Leo Cullen will Captain Leinster in their first competitive game of the season, their Magners League clash with Edinburgh in the RDS on Saturday evening.

Leo Cullen will make his first competitive start for the province since re-signing for the province from the Leicester Tigers during the summer. The Wicklow man is in line to make his 84th appearance after being named captain. He partners Trevor Hogan in the second row – one of seven full internationals in the starting pack.

Argentina prop Juan Francisco-Gomez makes his debut and he could be joined by Stephen Knoop and another returning star, Shane Jennings, who could also make his first outing since returning from Leicester.

Both Knoop and Jennings are named on a strong-looking bench alongside Cillian Willis who, in another injury boost to the province, is named at reserve scrum-half after missing the latter half of last season after shoulder surgery.

Meanwhile, there is a strong blend of youth and experience in the backline with Chris Whitaker partnering Jonathan Sexton at half-back. Christian Warner continues his promising midfield partnership with Michael Berne, while Ireland internationals Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald join Gary Brown in a lively-looking back three.

Tickets will be on sale from Ticketmaster booths around the ground on Saturday from 3pm.

There will be ‘Family Day’ activities around the ground from 4.30pm on Saturday with a Canterbury Roadshow, Tag Rugby, and skills and drills from the Leinster Women’s Team.

 

LEINSTER

15: Rob Kearney
14: Gary Brown
13: Michael Berne
12: Christian Warner
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Chris Whitaker
1: Stan Wright
2: Bernard Jackman
3: Juan Francisco-Gomez
4: Trevor Hogan
5: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
6: Stephen Keogh
7: Keith Gleeson
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS

16: Brian Blaney
17: Stephen Knoop
18: Devin Toner
19: Cameron Jowitt
20: Shane Jennings
21: Cillian Willis
22: Fergus McFadden