Hooker Byrne To Lead Leinster ‘A’ Against Munster ‘A’
Head coach Noel McNamara has named the Leinster ‘A’ team to face Munster ‘A’ in the British & Irish Cup quarter-final at Energia Park on Friday (kick-off 3pm).
Supporters can pay at the ground from €;10/5 for the terrace or €;15/10 for the stand, with gates open at 1.30pm.
A number of players that were involved in the Ireland Under-20s’ Six Nations campaign have been named in the Leinster ‘A’ side, which will be captained by Bryan Byrne.
Hooker Byrne will be flanked in the front row by twin brother Ed, who starts at loosehead, and Clontarf prop Vakh Abdaladze, who starts at tighthead. There is plenty of senior experience in the second row pairing of Mick Kearney and Ian Nagle.
Josh Murphy, who has made seven senior starts this season, is named at number 8 in a back row with Peadar Timmins and Oisin Dowling. Tommy O’Brien, who is the Ireland U-20 captain this season, is named in a back-three with Jack Kelly and Barry Daly.
Gavin Mullin and Conor O’Brien, who has made two senior appearances this season, form the centre pairing, while there are a further four Ireland U-20 players – Ronan Foley, Hugh O’Sullivan, Harry Byrne and Sean O’Brien – named on the bench, with senior experience coming from props Peter Dooley and Michael Bent, along with UCD clubman Sean McNulty who is selected as the replacement hooker.
LEINSTER ‘A’ (v Munster ‘A’): Jack Kelly; Tommy O’Brien, Gavin Mullin, Conor O’Brien, Barry Daly; Ciaran Frawley, Charlie Rock; Ed Byrne, Bryan Byrne (capt), Vakh Abdaladze, Mick Kearney, Ian Nagle, Oisin Dowling, Peadar Timmins, Josh Murphy.
Replacements: Sean McNulty, Peter Dooley, Michael Bent, Ronan Foley, Hugh O’Sullivan, Harry Byrne, Sean O’Brien.