Leinster name squad to face Canada

Australian internationals Scott Fardy and Joe Tomane headline a 27-strong Leinster traveling party that will take on Canada at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Saturday. The 2019 Champions Cup finalists are absent 17 senior players on Ireland duty but still feature an array of talent.

Front rowers James Tracy and Michael Bent and outside backs Rory O’Loughlin and Adam Byrne have also been capped by Ireland with nearly ever other player named boasting u20 Six Nations experience. Six players have more than 50 senior Leinster caps with Bent the most experienced with 124 appearances at Guinness Pro 14 or Champions Cup level.

There are four Leinster Academy players named – second row Ryan Baird, flanker Martin Moloney, scrumhalf Paddy Patterson, and flyhalf Harry Byrne. All are recent Ireland u20 graduates with only Moloney and Byrne yet to appear for Leinster’s senior side in a competitive match.

Saturday’s match is the first of three warm-up matches for Canada as they prepare for September’s World Cup. Kickoff is set for a 3pm local start, 8pm Dublin time. Broadcast details are still to be confirmed.

FORWARDS
Vakhtang Abdaladze, Michael Bent, Ed Byrne, Peter Dooley, Bryan Byrne, Ronan Kelleher, James Tracy, Ryan Baird, Scott Fardy, Ross Molony, Will Connors, Max Deegan, Caelan Doris, Martin Moloney, Josh Murphy

BACKS
Hugh O’Sullivan, Paddy Patterson, Harry Byrne, Ciaran Frawley, Jimmy O’Brien, Conor O’Brien, Rory O’Loughlin, Joe Tomane, Adam Byrne, Barry Daly, Hugo Keenan, Cian Kelleher