McFadden And D’Arcy In The Centre For Leinster

The Leinster team to face London Wasps in Friday night’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at Adams Park (kick-off 8pm) has been named.

David Kearney will make his 50th Leinster appearance having been named in a back-line which features Gordon D’Arcy who has recovered from illness to take his place in the starting line-up.

Wexford man D’Arcy is joined by fellow ex-Clongowes Wood College student Fergus McFadden who has recovered from injury to take his place in the centre, with in-form out-half Ian Madigan set to make his 75th appearance for the province.

Rob Kearney starts at full-back with Isa Nacewa named on the left wing for Leinster’s inaugural Challenge Cup encounter which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 2.

Up front, Devin Toner partners skipper Leo Cullen in the second row with Kevin McLaughlin set to make his 90th appearance for the province. The returning Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip complete the back row.

Ireland duo Sean Cronin and Shane Jennings head up the replacements available to head coach Joe Schmidt.

LEINSTER (v London Wasps): Rob Kearney; David Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Gordon D’Arcy, Isa Nacewa; Ian Madigan, Isaac Boss; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen (capt), Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Jamie Hagan, Quinn Roux, Shane Jennings, John Cooney, Andrew Goodman, Andrew Conway.