Returns of James Ryan and Hugo Keenan a huge boost to Leinster's trophy ambitions

Leo Cullen's side travel to Belfast this weekend. 

James Ryan's return is a big boost to the province ahead of the Champions Cup final in north London. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Well, two out of three ain’t bad. Garry Ringrose is again missing from the Leinster matchday squad as they face Ulster in the URC in Belfast but James Ryan and Hugo Keenan return from injury just a week before the province’s Champions Cup final decider against Toulouse.

Ringrose has been struggling with a shoulder injury and continues to be an absentee having played just one game of rugby since January. Any role in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next week looks unlikely at this point.

The availability of Ryan and Keenan are huge boosts for Leo Cullen. This will be Ryan’s first run in three months and his first appearance for the province since January having ruptured a bicep during the Six Nations.

Keenan has been having difficulty in shaking off a hip injury for some time and hasn’t played since the Champions Cup round of 16 win against Leicester Tigers at the start of April. The second row and full-back are massive performers for club and country.

Leinster went with a strong squad for the URC defeat of Ospreys last week but the proximity of that date with Toulouse has prompted a less stellar travelling party for Belfast with maybe only ten of the 23 likely to feature in London.

Jimmy O’Brien, notably, is listed at centre. Jamie Osborne had been filling in at centre in Ringrose’s absence up to now but the Naas man is rested for this one along with plenty more.

Richie Murphy, who has just been upgraded from interim to permanent head coach, makes just once change from the side that won away to Scarlets last time out with Tom O’Toole back from injury at tighthead prop.

Ulster: E McIlroy; M Lowry, W Addison, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Burns, J Cooney; E O’Sullivan, R Herring, T O’Toole, K Treadwell, A O’Connor, C Izuchukwu, D McCann, N Timoney.

Replacements: T Stewart, A Warwick, S Wilson, H Sheridan, M Rea, N Doak, S Moore, J Postlethwaite.

Leinster: H Keenan, T O’Brien, J O’Brien, C Ngatai; R Russell; H Byrne, C Foley, C Healy, R Kelleher, M Ala’alatoa, J Ryan, B Deeny, M Deegan, W Connors, J Conan.

Replacements: J McKee, M Milne, T Clarkson, R Molony, S Penny, L McGrath, S Prendergast, B Brownlee.