King the latest Royal to make his mark with Leinster
RUGBY
Shane Horgan, Devin Toner, Peter Coyle, Hugh O'Sullivan - just some of the rugby players from Meath who turned out for Leinster over the years.
Now another has joined that august list.
Winger Aitzol King will get another taste of life playing rugby with Leinster when he lines out in the blue in a friendly against Bath at The Rec tomorrow evening, 7.15.
From the Gormanston area King - who can also play at full-back - made his competitive debut for Leinster when he was selected for a United Rugby Championship game against Cardiff at the RDS earlier this year, making his debut from the bench.
The former St Patrick's, Stamullen and Meath underage footballer was elevated to the bench from the Leinster Academy.
Now he gets a chance to gain further experience this time starting in the side selected by head coach Leo Cullen for that clash with Bath.
He is the son of an Irish father and a mother from the Basque region. He is one of set of triplets.
King was part of the Irish u-20 squad that claimed a Grand Slam in 2020 and he scored a memorable try in the win over England.
He played for Balbriggan before joining Clontarf. Now he has a chance to further his career in the professional ranks with Leinster.
Bellewstown native Shane Horgan was, of course, a flying winger who carved out a career with Leinster and Ireland scoring some memorable tries along the way including one in the victory over England in Twickenham in 2006 that helped the Irish claim the Triple Crown.
He was part of Leinster teams that won two Heineken Cup titles, in 2009 and 2011.
Now another young winger from Meath is turning out in the blue of Leinster.
Leinster press briefing
Rhys Ruddock captains the Leinster team against Bath with the selection including nine players in the starting line-up who helped defeat Cardiff in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Five academy players are named in the backline, with Henry McErlean starting at full-back. King and Andrew Osborne are named on the wings, with Liam Turner and Ben Brownlee named in the centre.
Sam Prendergast and Fintan Gunne form the half-backs.
After scoring two tries in his 'Player of the Match' performance against Cardiff, Michael Milne starts in the front row, alongside Academy hooker Gus McCarthy and Michael Ala’alatoa.
Brian Deeny and Jason Jenkins pack down in the second row, with the Academy’s Diarmuid Mangan joining Will Connors and Ruddock in the back row.
Among the replacements are UCD duo Bobby Sheehan and Luke Kritzinger who are selected from the Energia AIL.
Sheehan is the younger brother of Leinster and Ireland hooker Dan, and was part of the Ireland Club XV side who defeated Portugal A in Lisbon last week, while Kritzinger was part of the Leinster squad who played Saracens last month.
* The game will be broadcast live on Bath Rugby’s TikTok channel.
Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets)
15. Henry McErlean (1)
14. Aitzol King (1)
13. Liam Turner (25)
12. Ben Brownlee (6)
11. Andrew Osborne (0)
10. Sam Prendergast (12)
9. Fintan Gunne (1)
1. Michael Milne (33)
2. Gus McCarthy (0)
3. Michael Ala’alatoa (60)
4. Brian Deeny (16)
5. Jason Jenkins (31)
6. Diarmuid Mangan (0)
7. Will Connors (45)
8. Rhys Ruddock (226) (captain)
Subs -
Ed Byrne (99)
Paddy McCarthy (4)
Bobby Sheehan (0)
Thomas Clarkson (35)
Ross Molony (173)
Conor O Tighearnaigh (1)
Scott Penny (66)
Max Deegan (107)
Luke McGrath (203)
Charlie Tector (7)
Rob Russell (26)
Luke Kritzinger (0)
Jamie Osborne (38).