Josh van der Flier to captain Leinster

There are eight changes in personnel to the starting XV, with five of our British and Irish Lions contingent making their first appearance of the season, including Josh van der Flier, who captains the side for the first time.

Former Ireland Sevens star Joshua Kenny has been named among the replacements and the 22-year-old will make his Leinster debut if he is introduced to the action.

Van der Flier joins 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 team for the first time since making a ninth consecutive British and Irish Lions Test start over the summer, with fellow Lion Rónan Kelleher also getting his first run out of the season at hooker with Paddy McCarthy continuing at loosehead.

In the backs, returning Lions James Lowe and Jamie Osborne are named in the team for the first time this season, with Jimmy O'Brien switching to the wing.

Robbie Henshaw shifts to outside centre with Ciarán Frawley taking the 12 shirt, while Fintan Gunne and Harry Byrne make their first starts of the 2025/26 campaign at scrum-half and out-half respectively.

Thomas Clarkson's inclusion on the bench brings the amount of Lions in the matchday squad to six, with Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle also named in reserve alongside Diarmuid Mangan and James Culhane.

Luke McGrath provides the cover at scrum-half while Hugh Cooney takes his place among the replacements alongside Joshua Kenny, who is in line for his debut.

Kenny has been training with the Leinster squad over the summer and travelled with the team down to South Africa for the first two games of the season. He featured in September's Bank of Ireland pre-season clash with Cardiff Rugby at Tallaght Stadium and has been capped internationally with the Ireland Sevens team. Kenny started his rugby journey with Greystones RFC, before attending Presentation College, Bray and currently plays in the Energia AIL with Terenure College RFC.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Jamie Osborne (65)
14. Jimmy O’Brien (104)
13. Robbie Henshaw (106)
12. Ciarán Frawley (105)
11. James Lowe (92)
10. Harry Byrne (73)
9. Fintan Gunne (18)

1. Paddy McCarthy (8)
2. Rónan Kelleher (79)
3. Tadhg Furlong (154)
4. Brian Deeny (38)
5. Ryan Baird (87)
6. Alex Soroka (18)
7. Josh van der Flier (158) CAPTAIN
8. Max Deegan (138)

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy (17)
17. Jack Boyle (30)
18. Thomas Clarkson (60)
19. Diarmuid Mangan (17)
20. James Culhane (20)
21. Luke McGrath (236)
22. Hugh Cooney (7)
23. Joshua Kenny (0)

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)