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.