Forgotten Ireland star returns for Leinster after 5-month lay-off

Leo Cullen has rung the changes to his Leinster side following last weekend’s emphatic dismissal of the Lions, but the headline selection for Saturday’s URC clash with the Ospreys is the return of Jordan Larmour after a five-month absence.

The one-time Ireland international has not featured since Leinster’s Investec Champions Cup meeting with Harlequins in December 2025, with injury halting his campaign and pushing him out of the international picture.

The injury-plagued Larmour gets an immediate opportunity to stake his claim again as the business end of the season approaches on the left wing.  The 117-cap Leinster man is joined on the wings by Tommy O’Brien, with Jimmy O’Brien completing the backfield at full-back.

Larmour isn’t the only returning Ireland wing. James Lowe is named on the bench, albeit after a much shorter injury lay-off. Lowe last featured against Connacht, but was injured in Ireland’s Six Nations win over England in the Guinness Six Nations in February.

Leinster welcome the 11th-placed Ospreys to the Aviva Stadium knowing that victory will secure a top-four finish and a crucial home quarter-final.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Leinster

09:15

16 May 26

Ospreys

All Stats and Data

The Welsh region, meanwhile, are out of the play-off race.

Cullen has tweaked the side that powered past the Lions, with Jack Conan captaining the team from blindside flanker. The experienced back-rower is joined by Josh van der Flier at openside and James Culhane, who continues at No.8.

In the engine room, Joe McCarthy partners Diarmuid Mangan.

The front row sees Jerry Cahir and Rabah Slimani pack down either side of Gus McCarthy. Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne return to the starting side.

Outside them, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose resume their familiar midfield partnership.

The Leinster bench is stacked with experience. Rónan Kelleher, Alex Usanov and Tadhg Furlong provide front-row cover, while Max Deegan and Caelan Doris offer impact in the pack.

Fintan Gunne and Ciarán Frawley cover the half-backs.

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jordan Larmour, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 1 Jerry Cahir, 2 Gus McCarthy, 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Diarmuid Mangan, 6 Jack Conan (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 James Culhane

Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Max Deegan, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 James Lowe