Leinster’s new stars in squad for opener

THE Leinster squad to face Edinburgh in the opening game of the Magners League season in the RDS on Saturday (5.30pm) has been named.

Summer signings Juan Francisco Gomez, Chris Keane and Stephen Knoop have all been included in an enlarged squad which features eight full Ireland internationals; the squad’s other recent arrivals Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings, Bernard Jackman, Trevor Hogan, Jamie Heaslip, Keith Gleeson, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald.

Wallaby World Cup winner Chris Whitaker is also included alongside Gary Brown who scored a hat-trick of tries in the 66-3 victory over Padova as well as both Fitzgerald and Fergus McFadden, who each bagged a brace of tries. Shane Jennings and Ross McCarron will be given every opportunity to prove their fitness after missing last weekend’s pre-season win.

The team is expected to be named on Friday lunchtime.

Ireland’s World Cup reject Tommy Bowe is included in the Ulster midfield for the opening Magners League clash against champions, the Ospreys, at Ravenhill tomorrow night (6.30pm).

Bowe, who was omitted from Eddie O’Sullivan’s enlarged squad for France, moves from the wing to the midfield alongside Seamus Mallon.

Veteran David Humphreys has recovered from an ankle injury and is one of nine internationals in the Ulster starting line-up despite 10 away on World Cup duty.

The Ospreys, who lost their 15-month home record to the Scarlets last week and have 12 players with the Welsh World Cup squad, are due to announce their side tomorrow.

They lost both to Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets in the first two games.

Conor McPhillips will become the eighth player in Connacht rugby history to reach the milestone of playing 100 competitive games for the province, when he lines out in tomorrow night’s clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons (kick off 6pm).

The former Ireland U-21 star is the province’s highest try scorer of all time with 29.

LEINSTER: Forwards: S. Wright, J. Gomez, C. Healy, S. Knoop, B. Blaney, B. Jackman, L. Cullen, D. Toner, T. Hogan, C. Jowitt, K. McLaughlin, S. Keogh, J. Heaslip, K. Gleeson, S. Jennings

Backs: C. Whitaker, C. Keane, C. Willis, J. Sexton, C. Warner, M. Berne, F. McFadden, F. Carr, R. Kearney, L. Fitzgerald, R. McCarron

ULSTER: M Bartholomeusz/ B Cunningham, S Danielli, T Bowe, S Mallon, M McCrea, D Humphreys, K Campbell, J Fitzpatrick, N Brady, T Court, T Barker, R Caldwell, M McCullough, K Dawson, R Wilson (capt).

Replacements: M Miles, D Fitzpatrick, J Harrison, D Pollock, P Marshall, N O’Connor, B Cunningham/ M Bartholomeusz

AIB Cup holders Garryowen will travel to Lansdowne for their opening defence of the competition. A second round tie with Bruff against Highfield is the tie of the first round.

The first round will see teams from Division 2 and 3 drawn against each other. These games will be played on Saturday, October 6. The winners of each of these games will be joined by the Division 1 Clubs for the 2nd round matches, which will take place on Saturday, October 13.

First round: (A) Malone v Ards; (B) Corinthians v Barnhall; (C) Co Carlow v Midleton; (D) City of Derry v Clonakilty; (E) Waterpark v Bucaneers; (F) Rainey OB v DLSP; (G) Banbridge v Bective Rangers; (H) UCC v Old Wesley: (I) Suttonians v Queen’s; (J) Dublin University v Sunday’s Well; (K) Thomond v Belfast Harlequins; (L); Ballynahinch v Nenagh Ormond; (M) Instonians v Young Munster; (N) Bruff v Highfield; (O) Old Crescent v Naas; (P) Wanderers v Connemara.

Second round: Match 1, (N) v (O); Match 2, (H) v Dolphin; Match 3, (K) v Shannon; Match 4, St Mary’s v (B); Match 5, (A) v (C); Match 6, (I) v Cork Con; Match 7, Terenure College v Clontarf; Match 8, (F) v (G); Match 9, Ballymena v (E); Match 10, Old Belvedere v (P); Match 11, Lansdowne v Garryowen; Match 12, Blackrock College v (M); Match 13, Dungannon v UL Bohs; Match 14, Galwegians v (L); Match 15, (J) v (D); Match 16, UCD v Greystones.

3rd round: Saturday, Jan 5, 2008; Quarter-finals: Saturday, Feb 2; Semi-finals: Saturday, March 8. AIB Cup Final: Saturday, April 12.