Four Kildare men named for Leinster's URC opener against Stormers
Jimmy O'Brien and Sam Prendergast (pictured with fellow Kildare man Jamie Osborne as they celebrated their 2025 URC victory) have been named in Leinster's starting 15 for their URC opener away to Stormers this Friday (Sep 26). Photo: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Leo Cullen has named four Kildare men in his first 23 of the season as Leinster begin the defence of their BTK United Rugby Championship (URC) tomorrow night (Friday, September 26) against the Stormers.
Sam Prendergast, Jimmy O'Brien and Diarmuid Mangan have all been named from the start, while Will Connors is among the replacements.
Prendergast will partner Luke McGrath at half back, with the veteran scrum half named as captain. O'Brien will be looking to nail down the Leinster 15 jersey with Hugo Keenan on the shelf - with O'Brien's fellow Kildare man, Jamie Osborne, also a contender for the Leinster (and Ireland) full back spot in Keenan's absence.
Mangan continues to be picked as a starting lock and will be the only Kildare man to start in the pack; however, Connors is on the bench as the fourth Kildare man where he provides cover for the back row.
The game will be played in Cape Town and kicks off at 6pm Irish time (7pm local time) with live coverage on on TG4 and Premier Sports 1.
South African side Stormers won the URC in 2022 and reached the final again the following year. They finished in 5th place last season before losing out to Glasgow Warriors in the quarter-finals.
Leo Cullen's men go into the game as favourites with both teams having to prepare without their internationals.
Leinster travel Pretoria next week to play the side they beat in last year's final, the Bulls, in Loftus Versfeld.
Leinster's first home game of the campaign will also be against South African opposition when they welcome the Sharks to Aviva Stadium on Saturday, October 11.
Then comes the first Irish derby of the season when Leinster face Munster in a mouthwatering clash at Croke Park on Saturday, October 18.
Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour; Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani; Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny; Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, James Culhane.
John McKee, Paddy McCarthy, Andrew Sparrow, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Hugh Cooney.
