Leinster Releases 30 Players to Clubs for Round 5 of Energia All-Ireland League

Thirty Leinster Rugby players will feature for their Energia All-Ireland League club sides this weekend, as the province releases a significant portion of its squad despite having 17 players tied up with Ireland. The initiative encompasses 12 senior players and a larger contingent of academy prospects distributed across nine Leinster-based clubs for round five of the competition.

The decision has created stark contrasts in squad selection across the provinces. UCD emerges as the primary beneficiary at the UCD Bowl, welcoming all nine of its released players to face Old Wesley. Seven of those selections feature in a pack strengthened by four contracted players from Leinster's recent 50-5 victory over Connacht: Gus McCarthy, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Scott Penny, and James Culhane. Cian Butler and Ethan Black step in as Old Wesley’s two changes at eight and centre.

Across the city on the Aviva back pitch, Lansdowne names all seven of its Leinster contingent. This includes players who contributed directly to that 50-point haul in Galway: fullback Todd Lawlor, centre Ciarán Mangan, halfbacks Charlie Tector and Cormac Foley, alongside forwards Peter Dooley and Max Deegan, though Hugo McLoughlin was ruled out. Prop George Morris and flanker Barry Fitzpatrick also start for Lansdowne, while Connacht afforded their players a holiday this week and did not release Jerry Cahir.

Clontarf integrates its released quintet to strengthen its pack with Brian Deeny, Alan Spicer, and Alex Soroka. Centre Conor Fahy, prop Charlie Ward, scrumhalf Sean Finlay, and centre Dan Hawkshaw also join the starting XV, with Soroka scheduled to play alongside Terenure.

An Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A summit meeting takes place at Ollie Campbell Park as Old Belvedere host Terenure College. Old Belvedere welcomes back tighthead Alex Mullan and fullback Rob Russell following their debuts for Leinster and Munster last week. Andre Ryan starts in midfield while Calum Dowling shifts from hooker to openside. Terenure counters with its own quartet, featuring JJ Kenny on the wing, Caspar Gabriel alongside last week’s debutant Oliver Coffey, and Marcus Hanan at loosehead.

The champions St Mary’s remain relatively unaffected ahead of their home fixture against Young Munster. Mark McHugh recalls their single released player, Andrew Sparrow, alongside hooker Jack Nelson Murray, scrumhalf Richie Fahy, and fullback Conor Hayes. The visitors restore academy scrumhalf Jake O’Riordan, lock Jamie Walsh, and flanker Bobby Doherty.

Munster permitted their players to participate for their clubs voluntarily, resulting in four senior players and 12 academy members taking the field. Cork Con deploys Mark Donnelly and Conor Ryan, Garryowen includes Max Clein, and Highfield features Ethan Coughlan. Cork Con also starts Munster academy duo Charlie O’Shea and Michael Foy, though Ben O’Connor misses out alongside Danny Sheahan and centre Eoghan Smyth ahead of their trip to Ballynahinch. Ballynahinch recalls academy backrower Jon Rodgers and Josh Hanlon.

In Ulster, none of the seven senior players feature, whereas Queen’s University names eight academy players in its starting XV and two more on the bench for the home match against Corinthians. Corinthians retains five Connacht academy forwards in an unchanged lineup.

Matches across the Energia All-Ireland League kick off at 2:30pm unless stated otherwise. Men’s Division 1A fixtures include Ballynahinch versus Cork Con at Ballymacarn Park, Lansdowne against Clontarf at the Aviva back pitch, Old Belvedere hosting Terenure College at Ollie Campbell Park, St Mary’s College playing Young Munster at Templeville Road, and UCD facing Old Wesley at the UCD Bowl. Men’s Division 1B features Blackrock College against Highfield RFC at Stradbrook, City of Armagh meeting Garryowen at the Palace Grounds, Dublin University playing Naas at College Park, MU Barnhall facing Instonians at Parsonstown, and UCC Rugby hosting Nenagh Ormond at The Mardyke.

Women’s Division 1A action features Old Belvedere against Blackrock College at Ollie Campbell Park at 4:30pm, Galwegians playing UL Bohemian at Crowley Park at 5:00pm, and Railway Union hosting Wicklow at Park Avenue at 5:00pm. Women’s Division 1B schedules Cooke versus Ballincollig at Shaw’s Bridge at 3:00pm, Enniskillen RFC against MU Barnhall in Enniskillen at 5:00pm, and Tullow RFC playing Ennis RFC at Rathoe Road at 5:00pm.

Additional Men’s Division 2A fixtures pair Dungannon with Ballymena at Stevenson Park, Galwegians with UL Bohemian at Crowley Park, Queen’s University with Corinthians at The Dub, Shannon RFC with Cashel RFC at the Thomond back pitch, and Wanderers with Greystones at Merrion Road. Men’s Division 2B North matches put Banbridge against Sligo at Rifle Park, Clogher Valley against Enniskillen RFC at The Cran, Malahide against Malone at Estuary Road, Navan against Rainey RFC at Balreask Old, and Skerries against Ballyclare RFC at Holmpatrick. Men’s Division 2B South features Bective Rangers versus Monkstown at Energia Park, Bruff against Clonmel at Kilballyowen Park, Buccaneers versus Dolphin at Dubarry Park, Midleton against Enniscorthy at Towns Park, and Old Crescent playing Thomond RFC at Takumi Park.

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