Leinster make eight changes for Sharks clash with Josh van der Flier captaining side for first time

Ulster and Connacht have named their sides for their round three clashes following both their games being postponed last weekend due to Storm Amy.

TEAM NEWS: Leinster make eight changes to their side as Josh van der Flier captains the side for their first time. Picture: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile 

Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has made eight changes to his starting XV with Josh van der Flier captaining the side for their first home game of the season when they welcome Sharks to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm).

Van der Flier is one of five British and Irish Lions that will make their first appearance of the season and will captain the side for the first time.

Former Ireland sevens star Joshua Kenny has been named among the replacements and the 22-year-old is set to make his Leinster debut from the bench.

Van der Flier is joined by Alex Soroka and Max Deegan in the back row behind the unchanged pairing of Brian Deeny and Ryan Baird in the engine room.

Tadhg Furlong returns to the side for the first time since making a ninth consecutive British and Irish Lions Test start over the summer with fellow Lion Rónan Kelleher getting his first run of the season as Paddy McCarthy continues at loosehead.

James Lowe and Jamie Osborne are named in the backs for the first time this season with Jimmy O'Brien moving to the wing. Robbie Henshaw moves to outside centre with Ciarán Frawley starting at 12 while Fintan Gunne and Harry Byrne pairing for their first starts of the 2025/26 campaign.

Thomas Clarkson's is named on the bench alongside Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Diarmuid Mangan and James Culhane. Luke McGrath, Hugh Cooney and Kenny complete the match day squad.

Meanwhile, Ulster Head Coach Richie Murphy has named his side to take on the Bulls at Affidea Stadium on Saturday (7.30pm).

Ulster's round two clash against Edinburgh was postponed due to Storm Amy and his side will be ready to hit the ground running following an unexpected weekend off.

Summer signings Juarno Augustus and Sam Crean have been handed their first Ulster starts with Rob Baloucoune making his first appearance of the season.

Ireland internationals Rob Herring and Tom O'Toole are named in the front row alongside Crean while Iain Henderson captains the side and is joined in the engine room by Cormac Izuuchukwu.

David McCann, Nick Timoney and Augustus make up the back row.

Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy resume their half-back partnership with Stuart McCloskey and James Hume partnering in midfield.

Zack Ward and Baloucoune are named on the wings with Jacob Stockdale starting at full back after recovering from a foot injury he picked up against Dragons. 

Eric O'Sullivan returns from injury to take his place on the bench. Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan and Sean Reffell are the forward replacements, with Conor McKee, Jake Flannery and Jude Postlethwaite the backline replacements.

Elsewhere, Connacht's head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his side for their first away trip of the season. There is one change to the side that was named for their postponed clash against Scarlets with Sean O'Brien coming in to the starting side replacing Paul Boyle.

O'Brien joins Cian Prendergast, who captains the side, and Sean Jansen in the back row. Darragh Murray and Joe Joyce partner in the second row with Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Jack Aungier making up the front row,

Sean Naughton starts at full-back with Chay Mullins and Shayne Bolton on the wings. Cathal Forde and David Hawkshaw making up the midfield partnership. Ben Murphy and Jack Carty complete the starting XV.

"We have had a productive week of training, the boys are looking sharp, focused, and eager to get back out there. Mentally we reset and focused on this game once we heard the Scarlets game was postponed" said Lancaster.

"My personal experience playing against Cardiff, home or away, it’s never easy. They are well organised and coached and as we all know play a great brand of rugby so it should make for a fantastic game on Saturday night"

LEINSTER (v Sharks): J Osborne, J O'Brien, R Henshaw, C Frawley, J Lowe, H Byrne, F Gunne; P McCarthy, R Kelleher, T Furlong, B Deeny, R Baird, A Soroka, J van der Flier (C), M Deeegan.

Replacements: G McCarthy, J Boyle, T Clarkson, D Mangan, J Culhane, L McGrath, H Cooney, J Kenny.

ULSTER (v Bulls): J Stockdale, R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey,  Z Ward, J Murphy, N Doak; S Crean, R Herring, T O'Toole, I Henderson (C), C Izuchukqu, D McCann, N Timoney, J Augustus.

Replacements: T Stewart, E O'Sullivan, S Wilson, H Sheridan, S Reffell, C McKee, J Flannery, J Postlethwaite.

CONNACHT (v Cardiff): S Naughton, C Mullins, D Hawkshaw, C Forde, S Bolton, J Carty, B Murphy; D Buckley, D Heffernan, J Aungier, D Murray, J Joyce, C Prendergast (C), S O'Brien, S Jansen.

Replacements: E de Buitléar, J Duggan, S Illo, D O'Connor, S Hurley-Langton, M Devine, H Gavin, F Treacy.