Retiring Ruddock and Connacht-linked Prendergast get Leinster nod

For Connacht, hooker Dave Heffernan will make his 200th appearance for the club.

10 JERSEY: Sam Prendergast during the Leinster rugby captain's run. Pic: Tyler Miller, Sportsfile

Sam Prendergast, the subject of a mooted loan to Connacht in recent weeks, will start for Leinster against the western province in the RDS on Friday night.

Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber confirmed this week that the proposal was under discussion. The 21-year-old out-half has played 14 times for Leinster this season but is behind Ross and Harry Byrne – and maybe Ciaran Frawley – in the pecking order for now.