Leinster have opted to leave the majority of their Ireland internationals at home for their two-match URC tour of South Africa. Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Leinster rest star players, send ‘B’ team to South Africa for URC matches

Leinster have opted to leave the majority of their Ireland internationals at home for their two-match URC tour of South Africa.

by Garrin Lambley

19-04-2022 10:16

in United Rugby Championship

Leinster have opted to leave the majority of their Ireland internationals at home for their two-match URC tour of South Africa. Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Leinster have opted to leave the majority of their Ireland internationals at home for their two-match United Rugby Championship (URC) tour of South Africa.

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Front-rowers Ronán Kelleher and Andrew Porter, who both sat out the Six Nations with injury, are the only two internationals included in coach Leo Cullen’s 31-man squad to face the Sharks and Stormers over the next two weekends.

Players not making the trip include flyhalf Johnny Sexton, centres Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, props Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong, flankers Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris and lock James Ryan.

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Leinster are also currently doing battle in the European Champions Cup, booking their place in the quarter-finals on Saturday with a 56-20 drubbing of Connacht, and with a 10-point lead at the top of the URC standings with three matches to play, Cullen is opting to give some of the young guns a chance to impress in South Africa.

Meanwhile, fellow Irish outfit Connacht have opted for a full-strength 28-man squad for their two-week trip to South Africa when they will face the Lions and Sharks.

Andy Friend’s side currently lie 10th in the standings and will likely need to win all three of their remaining games and hope that other results go their way to make the playoffs.

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