Leinster

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says coach Jacques Nienaber is "fully committed" to the province who are "lucky to have" him.

The two-time World Cup winner with the Springboks had cast doubt on his Leinster future earlier in the week after claiming he does not feel valued by the media and fans in Ireland.

However, Cullen is hopeful he will remain as part of the coaching staff and that Nienaber's comments may have been misunderstood.

"I think what he [Nienaber] was referring to is there are no guarantees in sport, is there?" Cullen said.

"So, I think what he is trying to get across, is that when there is a lot of flak on the team from media, sometimes a club will make changes, and I think that is what he was referring to.

"But I think in his own mind, yes, he is fully committed to Leinster so please don't get confused by that and I would be of the same opinion as well."

Nienaber is under contract until 2027 and helped Leinster win the United Rugby Championship title last year.

However, they suffered their fifth defeat in a Champions Cup final since 2018 in May when Bordeaux-Begles produced a ruthless display in Bilbao.

Cullen added that he has enjoyed Neinaber's three years at the province and confirmed he is in his future plans.

"Jacques is brilliant, I have to say I have really enjoyed working with Jacques," Cullen continued.

"I think we have a great group of coaches here. I think we have a great staff as well; there are so many great people in the building and it's a very enjoyable place to work.

"We are very lucky to have him [Neinaber]. He is a brilliant person, brilliant individual to work with and that is very much the plan for sure."

Image source, Inpho

Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan has been ruled out of Saturday's United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Stormers at Aviva Stadium (17:30 BST).

Joe McCarthy has recovered from a knock sustained in last week's quarter-final win over the Lions to partner James Ryan in the second row, while Ronan Kelleher replaces Sheehan at hooker.

Two other changes see Jamison Gibson-Park replace Luke McGrath at scrum-half while Josh van der Flier comes in for Scott Penny at open-side flanker.

James Lowe again starts on the left wing as uncertainty grows over the 33-year-old's future in Irish rugby. The 2025 British and Irish Lion became Leinster's all-time leading tryscorer in last week's resounding 59-10 win over the Lions in Dublin.

Sam Prendergast continues at fly-half after impressing against the Lions, with Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O'Brien joining Lowe in the back three, as Tommy O'Brien misses out again.

New Zealand international Rieko Ioane and Jamie Osborne are again paired in midfield.

With the injured Tadhg Furlong still sidelined, Thomas Clarkson is named at tight-head prop with Andrew Porter at loose-head.

Max Deegan and captain Caelan Doris join the returning Van der Flier in the back row.

Leinster are aiming to retain the URC title and extinguish some of the pain of last month's Investec Champions Cup final loss to Bordeaux-Begles.

Leinster: HKeenan; J O'Brien, R Ioane, J Osborne, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Clarkson, J McCarthy, J Ryan, M Deegan, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).

Replacements: G McCarthy, A Usanov, R Slimani, D Mangan, J Conan, L McGrath, H Byrne, G Ringrose.

Image source, Getty Images

James Lowe will make his 100th appearance for Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship [URC] quarter-final against the Lions at Aviva Stadium [20:00 BST].

The 33-year-old Ireland international was left out of the squad for last week's European Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux Begles but is one of six squad changes made by head coach Leo Cullen for this weekend's URC play-off clash against the South African club.

Lowe equalled Shane Horgan's all-time try-scoring record for Leinster - 69 - in his last outing comes back onto the wing with Rieko Ioane moving to centre where he will partner Jamie Osborne who also missed out on the Bilbao final.

Jimmy O'Brien is a straight replacement for Tommy O'Brien on the opposite wing, with Hugo Keenan retaining his place at full-back.

In a changed half-back pairing, Sam Prendergast comes in at fly-half with Luke McGrath at scrum-half as Harry Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park drop to the bench.

In the forwards, Tadhg Furlong is the only change in the front row with Tom Clarkson dropping out, while in the second row, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan retain their places.

There are changes at flanker with Max Deegan at blind-side and Scott Penny in at open-side, while Caelan Doris retains his place at number eight where he will captain the side.

Leinster: Keenan; J O'Brien, Ioane, Osborne, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, J McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Doris (capt.)

