Five Kildare men in URC action as Leinster and Connacht both in Saturday action
Jamie Osborne will make his first appearance for Leinster since his excursion with the British and Irish Lions. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
There will be a five-strong Kildare contingent in action this weekend in the BTK United Rugby Championship (URC), with representatives on both the Leinster and Connacht teams.
Three of the five Kildare players will line out at Dublin's Aviva Stadium as Leinster welcome South African side, the Sharks, for the province's first home game of the campaign on Saturday. Kick-off is at 5.30pm with live coverage on Premier Sports.
Jimmy O'Brien started in the Leinster 15 jersey for the first two weeks on the trot and retains his placing in the starting line-up, with the Eadestown man moved to the wing for the clash with the Sharks.
Jamie Osborne, fresh off his excursion with the British and Irish Lions, will make his first appearance of the season when he takes over from O'Brien at full back.
Among the replacements is Diarmuid Mangan, who started the first game and will now provide second-row cover for the second week in a row.
Having lost both of their opening games to the Stormers and the Bulls, Leo Cullen's Leinster side are in dire need of a win.
The Sharks have not faired much better, having lost their first game away to Glasgow Warriors before being held to a draw last week away at the Dragons.
Jamie Osborne; Jimmy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Ciarán Frawley, James Lowe; Harry Byrne, Fintan Gunne; Paddy McCarthy, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird; Alex Soroka, Josh Van Der Flier, Max Deegan.
Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Diarmuid Mangan, James Culhane, Luke McGrath, Hugh Cooney, Joshua Kenny.
Connacht are also out on Saturday evening, with their game away to Cardiff being shown live on TG4 and Premier Sports. Kick-off in the Welsh capital is at 7.45pm.
Both of Connacht's Kildare players will be involved for the third consecutive game, with Cian Prendergast once again captaining the side from the back row.
Jordan Duggan, for the third game on the bounce, will provide front-row cover on the bench.
Stuart Lancaster's time in charge of the western province began with a win at home to Benetton, but they were denied the chance to back that up last week when their scheduled home game against Scarlets fell foul of Storm Amy.
Cardiff began their season with an impressive win at home to the Lions but were pipped to the post last week away to Munster.
Sean Naughton; Chay Mullins, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton; Jack Carty, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier; Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast (C), Sean O'Brien, Sean Jansen.
Eoin de Buitléar, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, David O’Connor, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Matthew Devine, Hugh Gavin, Finn Treacy.
