Leinster sign Irish qualified Josh Neill 

Leinster will take on Cardiff in their only pre-season game before they travel to South Africa for their URC opener against the Bulls.

IRISH QUALIFIED: Josh Neill will join Leinster Academy in the new year. Pic: YouTube/South African Schoolboy Rugby

Leinster Academy Manager Simon Broughton has confirmed the Irish qualified Josh Neill has been added to the year one intake and will join Leinster early in the new year.

The backrow forward is currently attending Rondebosch Boy's High School in Cape Town and was named in the South Africa U18 squad for their summer series were they played France, England and Ireland. 

Neill played his club rugby with Western Province and will link up with the Leinster Academy when the school year finishes in South Africa early in 2026.

Josh's older brother Jordan is currently based in Ireland and playing cricket with Northern Knights. 

Meanwhile, Leo Cullen has named his side to take on Cardiff this Saturday in Tallaght Stadium (3pm).

This is Leinster's only pre-season game before Leinster depart for South Africa for their start of the URC campaign against Stormers in Cape Town on Friday September 26.

John McKee will lead the side with Jordan Larmour and Robbie Henshaw making a welcome return following their injuries last season. Harry Byrne returns after a loan spell in Bristol Bears. 

LEINSTER (v Cardiff)

: H McLaughlin, J Larmour, H Cooney, C Tector, A Osborne, H Byrne, F Gunne; P McCarthy, J McKee (c), A Sparrow, B Deeny, D Mangan, A Soroka, W Connors, J Culhane.

Replacements: A Usanov, J Cahir, S Smyth, N Smyth, R Slimani, B Corrigan, M Ronan, C O'Tighearnaigh, L Molony, S Penny, C Foley, C Gabriel, C Mangan, C Frawley, R Henshaw, J Kenny, R Moloney, H McErlean.