James Lowe returns with 14-year-old Leinster record in sight

British & Irish Lions wing James Lowe will return to action for Leinster on Saturday against Connacht with a significant milestone firmly in view.

Leo Cullen names his side for the URC Round 10 clash at Dexcom Stadium, a game which will showcase Connacht’s new stand but also offers Lowe a crack at a Leinster record that has stood since 2011.

The Ireland wing is named on the left for his first outing since last month’s win over Munster and stands just one try short of equalling Shane Horgan’s all-time Leinster record of 69.

The 33-year-old has scored 68 tries in 97 appearances for the province since arriving from New Zealand in 2017.

There is another landmark in the back row where Caelan Doris captains the side on the occasion of his 100th Leinster appearance. Doris lines up at No.8 flanked by Will Connors and Alex Soroka.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Connacht

23 - 34

Full-time

Leinster

All Stats and Data

RG Snyman and James Ryan combine in the second row.

Up front, Niall Smyth is set to earn his first senior cap after being handed the tighthead jersey. The New York-born prop, a 2024 Leinster Senior Cup winner with Blackrock College.

He packs down alongside Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle.

Harry Byrne and Fintan Gunne combine in the half-backs, with Charlie Tector and Garry Ringrose linking up in midfield, Joshua Kenny starting on the opposite wing to Lowe and Ciarán Frawley at full-back.

Leinster again opt for a 6/2 bench split, with Rónan Kelleher, Jerry Cahir and Andrew Sparrow covering the front row, Brian Deeny, Jack Conan and Scott Penny among the forwards, and Luke McGrath and Ruben Moloney providing backline cover.

Coach Jacques Nienaber said: “If you look at this last weekend, their performance, I thought they were a little bit unlucky in the previous game. So, they’re a team that’s building nice momentum going into this game. It’s massively exciting for us.”

Leinster: Ciarán Frawley, Joshua Kenny, Garry Ringrose, Charlie Tector, James Lowe, Harry Byrne, Fintan Gunne, Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Niall Smyth, RG Snyman, James Ryan, Alex Soroka, Will Connors, Caelan Doris (CAPT)

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jerry Cahir, Andrew Sparrow, Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ruben Moloney

Connacht: Sam Gilbert, Shane Jennings, Harry West, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy, Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade, Billy Bohan, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Sam Illo, Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast (CAPT), Paul Boyle, Sean Jansen

Replacements: Eoin de Buitlear, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Sean O’Brien, Ben Murphy, Jack Carty, Bundee Aki