Champions Cup
Preview: Leinster Look to Secure Top Spot in Coventry
The return of some key players is not only good for Leinster but Ireland
Leinster are welcoming back some key men as they play their final Heineken Champions Cup Pool 1 game against Wasps in Coventry, on Sunday.
Ireland internationals Robbie Henshaw, Devin Toner, and Jack McGrath return to the starting line-up for Leinster, while Sean O’Brien could make an appearance from the bench after a spell out due to an injury.
Henshaw and Toner are also coming back from hamstring and ankle injuries respectively. McGrath comes into the starting XV after being on the bench last week.
The match will provide them with some much-needed game time ahead of the Six Nations.
The line-up also sees Leo Cullen stick with his back three of Dave Kearney, Jordan Larmour and Adam Byrne after their impressive displays in Leinster’s 29-13 win over Toulouse.
Ross Byrne starts at fly-half and will have to put the disappointment of not receiving a call up to the Ireland squad behind him. He is partnered by Jamison Gibson-Park at No.9 who replaces the injured Luke McGrath.
LINE UP: Here is your #LeinsterRugby team to face @WaspsRugby this Sunday in Coventry. #WASvLEI #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/vwoGVJk1Lo
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 18, 2019
On the Wasps side there are a few changes, as Jake Cooper-Wooley replaces Will Stuart at prop, Nizaam Carr comes in for Thomas Young in the back-row, with Gabiriele Lovobalavu taking the place of Juan du Jongh in the centre.
Elsewhere Joshua Bassett switches wings to accommodate Elliot Daly on the opposite wing with Ross Neal missing out.
?️ TEAM NEWS@elliotdaly returns to face Leinster @RicohArena, while Gaby Lovobalavu, @NizaamCarr8 & @JC_Woolley also start! #COYW
More at https://t.co/f1bIQDBubx pic.twitter.com/MrE0MMw2Qp
— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) January 18, 2019
Wasps are out of the competition already and are sitting bottom of the pool with only four points from five games and return to the field after losing 18-16 to Bath last weekend.
On the other hand, Leinster have already qualified for the last eight thanks to Edinburgh’s win over Montpellier last night, but they still have sights on topping the group and claiming a home quarter-final.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference returning lock Toner warned of the threat Wasps pose.
“Wasps have nothing to lose coming out against us. With us, how we’ve gone last year and how we’ve been playing, we have a big target on our backs. Everyone loves coming up against us these days and it’s a great marker for them to put down a good performance against us”, he said.
.@DevinToner4: "We have to keep the standard from last week." #WASvLEI #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/a3kFuePFcH
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 19, 2019
Toner’s comments will remind his team mates that they are in poll position to take top spot in Pool 1, but Toulouse will be waiting in the wings for any slip-up as Wasps look to regain some pride.
Champions Cup
Academy Trio Stepping Up & Contract News
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to announce that Academy trio Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan and Mark Donnelly will be promoted to the senior squad in the summer.
We can also confirm that hooker Scott Buckley, who graduated from the Academy to the senior squad in 2022, has signed a contract extension.
Out-half Butler, scrum-half Coughlan (both 21) and 22-year-old prop Donnelly have all signed on for the next two seasons after impressing over their three years in the Academy.
Butler and Coughlan become the first Ennis RFC players to earn senior Munster contracts.
As previously confirmed, Academy lock Edwin Edogbo (21), who also came up through the Munster Youths system with Cobh Pirates, will graduate from the Academy to the senior squad on a two-year deal next season.
Buckley, Butler, Coughlan and Donnelly all made their Munster debuts in the famous Champions Cup win over Wasps in December 2021.
Ennis out-half Tony Butler has earned his first senior contract after a very productive three years in the Academy.
He has made six senior appearances to date, including two starts so far this season against Dragons and Connacht.
A Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s in 2022, Butler now plays his AIL rugby with Young Munster having previously lined out for Garryowen.
He captained Ennis at underage level, teaming up with Coughlan in the half-backs as they enjoyed success in the Munster U16 and U18 Clubs competitions.
Scrum-half Ethan Coughlan is enjoying an excellent campaign with three starts so far this year and eight senior appearances in total since joining the Academy.
He enjoyed great success alongside Butler with Ennis RFC at underage level before captaining the Ireland U18 Clubs team.
He also won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2022 and plays his AIL rugby with Shannon.
