TWO ACADEMY PLAYERS are set to make their debuts for Leinster this weekend as the province begins its two-game URC tour of South Africa.
Leo Cullen’s side will take on Cell C Sharks in Durban on Saturday [Kick-off, 5.15pm Irish time -- TG4, Premier Sports and URC TV], where Brian Deeny and John McKee are set to make their debuts.
Deeny, who has played for Wexford Wanderers and Clontarf, has also featured for the Irish U20 side and has been selected to start in the second row.
Belfast native McKee, who has been named on the bench, captained Campbell College to an Ulster Schools Cup in 2018 before moving to UCD. He has also captained Ireland at underage level and currently plays with Old Belvedere.
Rhys Ruddock captains the side from the back row, where he will be joined by Scott Penny and Max Deegan.
Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Thomas Clarkson make up the front row while Deeny is joined by Jack Dunne in the second row.
Elsewhere, Chris Cosgrave has been selected at full-back, making his first start for the province.
Tommy O’Brien has been named to start on the right wing with Rory O’Loughlin on the left.
Ciarán Frawley and Jamie Osborne pair up in midfield while Nick McCarthy is alongside Harry Byrne in the half-backs, making his first appearance since picking up an injury in March.
🚨 | Here is your #LeinsterRugby team to face @SharksRugby 👇
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) April 22, 2022
© @RhysRuddock captains
👏 Debuts for Brian Deeny and John McKee
🔵 First start for Chris Cosgrave#SHAvLEI #URC pic.twitter.com/PNhXedclgG
Leinster Rugby team v Cell C Sharks
15. Chris Cosgrave
14. Tommy O’Brien
13. Jamie Osborne
12. Ciarán Frawley
11. Rory O’Loughlin
10. Harry Byrne
9. Nick McCarthy
1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Brian Deeny
5. Jack Dunne
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Scott Penny
8. Max Deegan
Replacements
16. John McKee
17. Peter Dooley
18. Michael Ala’alatoa
19. Josh Murphy
20. Alex Soroka
21. Cormac Foley
22. David Hawkshaw
23. Martin Moloney
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
