Ringrose and Ryan to co-captain Leinster against Scarlets

Leinster Rugby Captain's Run.

After being named as Co-Captains for the 2023/24 season last week, Garry Ringrose and James Ryan return from international duty for their first Leinster appearances of the season.

Hugo Keenan makes his seasonal debut at full-back, after impressing in the Rugby World Cup. Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O’Brien are on the wings, with Ringrose and Jamie Osborne in the centre.

Sam Prendergast starts a Leinster game in the RDS for the first time, and he is joined in the half-backs by Jamison Gibson-Park.

Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher return to the front row, where they are joined by Thomas Clarkson.

In the second row, Ryan packs down with Joe McCarthy who is coming off the back of a Player of the Match performance in last weekend’s win away to Dragons.

Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris come into the back-row for the first time this season, where they join Max Deegan.

In the replacements, there is a mixture of experience and youth.

Ross Byrne is set to make his 150th Leinster appearance, while Academy scrum-half Fintan Gunne is set to make his debut.

Gunne traveled to South Africa last season with the team and gained valuable experience with the squad. The Terenure and Ireland U-20 scrum-half starred in this summer’s Under-20 World Championship and was part of the Grand Slam winning team this spring.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen spoke about the loaded teamsheet as the games come thick and fast.

"The guys will give a great boost, hopefully, this week. We had a disappointing start way to Glasgow, I think we're improving week on week in the performances, and guys are working hard, there's good competition there.

GAFFER: Head coach Leo Cullen at training

"I think there's a bit of urgency now when guys get opportunities which is nice to see.

"Five players came back in last week that had been away at the World Cup and all acquitted themselves well. Dan Sheehan came in as captain for the first time and led the guys very well. We have our co-captains now who will hopefully do something similar in James and Garry this weekend.

"It's great to be back at the RDS, a lot of the lads haven't played there in a long time. We had our captain's run down there this morning and we're out in St Michael's House here in Ballymun, we'll hopefully get some future stars from Ballymun who will be tuning in this weekend.

"A lot of the lads are excited to get back playing in the team and at the RDS, because if you remember last season we didn't play at the RDS towards the tail end of last season so hopefully we get that connection with how the lads perform on the field, but also get decent support off the field."

Questioned on the division of labour on the captain's front Cullen also had a few words to say.

"Definitely strength in numbers between the two of them in the lead-in to the game in particular, sharing the lad.

"The way the game unfolds James is closer to the action generally than your 13 would ordinarily be, I think you've seen that over the years. Both of them captained the team at different stages last season so they have that pretty close working relationship anyway. It's not a major shift for us."

Leinster Team: H Keenan, J Larmour, G Ringrose, J Osborne, J O’Brien, S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Clarkson, J McCarthy, J Ryan, M Deegan, J van der Flier, C Doris. 

Replacements: D Sheehan, J Boyle, T Furlong, R Molony, S Penny, F Gunne, R Byrne, C Frawley.