JAMES RYAN IS set to make his first appearance since mid-March this weekend after being named in the Leinster team to face Leicester Tigers for their a highly-anticipated Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final fixture tomorrow [KO 5.30pm, BT Sport 2].
Having left the bulk of his international contingent at home for the recent two-game United Rugby Championship trip to South Africa, Leo Cullen welcomes back a host of Ireland stars for the trip to Welford Road, including influential second row Ryan.
The lock hasn’t played any rugby since being forced off following a head knock in the opening minute of Ireland’s Six Nations win against England in Twickenham on 12 March. Ryan was subsequently afforded an extended break from the game due to his history with head injuries.
However the 25-year-old has stepped up his training in recent weeks and has now been given the green light to start tomorrow’s heavyweight clash in Leicester, in what will be his first outing for the province since October.
🚨 | 𝚃𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝙽𝚎𝚠𝚜
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 6, 2022
Here's your #LeinsterRugby team for tomorrow's #HeinekenChampionsCup quarter-final against @LeicesterTigers 👇
🧀 @JamesRyan126 is back!
💪 Joe Mc makes the bench#LEIvLEI #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/CayOsveZFW
“James is such a key guy for us over the last number of years, for Leinster and Ireland,” Cullen said.
“It’s good to see him back, he’s come through everything. We could have pushed him for those Connacht games earlier but he’s been working away, training for the last four or five weeks, so he should be good to go. We’re excited to see him back out there.”
Ryan’s return is the only change from Leinster’s last Champions Cup outing – the 56-20 defeat of Connacht in the round of 16 second leg at the Aviva Stadium.
Ryan partners the in-form Ross Molony in the second row, while the Ireland frontrow trio of Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong also come back into the side.
📋 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) May 6, 2022
The Leicester Tigers 2️⃣3️⃣ for Saturday's match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.#LEIvLEI 🏉 #COYT 👊 pic.twitter.com/X2PsT63u91
A powerful backrow sees Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan all return.
Hugo Keenan resumes his place at fullback, with Jimmy O’Brien and James Lowe completing the back three.
Garry Ringrose lines out alongside Robbie Henshaw in the centre positions, with Jamison Gibson-Park named at scrum-half and Johnny Sexton captaining the side from out-half.
A strong Leinster bench includes rising second row star Joe McCarthy, who is in line to make his European debut for the province.
Meanwhile Leicester have made just one change from last weekend’s 56-26 Premiership win over Bristol, with Ollie Chessum returning to the second row as Harry Wells drops to the bench.
Leicester Tigers
15. Freddie Steward
14. Chris Ashton
13. Matías Moroni
12. Guy Porter
11. Harry Potter
10. George Ford
9. Ben Youngs
1. Ellis Genge (captain)
2. Julián Montoya
3. Dan Cole
4. Ollie Chessum
5. Calum Green
6. Hanro Liebenberg
7. Tommy Reffell
8. Jasper Wiese
Replacements:
16. Nic Dolly
17. James Whitcombe
18. Joe Heyes
19. Harry Wells
20. George Martin
21. Richard Wigglesworth
22. Freddie Burns
23. Nemani Nadolo
Leinster
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jimmy O’Brien
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Ross Molony
5. James Ryan
6. Caelan Doris
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Michael Ala
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ross Byrne
23. Tommy O’Brien
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FRA)
