Eight Kildare players named on important weekend for Irish teams in URC
Andrew Osborne is one of four Leinster players named in the match-day 23 to face the Sharks on Saturday. Photo: INPHO/Grace Halton
The 2026/27 BKT United Rugby Championship could not have gotten off to a worse start for the Irish teams, with all four provinces losing on the same weekend for only the second time in the last 11 years.
Eight Kildare players have been selected for games this weekend, four at Leinster and two each at Connacht and Munster.
Captain Cian Prendergast and fellow Kildare man, Billy Bohan, have both been selected for the first time this season, with Prendergast starting at blindside flanker while Bohan provides front-row cover on the bench.
Benetton drew at home to the Dragons in the opening round and it is the Italian side who come into the game as 4/6 favourites.
Andrew Osborne and Todd Lawlor have retainedtheir starting positions on the wing and full back respectively, while Ciaran Mangan keeps his place among the replacements, where he is joined by Sam Prendergast, himself hoping to make a first appearance of the season.
Sharks were comfortable winners at home to the Ospreys last weekend and the bookmakers foresee another win for the South African side, who go into Saturday as 4/6 favourites.
There is no place in Richie Murphy' squad for new signing, Martin Moloney, despite the Athy man playing all 80 minutes last week.
Glasgow's win away to Munster last week sees them come into this game as massive 1/12 favourites.
Eadestown's Diarmuid Kilgallen has retained his starting spot from last week on the wing, while Athy's Jeremy Loughman will make his first appearance of the season off the bench.
The Bulls began their URC campaign with a win away to Zebre, but the bookies fancy Munster to bounce back, with Clayton McMillan's side priced at 4/6 favourites.
