LEINSTER HAVE ADDED Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy to their Champions Cup squad ahead of the quarter-final against Bath at the Aviva Stadium on 4 April.
All remaining clubs in the knock-out stages of the leading European club competition and the second-tier Challenge Cup had the opportunity this week to nominate up to three players for registration to supplement their initial 38-player squads.
Healy and O'Brien are back in Leinster's European squad. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Healy and O’Brien both missed Leinster’s Champions Cup pool fixtures with respective hamstring and shoulder injuries, but the formidable ball-carrying duo return to Matt O’Connor’s squad fresh from helping Ireland to the Six Nations.
The prospect of having two of their leading players back for the most important months of the season is surely an exciting one for Leinster fans, with Healy and O’Brien set to bolster the province’s attack, defence and set-piece.
Advertisement
Head coach O’Connor has also added scrum-half Nick McCarthy to the Leinster group, with the UCD man returning to the province after captaining the Ireland U20 side in their Six Nations campaign.
That means Leinster now have four scrum-halves in their European selection, with McCarthy joining Eoin Reddan, Isaac Boss and Luke McGrath.
Leinster’s quarter-final opponents Bath have added fullback Tom Homer and propping duo Max Lahiff and Beno Obano to their European squad as they prepare for the trip to Dublin in two weekends’ time.
Meanwhile, Toulon have brought more international quality into their European squad before facing Wasps at Stade Mayol on 5 April, as Craig Burden, Frederic Michalak and Juan Martin Hernandez are included.
O'Halloran has earned his spot in Pat Lam's squad. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
The Premiership side have added Ireland international centre James Downey, on loan from Glasgow Warriors, and All Black Piri Weepu to their playing group.
In the Challenge Cup, Pat Lam’s Connacht have brought the in-form Tiernan O’Halloran into their squad ahead of a trip to Gloucester for their quarter-final, while number eight Eoghan Masterson is also added.
David Humphreys’ Gloucester have added on-loan Leinster centre Brendan Macken to their squad before welcoming Connacht to Kingsholm.
London Irish have registered Ireland international prop Jamie Hagan after the conclusion of his loan spell at Leinster.
For the full list of additional players in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup squads, click this link.
Leinster have added two wrecking balls to their Champions Cup squad
LEINSTER HAVE ADDED Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy to their Champions Cup squad ahead of the quarter-final against Bath at the Aviva Stadium on 4 April.
All remaining clubs in the knock-out stages of the leading European club competition and the second-tier Challenge Cup had the opportunity this week to nominate up to three players for registration to supplement their initial 38-player squads.
Healy and O’Brien both missed Leinster’s Champions Cup pool fixtures with respective hamstring and shoulder injuries, but the formidable ball-carrying duo return to Matt O’Connor’s squad fresh from helping Ireland to the Six Nations.
The prospect of having two of their leading players back for the most important months of the season is surely an exciting one for Leinster fans, with Healy and O’Brien set to bolster the province’s attack, defence and set-piece.
Head coach O’Connor has also added scrum-half Nick McCarthy to the Leinster group, with the UCD man returning to the province after captaining the Ireland U20 side in their Six Nations campaign.
That means Leinster now have four scrum-halves in their European selection, with McCarthy joining Eoin Reddan, Isaac Boss and Luke McGrath.
Leinster’s quarter-final opponents Bath have added fullback Tom Homer and propping duo Max Lahiff and Beno Obano to their European squad as they prepare for the trip to Dublin in two weekends’ time.
Meanwhile, Toulon have brought more international quality into their European squad before facing Wasps at Stade Mayol on 5 April, as Craig Burden, Frederic Michalak and Juan Martin Hernandez are included.
The Premiership side have added Ireland international centre James Downey, on loan from Glasgow Warriors, and All Black Piri Weepu to their playing group.
In the Challenge Cup, Pat Lam’s Connacht have brought the in-form Tiernan O’Halloran into their squad ahead of a trip to Gloucester for their quarter-final, while number eight Eoghan Masterson is also added.
David Humphreys’ Gloucester have added on-loan Leinster centre Brendan Macken to their squad before welcoming Connacht to Kingsholm.
London Irish have registered Ireland international prop Jamie Hagan after the conclusion of his loan spell at Leinster.
For the full list of additional players in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup squads, click this link.
‘He studies the game unbelievably hard’ – Ireland’s players laud Schmidt
Poll: Should the Six Nations introduce bonus points to encourage attack?
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Additional PLayers Challenge Cup Church Cian Healy All-Ireland Senior HC European Rugby Champions Cup Connacht Leinster matt o'connor Sean O'Brien sob SOB and Church tiernan o'halloran