49 - 12

45 - 31

57 - 21

26 - 27

31 - 33

26 - 29

40 - 38

45 - 5

Investec Champions Cup

Rieko Ioane handed first start in much-changed Leinster side

Josh Raisey

Published: 186 days ago | 11 December 2025 08:11 PST

The All Blacks' Rieko Ioane of Leinster after the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and Harlequins at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane will make his first start for Leinster on Friday night against Leicester Tigers in round two of the Investec Champions Cup at Welford Road.

Ioane is one of seven changes to the starting XV that defeated Harlequins 45-28 in the opening round at the Aviva Stadium, four of which are in the backline.

The centre combination has been changed completely for this contest, with Robbie Henshaw partnering the Kiwi in midfield after Ciarán Frawley and Garry Ringrose started there last week.

VIDEO

The injured Jordan Larmour has been replaced by James Lowe on the wing, while Harry Byrne will start at fly-half this week, with Sam Prendergast on the bench.

Two of the three changes to the pack come in the front-row, with hookers Rónan Kelleher and Dan Sheehan swapping, with Kelleher starting this week. Likewise, Tadhg Furlong will start at tighthead in England’s Midlands, with Thomas Clarkson on the bench.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Leicester

15 - 23

Full-time

Leinster

All Stats and Data

The final change in the pack sees the return of James Ryan to the starting XV in place of the injured RG Snyman.

Leicester will be looking for their first win in the competition this season, having fallen to La Rochelle in the opening round.

Leinster XV (caps in brackets)
15. Jimmy O’Brien (108)
14. Tommy O’Brien (50)
13. Rieko Ioane (1)
12. Robbie Henshaw (108)
11. James Lowe (94)
10. Harry Byrne (77)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (159)
1. Paddy McCarthy (11)
2. Rónan Kelleher (82)
3. Tadhg Furlong (157)
4. Joe McCarthy (51)
5. James Ryan (98)
6. Jack Conan (167)
7. Josh van der Flier (161)
8. Caelan Doris (95) (c)

Replacements
16. Dan Sheehan (75)
17. Jack Boyle (33)
18. Thomas Clarkson (64)
19. Diarmuid Mangan (21)
20. Max Deegan (142)
21. Luke McGrath (240)
22. Sam Prendergast (38)
23. Ciarán Frawley (109)

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Comments

3 Comments

DP 185 days ago

Wish him all the best and hope he scores a hatrick, you know what these Leinster supporters are like if they fail to win a major trophy again.. it’ll be the imports fault.

Icefarrow 185 days ago

So they bring Rieko in to add additional speed to the backline, but put James Slowe on the Wing? Let’s hope the ball stays within the 14 channel.

Eric Elwood 185 days ago

They won’t demote Lowe yet, especially with a couple of centres out injured. But Leinster and Ireland will become more ruthless. Prendergast was dropped to the bench and I can see Ioane starting at wing when the centres return.

If Lowe doesn’t start then he doesn’t make the bench so a big call.

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