Rugby: Leinster team for Toulouse match named

Leinster coach Matt Williams has named his team to play Toulouse at Donnybrook in the opening round of the Heineken European Cup on Friday night.

Leinster have started the season in sparkling fashion qualifying for the next round of the Celtic League on top of their group and are now unbeaten for 13 matches at the Donnybrook venue.

The team is: R Corrigan, S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O’Kelly, E Miller, K Gleeson, V Costello, B O’Meara, N Spooner, G D’Arcy, S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, D Hickie and G Dempsey. The replacements are P Coyle, G Hickey, B Casey, T Brennan, B Willis, A Dunne and A Magro.

It is a strong line up from the Irish side with 12 Irish internationals featuring in the starting team and two on the sub’s bench. The game is scheduled to kick-off at 7pm in the evening.

Meanwhile, defending champions Leicester have been installed as 9/4 favourites to retain their title with France’s Stade Francais second favourites at 13/2.

Munster will be hoping to lose their runners-up title this season and have been installed as third favourites at 7/1.

Munster coach, Declan Kidney is to name his team to play Castres this weekend later today.