Prop Mark Donnelly has already made nine senior appearances for Munster after coming up through the ranks at Midleton RFC, Midleton College and CBC.
He was a Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup winner with CBC in 2019 and featured for the Ireland U20s in the 2021 Six Nations.
He joined the Academy that summer before making his Munster debut along with Buckley, Butler and Coughlan against Wasps in December 2021
Along with his nine senior Munster appearances, Donnelly has also played regularly for Garryowen in the AIL over the past three years.
Hooker Scott Buckley (23) has signed a one-year contract having made 25 appearances for Munster to date.
A product of the Munster Rugby Academy, Buckley started out with Kinsale RFC before captaining CBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2019.
He was Player of the Match against Wasps on his Munster debut and made nine appearances last season as Munster won the URC title.
A UCC clubman, he scored the match-winning try against Crusaders at Páirc Ui Chaoimh earlier this month.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Champions Cup
New Signing & Contract News
Munster Rugby are pleased to confirm the signing of 23-year-old winger Diarmuid Kilgallen on a two-year deal ahead of the 2024/25 season.
In further contract news, hooker Eoghan Clarke has signed a one-year deal for next season after rejoining Munster in November.
Prop Keynan Knox has completed his time at the province after scoring three tries in 33 appearances and we wish him all the best for the future.
Kilgallen hails from Eadestown in Kildare and has scored 12 tries in 22 appearances for Connacht to date.
He started out at Naas RFC before playing schools rugby for Cistercian College Roscrea on the Tipperary-Offaly border.
He joined the Connacht Academy in 2019 and made his debut against Munster in 2020.
A tall, athletic winger, he scored five tries in eight appearances last season and has five tries in six appearances so far this year.
25-year-old hooker Clarke has signed on for next year after impressing since returning to the province in November.
Clarke spent three years in the Munster Academy before departing for Jersey Reds in 2021. He won the English Championship with Jersey last season but the club went into liquidation in October.
He has made five appearances for Munster since returning, including a debut against Bayonne in December and a first start against Crusaders at Páirc Uí Chaoimh earlier this month.
24-year-old tighthead prop Knox departs after over seven years at Munster Rugby.
He joined the Academy midway through the 2017/18 season after completing his second level education with Michaelhouse in South Africa.
The Young Munster clubman made his senior debut against Dragons in September 2019 and moved up to the senior squad in 2020.
Knox featured in eight games last season as Munster clinched the URC title. In total, he scored three tries in 33 Munster appearances.
We wish Keynan all the best with his next move.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Champions Cup
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Northampton
The Munster squad started preparations on Monday ahead of Saturday’s vital Investec Champions Cup clash against Northampton at Thomond Park (5.30pm).
There are a limited number of tickets remaining here.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the match here.
There were no new injuries to report after the win over Toulon on Saturday.
Following a consultation last week, Jack O’Donoghue will not require surgery on his knee injury and will be managed conservatively by the medical department. He is unavailable for three to four months.
Oli Jager is continuing to follow the return to play protocols and his availability for the Northampton game will be determined later this week.
There is good news for Jack Daly (ankle) as he returns to training this week.
Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles) and Mike Haley (hip) are increasing their training demands and will target a return to play in the coming weeks.
Continuing to rehab: Jack O’Donoghue (knee), Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Jean Kleyn (eye/knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), RG Snyman (chest/shoulder), Roman Salanoa (knee), Mike Haley (hip), Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles).
There were eight Munster players in AIL action at the weekend.
Academy out-half Tony Butler kicked two penalties and a conversion for Young Munster as they were beaten 23-13 by Cork Constitution at Temple Hill. Chris Moore started at hooker for the Cookies.
Academy scrum-half Jack Oliver kicked two penalties and a conversion for Garryowen in their 23-10 win over UCC at the Mardyke. Colm Hogan scored a try for Garryowen with Academy prop George Hadden also featuring.
Jack O’Sullivan started at no.8 for College.
Evan O’Connell was in action for UL Bohs as they were beaten 34-7 by Old Crescent.
Video | Graham Rowntree Interview
Tickets
Champions Cup Round 4: Saturday, January 20
Munster Rugby v Northampton Saints, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here
Saturday, February 3
Munster Rugby v Crusaders, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm; SOLD OUT
URC Round 11: Friday, March 1
Munster v Zebre Parma, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
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