Team news: Connacht make nine changes for Munster clash, Cullen names five uncapped players in Leinster matchday squad
Connacht's Harry West. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho
Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for Saturday’s URC interpro with Munster at Thomond Park (kick-off, 7.45pm).
Academy graduate Harry West has been handed his senior Connacht Rugby debut, with the Ballina RFC man starting at full-back.
In the absence of those called up for Ireland duty, there are 9 changes in all from the side that started the narrow loss to the Bulls last week.
West is included in a new-look back three with Finn Treacy on the left wing and Byron Ralston shifting from centre to the right wing. Galway natives Cathal Forde and Hugh Gavin are named as the new centre pairing, while Ben Murphy comes in at scrum-half to partner out-half Josh Ioane.
In the pack there are starts for props Jordan Duggan and Sam Illo, while hooker Dave Heffernan is retained. In the second row, Joe Joyce comes in to partner Darragh Murray, while Paul Boyle returns from injury to captain the side at openside flanker, alongside Josh Murphy and number 8 Sean Jansen.
The coaching team have gone for a 6:2 split on the bench, with Academy prop Fiachna Barrett among the replacements and Sean O’Brien wearing the number 23 jersey.
Lancaster said: "An away interpro is one of the biggest tests in the URC so everyone’s looking forward to the game.
"Munster are a top-class well-coached side, so firstly we must play as well as I know we can. I’ve heard the Connacht supporters always travel in big numbers for these games so I’m sure they’ll make their voices heard in Thomond Park, and help us finish this first block of games on a high.”
Meanwhile, Leo Cullen has named his Leinster squad to take on Zebre Parma on Saturday at Aviva Stadium (kick-off, 5.30pm).
There are five uncapped players named in the matchday squad, with two of them named in the starting XV.
Hugo McLaughlin will make his debut at full-back.
The former Gonzaga College man is in the second year of the Leinster Academy and was a regular in the Ireland U-20 side during the 2024 campaign, earning eight caps as Ireland finished their U-20 Six Nations campaign unbeaten and reached the semi-finals of the World Rugby U-20 Championship.
Joshua Kenny comes in for his first start after making his debut in the win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks two weeks ago, with Andrew Osborne on the opposite wing.
Hugh Cooney and Charlie Tector form a centre partnership, with Harry Byrne at out-half and Luke McGrath captaining the team from scrum-half.
Up front, Jerry Cahir is the second player to make his debut from the start after signing a short-term contract last month.
The former Cistercian College, Roscrea prop has made a name for himself in the Energia AIL and was named the Dublin University FC Player of the Year in 2024 and the Lansdowne FC Player of the Year in 2025.
John McKee and Rabah Slimani complete a new-look front row, with Brian Deeny and Diarmuid Mangan named in the second row.
Max Deegan moves across to blindside flanker, with Scott Penny taking the seven shirt and James Culhane named at number eight.
Alex Usanov will make his debut if he is introduced to the action from the replacements tomorrow. The former Belvedere College prop earned six caps for Ireland U-20 last season and signed his first senior contract ahead of the current campaign.
He is one of two uncapped front rows named among the replacements, with Bobby Sheehan, the younger brother of Leinster and Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan, also set to make his debut as he joins as temporary cover from Lansdowne FC in the Energia AIL.
Andrew Sparrow, who made his debut in this season opener against DHL Stormers in Cape Town, has also been named among the replacements, with RG Snyman offering his experience in reserve. Alex Soroka and Will Connors provide further cover for the forwards in a 6-2 bench split.
Fintan Gunne is the reserve scrum-half, with Caspar Gabriel the final player in line for a debut at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Originally from Vienna, Austria, Gabriel is in the second year of the Leinster Academy and plays with Terenure College in the Energia AIL.
The 20-year-old scored a try and added three conversions in last Saturday's 26-26 draw with Munster 'A' in the opening round of the 2025/26 IRFU ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship.
Elsewhere, Richie Murphy has named side to face face the Lions on Saturday at Ellis Park Stadium.
Development forward, Joe Hopes, makes his first senior start for his province after coming on as a replacement in the bonus-point victory over the Sharks last weekend in Durban. Hooker Rob Herring captains the side.
Harry West, Byron Ralston, Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Sam Illo, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy, Paul Boyle (C), Sean Jansen.
Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Fiachna Barrett, Niall Murray, David O’Connor, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Sean O'Brien.
Hugo McLaughlin, Joshua Kenny, Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector, Andrew Osborne, Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath (C), Jerry Cahir, John McKee, Rabah Slimani, Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, James Culhane.
Bobby Sheehan, Alex Usanov, Andrew Sparrow, RG Snyman, Alex Soroka, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel.
Michael Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Sam Crean, Rob Herring (C), Tom O’Toole, Harry Sheridan, Joe Hopes, David McCann, Tom Stewart, Juarno Augustus.
James McCormick, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Werner Kok.
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