England international Nowell, who won a Champions Cup winners’ medal with Exeter, started eight of nine Top 14 matches for his new club since swapping England for France at the end of last season. 

“I’ve played there a few times with Scarlets and the Cheetahs and every time it's been very cold, very tough," he said.

McCarthy, just a month past his 21st birthday, is one of three academy players in Graham Rowntree’s matchday 23 with fly-half Tony Butler and back-three player Ben O’Connor named among the replacements.

Josh van der Flier, world player of the year for 2022 has been named on the bench with Will Connors preferred in the openside slot for a game against a side that has beaten Leinster in the last two deciders.

Leinster have named nine players who started the Champions Cup Final to face Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle.

McIlroy stated on numerous occasions that he did not think LIV players should be available for selection for this year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, where he and Rahm played starring roles in helping Europe to a convincing victory.

The 29-year-old becomes the second current major champion on the LIV circuit after US PGA champion Brooks Koepka.

Spaniard says he's eager to "grow the game" as he agrees switch to Saudi breakaway group reported to be worth as much as $400m

Inspired by former Leeds team-mate Rob Burrow, the 43-year-old pushed through a gruelling schedule of running seven ultramarathons in as many days in seven different cities around Britain and Ireland.

Plus verdicts from Donal Lenihan on everyone from French favourites to dark horses

Bordeaux-Bègles had half a dozen players in the French World Cup squad and four of them are starting in Galway.

The annual Google Year in Search results remind us of a few particular obsessions throughout the year including Ryan Turbridy and barter accounts

Munster attack coach Prendergast feels the South Africans’ entry into the URC can help all its clubs fare better in the continental competition.

Trips this past three seasons have proven to be a recipe for drama, with disaster never far from the mixing bowl.

The Champions’ Cup’s reappearance this weekend from six months of hibernation provides stark confirmation of how the elite European game below Test level has shrunk.

The World Player of the Year nominee has recovered from a hamstring injury to make his first appearance since Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

The popular online encyclopedia received a grand total of 84 billion views on the website this year alone

IRFU CEO Kevin Potts expressed his delight at the agreement and said it promised to be a momentous occasion for Irish rugby in its 150th anniversary season.

Newly-installed Bordeaux attack coach Noel McNamara has no illusions about the scale of the battle the French side face in Galway.

Latest blow to Australian rugby union after shocking 2023.