Youthful Leinster fall to narrow defeat against Sharks in South Africa

Several thrived in that adversity, none more so than Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Josh Ericson and Todd Lawlor, while Caspar Gabriel and Fintan Gunne have a better understanding of running a game from the get-go.
Todd Lawlor of Leinster in action against Vincent Koch of Hollywoodbets Sharks. Pic: Shaun Roy/Sportsfile.

Todd Lawlor of Leinster in action against Vincent Koch of Hollywoodbets Sharks. Pic: Shaun Roy/Sportsfile.

Sat, 03 Oct, 2026 - 20:41
John O'Sullivan

Sharks 26 Leinster 20

Regrets, they’ll have a pocketful, but Leinster won’t fixate unduly on the negatives because despite two defeats a large tranche of the younger contingent were exposed to the brutally physical rigours of rugby in South Africa.

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