Fardy and Toner stay at home as Leinster announce 28-man squad for South Africa tour

Leo Cullen’s travelling party leave Dublin this evening.

JOEY CARBERY HAS proved his fitness in time to make the plane for Leinster’s tour to South Africa, but both Scott Fardy and Devin Toner are remaining at home as their wives are expecting their first children in the coming weeks.

It means Leo Cullen’s 28-man squad for the back-to-back games against the Southern Kings and Cheetahs contains just three recognised second-rows after Ian Nagle was ruled out for 12 weeks.

Nagle will undergo surgery on his pectoral muscle, leaving Mick Kearney, Ross Molony and the fit-again James Ryan as the only second-row options available to Cullen, although Rhys Ruddock can cover that position if required.

Dave Kearney, Noel Reid, Jordi Murphy and Fegus McFadden have also recovered from their respective injuries in time to board this evening’s flight to Johannesburg.

As was already confirmed, the eastern province are without their 2017 Lions as well as a number of internationals including Jamie Heaslip, Rob Kearney, Garry Ringrose and Dan Leavy.

Leinster trained at their UCD base yesterday and this morning ahead of the two-week trip to the southern hemisphere.

Joey Carbery makes the flight and could make his first appearance of the season. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

The travelling party will arrive in Johannesburg tomorrow morning ahead of the Pro14 games against the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and the Cheetahs on Friday week in Bloemfontein.

Leinster, along with Italian club Zebre, will become the first sides to play on South African soil in the expanded Pro14 competition.

Saturday’s clash against the Kings (KO 2.15pm) will be shown live on TG4 while the meeting with the Cheetahs (KO 8pm) is available on Sky Sports.