Simon Broughton, the Leinster Rugby Academy Manager, has this confirmed that Josh Neill has been added to the province's Academy intake for 2025/26, and will join Leinster early in the new year. The Irish-qualified back rower is currently attending Rondebosch Boys' High School in Cape Town, and played for the South Africa Under-18 team during last month's Under-18 Men's International Series. Neill was a try scorer in the South Africa U-18s' 69-24 win over England, and came off the bench during their 45-5 defeat of Ireland in Paarl. He also featured at openside flanker in their series opener against France. His older brother, Jordan, is already based in Ireland and plays cricket with Northern Knights. Having been capped by Ireland at U-19 level, Jordan (20) made his Ireland senior debut against the West Indies this summer. Josh, who plays his club rugby with Western Province, will join the rest of Leinster's Academy intake in early 2026 when his school year finishes in South Africa.

2025/26 LEINSTER RUGBY ACADEMY SQUAD:

Year One: (Energia All-Ireland League Clubs in brackets) – Tadhg Brophy (Lansdowne FC) Jack Deegan (Blackrock College RFC) Connor Fahy (Clontarf FC) Páidí Farrell (Old Wesley RFC) Lee Fitzpatrick (Blackrock College RGC) Todd Lawlor (Lansdowne FC) Ciarán Mangan (Blackrock College RFC) Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC) Josh Neill (tbc) Mahon Ronan (Old Wesley RFC) Year Two: Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC) Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC) Caspar Gabriel (Terenure College RFC) Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC) Ruben Moloney (UCD RFC) Alan Spicer (Clontarf FC) Andrew Sparrow (St. Mary's College RFC) Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC) Year Three: Henry McErlean (Terenure College RFC) Liam Molony (Lansdowne FC) Conor O'Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC)