Rieko Ioane set for URC debut as James Ryan to make 100th Leinster appearance

Ulster Head Coach Richie Murphy has handed Australian international prop Angue Bell his first start for the province after making two appearances in the Challenge Cup.

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025 - 13:13

Fiona Halligan

Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has handed Rieko Ioane his first URC start as he names his side to take on Ulster at the Aviva Stadium in the first of the Christmas interpros Friday evening (7.45pm).

It will be a milestone game for James Ryan as he is set to make his 100th appearance for Leinster with Jack Conan captaining the side.

Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Rabah Slimani will pack down in the front row as Ryan is joined in the engine room by Brian Deeny. Conan is joined in the back row by Scott Penny and Alex Soroka.

Ioane is joined in the centre by Charlie Tector with Sam Prendergast partnering with Luke McGrath at scrum-half.

Ciarán Frawley will start at full-back after coming off the bench against Leicester to play most of the winning clash with James Lowe and Joshua Kenny named on the wings.

Dan Sheehan, Paddy McCarthy and Tadhg Furlong are named on the bench with Joe McCarthy, Max Deegan, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne and Ruben Moloney.

Meanwhile, Ulster Head Coach Richie Murphy has handed Australian international prop Angue Bell his first start for the province after making two appearances in the Challenge Cup.

Stuart McCloskey returns from a groin injury to start at inside centre with Ethan McIlroy set to make his first appearance since his ACL injury in January from the bench.

Bell is joined in the front row by Ireland internationals Tom Stewart and Tom O'Toole. Harry Sheridan adn Charlie Irvine continue in the engine room with David McCann, Nick Timoney who captains the side and Juarno Augustus.

Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy continue their half-back partnership. Werner Kok and Robert Baloucoune are in try scoring form and will start on the wings. McCloskey is joined by Jude Postlethwaite in the centre with Jack Stockdale completing the starting XV at full-back.

Murphy has gone for a 5:3 split on the bench with a blend of experience and youth.

John Andrew, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Joe Hopes and Academy back-row, Bryn Ward, form the forward replacements, with Conor McKee, Jake Flannery and McIlroy the backline cover options.

LEINSTER: C Frawley, J Kenny, R Ioane, C Tector, J Lowe, S Prendergast, L McGrath; J Boyle, G McCarthy, R Slimani, B Deeny, J Ryan, A Soroka, S Penny, J Conan (C).

Replacements: D Sheehan, P McCarthy, T Furlong, J McCarthy, M Deegan, F Gunne, H Byrne, R Moloney.

ULSTER

: J Stockdale, R Baloucoune, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, W Kok, J Murphy, N Doak; A Bell, T Stewart, T O'Toole, H Sheridan, C Irvine, D McCann, N Timoney (C), J Augustus.

Replacements: J Andrew, S Crean, S Wilson, J Hopes, B Ward, C McKee, J Flannery, E McIlroy.