All four Irish provinces have added players to their squads before their respective European quarter-finals.
Under the European Cup rules the teams that have qualified for the knock-out stages are entitled to add up to three players to their respective squads.
Leinster, Munster and Ulster have taken full advantage adding three each to their Champions Cup sides while Connacht have brought two into their Challenge Cup squad.
Leinster, who face Ulster in the last eight in the Aviva on March 30th, have chosen to include a fit-again Joe Tomane, who was released earlier in the competition to receive surgery on his hamstring, winger Barry Daly and prop Vakh Abdaladze.
.@DalyBJOfficial, @JoeTomane29 and Vakh Abdaladze have been added to #LeinsterRugby‘s European squad ahead of the Heineken #ChampionsCup quarter-final against Ulster, subject to confirmation by EPCR. pic.twitter.com/iM320jQBjI
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) March 14, 2024
On the other side, Ulster have included Luke Marshall, who had been missing through injury, James Hume and Tommy O’Hagan, as they hope to dethrone the reigning champions.
Munster have brought in James Cronin, Bill Johnston and Jack O’Donoghue for their match away to Edinburgh. The latter could be vital as they are currently without Tommy O’Donnell who is out with a shoulder issue.
SQUAD UPDATE | Dave O’Callaghan returns to full training this week as James Cronin, Bill Johnston and Jack O’Donoghue are nominated as our additional players for the Champions Cup.
Full details > > https://t.co/4tgMs9f6Hz#MUNvZEB #SUAF ? pic.twitter.com/NqiZXkPdlM
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) March 14, 2024
In the Challenge Cup, Connacht have registered Tom Daly and Stephen Fitzgerald, on loan from Leinster and Munster respectively, for their clash with Sale in two weeks’ time.
The additions are great to have, and we will have to wait and see if any of them play a pivotal role in getting their side through to the final four.