Lions pair return as Leinster move Rieko Ioane for visit of Sale Sharks

James Ryan and Garry Ringrose return from injury and Rieko Ioane has been redeployed to the wing as Leinster name their side for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-final against Sale Sharks at Aviva Stadium.

Dan Sheehan will captain the side from hooker as Leinster welcome back a number of key figures for the knockout encounter.

Ryan returns from injury to the matchday 23 to partner Joe McCarthy in the second row, with Baird moved to the back-row. Jack Conan starts at No.8, with Baird at blindside flanker and Josh van der Flier completing the unit at openside.

Caelan Doris drops out of the 23.

All Blacks star Ioane moves from centre to the wing. While Ioane has regularly played on the wing for the Blues and Auckland earlier in his career, all of his starting appearances for Leinster to date have come in the midfield.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Leinster

09:30

11 Apr 26

Sale

All Stats and Data

He lines up on the left wing this weekend, with Tommy O’Brien continuing on the opposite flank.

Hugo Keenan is again named at fullback, while Jamie Osborne continues at inside centre. Garry Ringrose also returns from injury and joins Osborne in the midfield.

In the half-backs, Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne are named to steer the side, while Alex Usanov is set for his first European start after making his Leinster debut off the bench last week against Edinburgh.

Usanov packs down at loosehead prop alongside Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the front row.

Leinster have opted for a 6-2 split on the bench. Rónan Kelleher returns to provide hooking cover, with Jerry Cahir and Thomas Clarkson the replacement props. Max Deegan and Scott Penny offer back-row options, while Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley and Robbie Henshaw complete the matchday 23.

Leinster Rugby: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 1 Alex Usanov, 2 Dan Sheehan (captain), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Ryan Baird, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jack Conan.

Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Max Deegan, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Robbie Henshaw.