The Leinster squad trained in UCD on Monday afternoon ahead of the resumption of the RaboDirect PRO12 on Friday when the province travels to face Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park (KO: 7.30pm).
Leinster are 6/4 to win the Amlin Challenge trophy
Though Leinster will be without a number of players who are away on international duty this weekend, the management will be able to call upon the services of David Kearney, Eoin O’Malley and Dominic Ryan who are all fully fit and available for selection. O’Malley’s next appearance is set to be his 50th for the province.
Selection over the next few weeks is likely to be mixed between youth and experience with the likes of Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss, Isa Nacewa and Heinke van der Merwe (who is in line to make his 80th appearance) set to feature alongside a number of Academy players who have featured frequently over the course of the campaign.
A number of players who have shown good form in the British & Irish Cup side’s qualification into the quarter finals of the competition in April – could also come into the mix. It is also hoped that some of the players helping with the preparation of the Ireland squad could be available for selection.
The team will be named on Thursday at Midday.
Meanwhile, ticket sales for Ladies Night in the RDS on Saturday week, 16th February against Benetton Treviso have passed the 15,200 mark and tickets are on sale now from www.leinsterrugby.ie as well as the Leinster Rugby Store (Donnybrook), Spar (Donnybrook) as well as Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.
