Seven Kildare players set for URC action this weekend
Sam Prendergast makes his return to the Leinster starting lineup this weekend. Photo: INPHO/Dan Clohessy.
There will be seven Kildare players in action for Leinster, Connacht and Munster this weekend as the BTK United Rugby Championship returns.
Sam Prendergast returns to the Leinster side as Leo Cullen's men travel to Belfast tonight for a huge inter-pro against Ulster.
Prendergast has been absent from the Leinster squad for the past two Champions Cup games, but has been given the nod at fly half for the trip to Belfast; he has two weeks to make his mark on the team once more and put himself back in the frame for the upcoming Champions Cup semi-final.
Jimmy O'Brien also returns to the Leinster starting lineup, once again selected on the left wing. Will Connors completes the Kildare trifecta, starting from the bench.
Both Leinster and Ulster come into the game battling to hold on to a place in the top four to guarantee themselves home quarter-finals in the playoffs. Ulster are currently third, one point above Leinster in fourth, with just four rounds left before the knockouts.
Having been eliminated from the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend, Connacht will be looking for an immediate response in their quest for a place in the URC playoffs.
Stuart Lancaster's side are just one point off a place in the top eight; however, the Stormers will be overwhelming favourites on their home patch, with the South African side sitting second and just four points off top spot.
Cian Prendergast continues his role as Connacht captain as he starts on the blindside, while fellow Kildare man Billy Bohan continues at loosehead.
Munster's season is threatening to derail entirely. Having been dumped out of the Champions Cup in the pool stages for the first time since 2020, Munster then suffered a woeful defeat away to Exeter Chiefs that saw them crash out of the Champions Cup Last 16.
Tadhg Beirne will captain the southern province on Saturday evening, while Jeremy Loughman returns to the front row, as the Kildare duo look to help Munster out of their current plight.
Clayton McMillan's men are currently seventh in the league table, with the Bulls (one point behind) and Connacht (two behind) hot on their tales.
