Caelan Doris Confirmed as Leinster Rugby Captain for 2024/25 Season

Leinster Rugby have confirmed that Caelan Doris will continue as club captain for the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship season.

Head coach Leo Cullen made the announcement ahead of Leinster’s season opener away to the DHL Stormers in Cape Town next Friday. Doris, who led Leinster to their first URC title since 2021 last season, was ruled out of the closing stages of the campaign, including the Grand Final against the Bulls at Croke Park, due to a shoulder injury.

The 27-year-old Mayo native made his Leinster debut in 2018 against Connacht and has since become a mainstay of the squad, amassing 94 appearances in blue and 51 caps for Ireland. His career highlights include four PRO14/URC titles, two Six Nations championships, and a Grand Slam in 2023.

Doris’ form has earned him several individual honours, including Rugby Players Ireland Players’ Player of the Year and Leinster’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2023. He also captained Ireland for the first time in the 2024 Six Nations against Italy and was subsequently named captain of both Leinster Rugby and Ireland Rugby for the 2024/25 season.

In November 2024, Doris was shortlisted for World Rugby Player of the Year and selected at No. 8 in the World Rugby Team of the Year.

Leinster confirmed that Doris is nearing full fitness and is expected to return to competitive action in November. He was involved in training sessions in Wicklow this week and acted as water carrier during the recent pre-season friendly against Cardiff Rugby.

Leinster will look to begin their title defence strongly when they face the DHL Stormers next Friday, with Doris set to rejoin the matchday squad later in the season.