Conway starts on wing in Munster's URC opener

Elsewhere Leinster have announced their side to take on Glasgow Warriors in the opening round of the BKT United Rugby Championship on Sunday afternoon.

FIRST START: Academy scrum-half Ethan Coughlan makes his first start for Munster. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Munster have named their team for their URC opener against Sharks at Thomond Park on Saturday (5.15pm).

Academy scrum-half Ethan Coughlan makes his first start for the province and is one of five academy players included. Edwin Edogbo also starts with Kieran Ryan, Brian Gleeson and Shay McCarthy in line for their senior debuts off the bench.

Andrew Conway starts on his 150th Munster appearance and features in his first competitive fixture since June 2022 after recovering from a knee injury.

Josh Wycherley will make his 50th Munster appearance in the front row with new signing Alex Nankivell among the replacements after arriving from New Zealand last weekend.

Shane Daly starts at full-back with Conway and Calvin Nash on either wing. Rory Scannell and Antoine Frisch form the midfield partnership with Coughlan and Joey Carbery in the half-backs.

Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Edogbo and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.

Captain Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes complete the side while Scott Buckley, Kieran Ryan and John Ryan provide the front row back-up.

Tom Ahern is set for his first competitive appearance in a year after a shoulder injury sidelined him for a number of months last season.

Gleeson completes the forward cover after scoring two tries against the Barbarians on his first senior appearance last month.

Neil Cronin, Nankivell and McCarthy are the backline replacements with McCarthy also among the tries on his first senior start against the Barbarians during pre-season.

Leinster have announced their side to take on Glasgow Warriors in the opening round of the BKT United Rugby Championship on Sunday afternoon in Scotstoun Stadium.

Ciarán Frawley starts at full-back, with Tommy O’Brien and Jordan Larmour on the wings. Liam Turner and Charlie Ngatai are in the centre, with Harry Byrne and Luke McGrath completing the back line.

In the pack, Jack Boyle starts a competitive game for the first time. He is joined in the front row by John McKee and Thomas Clarkson. Ross Molony and Jason Jenkins are in the heart of the pack with Max Deegan, Penny and James Culhane in the back row.

Elsewhere, Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named his side with Tom Farrell set to join the 100 Club when they take on the Osprey’s  in The Sportsground. 

Joe Joyce, JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Smith will debut for Connacht with Tadgh McElroy, Seàn O’Brien and Liam McNamara set to earn their debut from off the bench.

Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin and Jack Aungier make up the front row with Oisin Dowling partnering Joyce in the second row. Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton and Jarrad Butler make up an experience backrow.

Caolin Blade will captain the side at scrum half and is partnered with Hanrahan. Cathal Forde starts alongside Farrell in centre field. Byron Ralston and Diarmuid Kilgallen plan on the wings with Smith starting at full back.

Meanwhile, Ulster start their campaign with an away trip to Italy as they take on Zebre Parma on Saturday at 1pm (Irish time). Head coach Dan McFarland has handed 22-year-old Tom Stewart the captains armband for their first clash after a record -breaking URC campaign last season were his scored 16 tries.

Stewart is joined in the front row by Ulster stalwart Andy Warwick and Greg McGrath starting at tighthead after making his Ulster debut in the pre-season against Glasgow Matty Rea will partner Kieran Treadwell in the second row with new signing Dave Ewers making his first competitive start joining Marcus Rea and David McCann in the backrow.

Nathan Doak takes his place at scrum-half with Jake Flannery at fly-half. Angus Curtis returns to the Ulster starting lineup at inside centre where he partners with James Hume.

Jacob Stockdale starts on the left wing with Michael Lowry on the right. Will Addison returns from his long term injury for his first competitive start since 2021 to take his place at full-back.

Munster (v Sharks): S Daly; A Conway, A Frisch, R Scannell, C Nash; J Carbery, E Coughlan; J Wycherley, D Barron, S Archer; E Edogbo, F Wycherley; J O’Donoghue (c), A Kendellen, G Coombes.

Replacements: S Buckley, K Ryan, J Ryan, T Ahern, B Gleeson, N Cronin, A Nankivell, S McCarthy.

Leinster (v Glasgow): C Frawley; T O’Brien, L Turner, C Ngatai, J Larmour; H Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, J McKee, T Clarkson; R Molony, J Jenkins; M Deegan, S Penny, (c), J Culhane.

Replacements: L Barron, P McCarthy, R McGuire, B Deeny, R Ruddock, C Foley, S Prendergast, W Connors.

Connacht (v Ospreys): A Smith; D Kilgallen, T Farrell, C Forde, B Ralston; JJ Hanrahan, C Blade (c); D Buckley, D Tierney-Martin, J Aungier; O Dowling, J Joyce; C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, J Butler. 

Replacements: T McElroy, P Dooley, D Robertson-McCoy, N Murray, S O’Brien, C Reilly, J Carty, L McNamara.

Ulster (v Zebre): W Addison; M Lowry, J Hume, A Curtis, J Stockdale; J Flannery, N Doak; A Warwick, T Stewart (c), G McGrath; M Rea, K Treadwell; D Ewers, M Rea, D McCann.

Replacements: J Andrew, C Reid, J French, C Izuchukwu, N Timoney, D Shanahan, B Burns, S Moore.