Leinster ‘A’ Make Two Changes For British & Irish Cup Decider
Head coach Noel McNamara has named the Leinster ‘A’ team to face Ealing Trailfinders in Saturday’s British & Irish Cup final at Trailfinders Sports Ground (kick-off 2pm).
Leinster Rugby and Bank of Ireland confirmed on Thursday that the final will be streamed live on the Leinster Rugby Facebook page, with thanks to Bank of Ireland. Guinness, a proud sponsor of Leinster Rugby, have also asked a number of bars in Bilbao to (where possible) show the game for supporters visiting the Spanish city for the Champions Cup final.
There are two personnel changes and one positional switch with Ciaran Frawley, who landed the decisive late conversion in the semi-final comeback victory away to Jersey Reds, moving from full-back to out-half, Jack Kelly donning the number 15 jersey and Max Deegan slotting in at number 8.
Leinster ‘A’, who were B&I Cup champions in both 2013 and 2014, will be captained again by Carlow man Bryan Byrne, with his twin brother Ed and fellow former Ireland Under-20 international Vakh Abdaladze joining him in the front row.
Mick Kearney and Ian Nagle are retained as the province’s second row pairing, while Josh Murphy and Peadar Timmins flank Deegan, who has had 17 senior appearances for Leinster this season, in the loose forwards trio.
Skerries man Frawley, another player with senior experience in the starting XV, will be partnered at half-back by Charlie Rock who is fresh from helping Lansdowne complete an Ulster Bank League and Bateman Cup double on the domestic scene.
Tommy O’Brien and Ireland international Adam Byrne complete the back-three along with Dublin University clubman Kelly, with Conor O’Brien and Gavin Mullin continuing their centre partnership for the decider. Watch live coverage of the B&I Cup decider online here from 2pm tomorrow.
LEINSTER ‘A’ (v Ealing Trailfinders): Jack Kelly; Adam Byrne, Gavin Mullin, Conor O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien; Ciaran Frawley, Charlie Rock; Ed Byrne, Bryan Byrne (capt), Vakh Abdaladze, Mick Kearney, Ian Nagle, Josh Murphy, Peadar Timmins, Max Deegan.
Replacements: Sean McNulty, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Caelan Doris, Will Connors, Hugh O’Sullivan, Tom Daly.