| <strong>Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has today named anextended 32-man squad for Saturday's trip to Navan RFC for thefirst of the Bank of Ireland Pre-Season Friendlies against UlsterRugby (kick-off: 3.00pm). </strong><br><br>It is very much a mix of youth and experience with seveninternationals in the squad in addition to a number of players fromthe Leinster Sub and full Academy. There is also an opportunity forsome of the younger members of the Leinster senior squad like RossMolony and Luke McGrath to hit the ground running after stellarcampaigns last season.<br> <br>Commenting on the game, Cullen said: 'Saturday can't come soonenough for the players. They are very much looking forward tovisiting Navan and playing in front of the home support. Pulling onthe Leinster jersey for the first time this season after a toughpre-season schedule is something they are all excitedby.”<br><br>With a number of frontline players ruled out with injury orunavailable for selection after an extended break due to the tourto South Africa with Ireland, it offers Cullen and his back roomteam of Kurt McQuilkin, Girvan Dempsey and John Fogarty the chanceto run their eyes over a number of players.<br> <br>'For some players like Mike McCarthy, Josh van der Flier and FergusMcFadden it will be a great opportunity to reintegrate back in tothe team after missing out on the tail-end of last season. IanNagle and Niall Morris the same - two new players into the squadand they are just keen to get up and running and to get used totheir new teammates in a match situation.<br> <br>'But I think the supporters that come to Navan should also beexcited to see the next group of Leinster players possibly for thefirst time. The likes of Andrew Porter and Vakh Abdaladze whostarred at the recent Under-20s World Championships with Ireland,former Ireland Under-20s captain Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, JoeyCarbery, Ireland 7s captain Tom Daly. This is a great opportunityfor those players to test themselves in a competitive environmentand to show us all what they are capable of.<br><br>'It's been a great pre-season so far but we know what's around thecorner and these three games against Ulster, Gloucester and Bathare the perfect test ahead of the start of the Guinness PRO12 onthe 2nd September.”<br> <br>The Leinster Rugby squad and management, including Isa Nacewa andGraham Henry, will also be meeting local supporters after the gameon Saturday with a signing session taking place after the game inNavan RFC.<br><br><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Leinster Rugby32-man squad v Ulster Rugby</strong></span><br><br><strong>Forwards (17):</strong><br> <br>Vakh Abdaladze<br>Michael Bent<br>Bryan Byrne<br>Jack Conan<br>Peter Dooley<br>Dan Leavy<br>Mike McCarthy<br>Sean McNulty<br>Ross Molony<br>Josh Murphy<br>Ian Nagle<br>Andrew Porter<br>Dominic Ryan<br>Peadar Timmins<br>James Tracy<br>Hayden Triggs<br>Josh van der Flier<br> <br><strong>Backs (15):</strong><br> <br>Adam Byrne<br>Ross Byrne<br>Joey Carbery<br>Barry Daly<br>Tom Daly<br>Billy Dardis<br>Ian Fitzpatrick<br>Zane Kirchner<br>Cathal Marsh<br>Nick McCarthy<br>Fergus McFadden<br>Luke McGrath<br>Niall Morris<br>Rory O'Loughlin<br>Charlie Rock |