Replacements: G McCarth, Usanov, Clarkson, Mangan, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Byrne, Henshaw.

Image source, Getty

Leinster have confirmed Ireland prop Paddy McCarthy has been ruled out for the remainder of their season after sustaining a foot injury in last weekend's Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux Begles in Bilbao.

McCarthy will be absent for Saturday's United Rugby Championship play-off quarter-final against the Lions at the Aviva Stadium (20:00 BST), as well as any semi-final or final that the Irish province may contest in the competition.

The 22-year-old could also be a doubt for Ireland's Nations Championship campaign this summer, with their opening fixture against Australia in Sydney scheduled for 4 July, just two weeks after the URC final.

The loose-head was forced to retire hurt just six minutes after being introduced as a replacement in the European showpiece and was seen on crutches after the game.

The Ireland forward was making his first appearance since January, having just returned from an unrelated injury to his other foot. McCarthy also missed the entirety of this year's Six Nations.

A squad update published by Leinster on Tuesday indicated Joshua Kenny and Brian Deeny have returned to full training and are available for selection this weekend.

No further updates were provided on the fitness of Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle, Will Connors, Hugh Cooney, RG Snyman and Charlie Tector.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Leinster centre Garry Ringrose feels it is "no surprise" former academy head Noel McNamara has enjoyed success at Bordeaux-Begles.

The County Clare native took up the role of attack coach with the Top 14 outfit in 2023, helping deliver last year's Investec Champions Cup and two runner-up finishes in domestic competition.

McNamara coached Ireland's Under-20s between 2018 and 2020, delivering a Six Nations title in 2019, before moving to Leinster and then on to South African club Sharks in 2021.

Although Ringrose did not directly play under McNamara - who has extended his stay in France until 2029 - the 31-year-old Ireland international believes his past involvement at Leinster is still felt to this day as they prepare to take on the defending champions in Saturday's Champions Cup final in Bilbao (14:45 BST).

"He definitely had a really big impact on the players he dealt with here at Leinster and it comes as no surprise he's having success with Bordeaux and getting the most out of the whole team, but certainly the backs," Ringrose said.

"He is an exceptional coach and away from not being a really good person, so I think the players play for him on two fronts, for him being a good guy and then also an exceptional coach.

"He was in charge of some of the Leinster and Ireland, age grade stuff that I just missed out on, but I got to work or rub shoulders with him more closely then once I came in the building here in UCD.

"Then also from being close with the guys that were specifically under him and coached by him, understanding what made him tick and the value he was provided to them."

Ringrose has been a regular for club and country over the past decade and while Leinster's high number of representatives in Andy Farrell's squad may suggest both sides have a degree of symmetry, the 2025 British and Irish Lion insists it's not quite the case.

"In terms of identity, it can be similar personnel, but there's also lots of differences as well," he countered.

"There's things that the coaches demand of us and ask of us in here that differ slightly in Ireland and vice versa. So as a player, we're only ever trying to just deliver and do our job as best we can."

Image source, Getty Images

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made 13 changes for Saturday's United Rugby Championship [URC] clash against the Ospreys at Aviva Stadium [17:15 BST].

Jack Conan will captain the side from blindside flanker with Josh van der Flier on the opposite side with James Culhane - one of two survivors from last week's win over the Lions - at number eight.

In the front row, hooker Gus McCarthy is flanked by Jerry Cahir and Rabah Slimani with Joe McCarthy and Diarmuid Mangan in the second row.

A strong half-back line will see a partnership of Harry Byrne at fly-half and Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half.

Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose for the partnership at centre, with Jordan Larmour and Tommy O'Brien on the wings, while Jimmy O'Brien reverts to full-back this week.

Leinster sit third in the URC standings heading into this weekend's final round of regular season games, two points off leaders Glasgow.

Leinster: J O'Brien, T O'Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, Larmour, Byrne, Gibson-Park; Cahir, G McCarthy, Slimani, J McCarthy, Mangan, Conan (capt.), Van der Flier, Culhane.

Replacements: Kelleher, Usanov, Furlong, Deegan, Doris, Gunne, Frawley, Lowe.