Doris And Sheehan Fit To Feature For Leinster In URC Final

Captains Caelan Doris and Marcell Coetzee
Captain Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan have been passed fit for Leinster's BKT United Rugby Championship final showdown with the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm).

Tickets for all levels of fan experience are available on www.ticketmaster.ie ahead of the URC decider, which will be broadcast live on Premier Sports, SuperSport, and internationally on URC.tv, and Flo Rugby in the USA.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made three changes from the semi-final win over the DHL Stormers, with two switches in the front row and one in the back-line.

Tadhg Furlong, fully recovered from a recent calf injury, and Jerry Cahir will pack down either side of Rónan Kelleher. Cahir replaces the injured Andrew Porter (calf).

James Ryan and Joe McCarthy continue their second row partnership, and a fully fit Caelan Doris, who was injured for last year's final victory over the Bulls, will lead the team from number 8, alongside Max Deegan and Josh van der Flier.

Departing duo James Lowe and Rieko Ioane will play their final games for the province, starting on the left wing and at outside centre, respectively.

Hugo Keenan is also joined in the back-three by Tommy O'Brien, who returns on the right side following his hat-trick at the Leinster Rugby Awards, including being crowned the Bank of Ireland Men's Players' Player of the Year.

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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen

Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park, the try-scoring player-of-the-match against the Stormers, will lead the back-line again, with Jamie Osborne partnering Ioane in midfield for the last time.

Luke McGrath is set for his 257th and final appearance for Leinster before his move to Perpignan. He is part of a strong bench that features six Ireland internationals.

Sheehan is sure to bring impact at hooker, the 20-year-old Alex Usanov will cover the loosehead position, and Thomas Clarkson, Diarmuid Mangan, and Jack Conan round off the forward cover.

McGrath, Harry Byrne, and Garry Ringrose once more provide the reinforcements for the backs, as Cullen's men attempt to become back-to-back URC champions.

LEINSTER (v Vodacom Bulls): Hugo Keenan; Tommy O'Brien, Rieko Ioane, Jamie Osborne, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jerry Cahir, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Diarmuid Mangan, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Garry Ringrose.