Culhane skippers Leinster in France as Conan makes return

Leinster's James Culhane. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

James Culhane will captain Leinster as Leo Cullen's side get their season up and running with a friendly in France against Bordeaux-Bègles on Friday evening (KO: 7pm Irish time).

An extended 31-man squad has made the trip to the Stade Chaban-Delmas as preparations get underway for the 2024/25 season.

James Culhane captains the team and is joined in the back row by Will Connors and Max Deegan.

Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson will line up either side of John McKee at hooker, while Brian Deeny and Conor O’Tighearnaigh fill out the rest of the pack.

Harry Byrne has been named at out-half where he will be joined by Cormac Foley at scrum-half.

Liam Turner partners Ben Brownlee in the centre, with Rob Russell and Tommy O'Brien given the nod on the wings while Andrew Osborne lines up at full-back.

Lee Barron, Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Rory McGuire and new signing Rabah Slimani provide the front row cover on a 16-man bench while Diarmuid Mangan offers reinforcement in the second row.

Jack Conan returns after missing Ireland's summer tour of South Africa, alongside fellow back-rowers Scott Penny and Liam Molony, with Fintan Gunne and Luke McGrath offering options off the bench at scrum-half.

Ross Byrne has been named among the replacements alongside Charlie Tector, with Academy players Hugh Cooney, Aitzol King and Henry McErlean set to offer a change of pace later if introduced.

LEINSTER: A Osborne, T O’Brien, L Turner, B Brownlee,  R Russell, H Byrne, C Foley; M Milne, J McKee, T Clarkson, B Deeny, C O’Tighearnaigh, M Deegan, W Connors, J Culhane

Replacements: L Barron, G McCarthy, J Boyle, R Slimani, R McGuire, D Mangan, S Penny, J Conan,  L Molony, F Gunne, L McGrath, R Byrne, C Tector, H Cooney, A King, H McErlean