O’Leary, Hayes in Munster squad for season opener

Tomas O'Leary won’t have time to dwell on his disappointing exclusion from Declan Kidney’s World Cup selection, having been named in Munster’s squad for the opening round of the RaboDirect PRO12.

O'Leary and John Hayes, who resumed training yesterday with Munster, are included in Tony McGahan’s 28-strong squad for the game against Newport Gwent Dragons in Musgrave Park on Saturday night (7.45pm).

As well as the eight squad players travelling to New Zealand, Munster will be without Darragh Hurley (Achilles), BJ Botha (calf), Troy Smith (knee), David Wallace (knee) and Felix Jones (foot).

More promising for the Red Army is the news that James Coughlan has recovered from the eye injury which ruled him out of last weekend’s London Irish clash.

Johne Murphy has also recovered from the strained hamstring he sustained playing for the Ireland Select XV against Connacht and is named in the squad.

Leinster’s strength in depth will be tested this weekend as they face the Ospreys on Friday (7.05pm) with fresh injuries adding to Joe Schmidt’s selection headache. The Australian was already coming to terms with losing 14 players to the World Cup.

Eamonn Sheridan’s knee injury appears more serious than initially hoped with the centre seeing a specialist to determine if he has torn his cruciate ligament.

New signing Steven Sykes is set to miss three to four weeks due to medial ligament damage while Andrew Conway also picked up an ankle injury in last Friday’s 14-19 loss at the hands of the Northampton Saints.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named a 29-man squad ahead of Ulster's match against Glasgow at Ravenhill on Friday evening (7.05pm).

New signings Callum Black, Lewis Stevenson and Mike McComish could make their competitive debuts.

Prop Adam Macklin and 18-year-old utility back Peter Nelson are also in line to earn their first cap for Ulster.

With nine players involved in the Rugby World Cup, Ulster will look to the experience of Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg and Dan Tuohy to lead the forwards.

There’s no shortage of flare in the backs with Ian Humphreys, Darren Cave and Craig Gilroy looking to build on last Friday’s impressive 22-5 victory over Harlequins.

Meanwhile in Connacht Gavin Duffy has been handed the captain’s armband ahead of the province's maiden season in the Heineken Cup.

The fullback, who has over 100 caps for Connacht, takes over from John Muldoon who is still expected to have an influential role in western province’s pack.

“I’m delighted to be asked to captain the team for the year,” Duffy said.

“Playing for your province is a huge honour and to be asked to captain the side only adds to that.

“It is a very exciting time for Connacht at the moment, the launch of the new league, the Heineken Cup and the new developments at the Sportsground, being part of that team is very special.”

An away match against Treviso on Saturday (3pm) marks the start of Connacht’s competitive season and coach Eric Elwood expects a stern test.

“We have watched Treviso against Bayonne and Wasps, we need to be tactical and disciplined," he said.

"It will be physical and confrontational.”