O'Driscoll to captain Leinster this season

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has confirmed that Brian O'Driscoll will captain the province for the season 2005/2006.

He will replace Reggie Corrigan, who broke his hand.

Senior players Denis Hickie, Guy Easterby, Malcolm O'Kelly, Felipe Contepomi and Keith Gleeson will form a back-up leadership team to assist O'Driscoll.

Contepomi will lead Leinster in their first outing of the season away to The Ospreys at the Morfa stadium on Sunday evening (5.10).

A provisional 29-man squad has been chosen and it will be whittled down later in the week.

LEINSTER SQUAD (v Ospreys):

Forwards from (17)

Bernard Jackman, David Blaney, Brian Blaney, John Lyne, John Wickham, Emmett Byrne, Ronan McCormack, Will Green, Adam Byrnes, Ben Gissing, Des Dillon, Ciaran Potts, Jamie Heaslip, Keith Gleeson, Simon Crawford, Niall Ronan, Eric Miller

Backs from (12)

Guy Easterby, Brian O Meara, Felipe Contepomi (Captain), Christian Warner, David McAllister, Eoghan Hickey, Gary Brown, Brendan Burke, James Norton, Girvan Dempsey, Kieran Lewis, Rob Kearney.