Leinster register two Ireland internationals to squad before final

Ireland internationals Paddy McCarthy and Jordan Larmour have both been registered as additional players for Leinster ahead of the Investec Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday.

Loosehead prop McCarthy has not played since injuring his foot in the Champions Cup pool stage victory over La Rochelle in Leinster’s second match of 2026 – an injury which required surgery. It was initially feared that he would miss the entire season, but he has returned to training in time for the final and the United Rugby Championship play-offs, where Leinster host the Lions in the quarter-finals next week.

While McCarthy has been out, Leinster have endured an injury crisis at loosehead, and at one stage only had one fit prop available, Jerry Cahir. Another prop that joined their injury list was Alex Usanov, who injured his ankle in the quarter-final win over Sale Sharks. Though fit again, he has been deregistered to accommodate the four-cap 22-year-old in the squad.

Larmour made his return to action last week after five months out with a hamstring injury sustained in a two-try player-of-the-match Champions Cup performance against Harlequins in December.

The winger’s return has seen Joshua Kenny deregistered, with both changes being reversals of ones made earlier in the season.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Leinster

06:45

23 May 26

Bordeaux

All Stats and Data

This decision taken by Leo Cullen suggests both will have a part to play against Bordeaux at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium on Saturday, though an injury update made by Leinster earlier this week stated the prop will “further assessed with a decision on their availability to be made later in the week.”

In-form Ireland wing Tommy O’Brien is also facing a late fitness test to see if he can make the final after being forced to withdraw from the recent URC win over the Ospreys shortly before kick-off after receiving a knock in training.