O’Driscoll Included In 26-Man Leinster Squad

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has been included in a 26-man Leinster squad named ahead of Saturday’s Magners League meeting between the provinces at the RDS (kick-off 6.30pm).

O’Driscoll, who sustained a hamstring tear in last month’s Six Nations defeat to Wales, is fighting his way back to fitness.

He has been included in Leinster’s provisional 26-man squad for this weekend’s interprovincial encounter and the UCD clubman is one of 12 Ireland internationals in the panel.

Three Leinster players are tied for third place (with five tries) in the tournament’s top try scorers list this season – Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip and Shane Horgan, while Ollie Le Roux scored a brace of tries in the recent 24-10 victory in Llanelli.

Leinster’s most capped player Malcolm O’Kelly is also included in the squad after also getting on the scoresheet in the win over the Scarlets.

Saturday’s game is an 18,500 sell-out and there will be no tickets on sale on the day.

With another sell-out set for Leinster’s final home game of the season against the Dragons on the weekend of May 2-4, those attendances look set to increase last year’s average figure of 11,900 supporters in Leinster’s Magners League games at home.

To date, the province has averaged 13,350 at home games at the RDS this season, which marks an impressive increase of 12.3%.

Meanwhile, as there are other events on at the RDS on Saturday, supporters are encouraged to take public transport where possible.

There will also be a ‘Family Day’ with a Canterbury Roadshow, fun Tag Rugby drills and other activities from 5pm behind the Anglesea Stand.

LEINSTER Squad (v Munster): Backs (12) – Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Michael Berne, Christian Warner, Brian O’Driscoll (capt), Eoin O’Malley, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey.

Forwards (14) – Cian Healy, Ollie Le Roux, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O’Kelly, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip.