next two matches.

Head coach Leo Cullen has kept just Jimmy O'Brien and Brian Deeny from the side that defeated Ulster 29-21 last weekend.

Jack Conan starts at number 6 at the Stadio Monigo, with Deeny in the second row alongside Conor O'Tighearnaigh, who signed his first senior contract during the week.

Ed Byrne comes into the starting line-up for the first time since May 2024 with Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong alongside him in the front row for the 7.45pm Irish time kick-off.

Harry Byrne, who signed a new Leinster contract earlier this week, has been named at out-half with Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half, while Rieko Ioane will partner Jamie Osborne in the centre.

Jimmy O'Brien continues on the left wing with Tommy O'Brien coming in on the opposite side and Ciarán Frawley at full-back.

Leinster are third in the table with three regular season matches remaining. They are level on points with second-placed Stormers and four behind Glasgow with those two sides facing off in Cape Town tomorrow.

Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson and Alex Soroka have been named among the replacements after also signing new Leinster contracts this week, with Jerry Cahir and Scott Penny adding to the forward reinforcements.

Fintan Gunne, Sam Prendergast and Charlie Tector complete the matchday 23.


Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Tommy O'Brien, Rieko Ioane, Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O’Brien; Harry Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ed Byrne, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Brian Deeny; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jerry Cahir, Thomas Clarkson, Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Sam Prendergast, Charlie Tector.

Elsewhere, Jack Aungier (above) will become the latest Connacht centurion, after the tighthead prop was named to start against the Lions on Saturday afternoon (3pm Irish time) in Johannesburg.

The 27-year old joined Connacht from Leinster in 2020, and now becomes the 43rd player to reach the landmark milestone for the club.

His inclusion is one of 10 changes from the side that started the win over the Stormers last week.

Captain Cian Prendergast, flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton, and backs John Devine, Harry West and Sam Gilbert all retain their places from that game.

There's a new front row of Peter Dooley and Dylan Tierney-Martin joining Aungier, as well as a new second row partnership of Niall Murray and Joe Joyce.

The final change in the pack sees Paul Boyle come in at number 8, with Sean Jansen passed fit for inclusion off the bench.

There’s a newlook 9 and 10 with Colm Reilly alongside Jack Carty, while Cathal Forde’s withdrawal due to injury means Hugh Gavin starts at inside centre alongside Devine.

Shane Jennings has been passed fit after missing last week and comes in on the left wing.


Connacht: Sam Gilbert; Harry West, John Devine, Hugh Gavin, Shane Jennings; Jack Carty, Colm Reilly; Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; Niall Murray, Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast (capt), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Matthew Victory, Billy Bohan, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, Sean Jansen, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Shayne Bolton.

Meanwhile, Ulster have included five academy players in their squad to take on Munster at Thomond Park tomorrow (5.30pm).

Richie Murphy's side are without a number of frontliners after last weekend's loss to Leinster with Angus Bell, Tom O'Toole and James Hume among those ruled out.

Michael Lowry (above) captains Ulster for the first time in a competitive match.

Academy players James McKillop, Tom Brigg, and Aitzol Arenzana-King are all set for their senior debuts from the start.

In the front row, Eric O'Sullivan starts at loosehead prop alongside hooker James McCormick, and tighthead prop Bryan O’Connor, who makes his first senior Ulster start.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine form the second row.

In a new back row trio, James McKillop starts at blindside flanker, with Tom Brigg at openside flanker and Lorcan McLoughlin at number 8.

Scrum-half Conor McKee starts alongside out-half Jake Flannery.

In the midfield, Ben Carson starts at inside centre, alongside Ethan McIlory at outside centre.

Ben Moxham makes his first senior start since November 2023 on the left wing with Arenzana-King, making his debut on the right wing. Lowry starts at full-back.

In a blend of experience and youth among the replacements, Murphy opts for a 5:3 split, with John Andrew, Callum Reid, Tom McAllister, Joe Hopes and Marcus Rea providing the forward cover.

David Shanahan, James Humphreys and academy back Jonny Scott are the backline replacements.

Munster named their team yesterday with just prop Oli Jager the only change to the side that beat Benetton last weekend.


Ulster: Michael Lowry (capt); Aitzol Arenzana-King, Ethan McIlroy, Ben Carson, Ben Moxham; Jake Flannery, Conor McKee; Eric O'Sullivan, James McCormick, Bryan O’Connor; Harry Sheridan, Charlie Irvine; James McKillop, Tom Brigg, Lorcan McLoughlin.

Replacements: John Andrew, Callum Reid, Tom McAllister, Joe Hopes, Marcus Rea, David Shanahan, James Humphreys, Jonny Scott.

Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Michael Ala'alatoa, Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Dan Kelly, Alex Kendellen.


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