There are seven new additions to this year's Leinster Academy, with three players - Conor O'Tighearnaigh, Stephen Smyth, and Joshua Kenny - moving up to senior contracts over the summer.
The new additions to the province's Academy for 2026/27 are:
LEINSTER RUGBY ACADEMY SQUAD - 2026/27 SEASON YEAR 1 INTAKE:
Sami Bishti
A tighthead prop, Bishti has been a leader throughout his journey through the Leinster Rugby pathway. He captained Blackrock College to a Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup title in 2025, and was named Ireland Under-20 captain for last season's U-20 Six Nations and World Rugby Junior World Championship campaigns.
Outside of rugby, he represented Ireland in hammer throw at junior level during the 2022 Schools' International Athletic Board Championship in Belfast.
Ben Blaney
The son of former Leinster and Munster hooker James Blaney (and the nephew of former Leinster hookers Brian and David Blaney), Ben Blaney has forged his own path in the back row.
In 2024, he captained Leinster Under-19s to Interprovincial glory a week after his 18th birthday, before leading Terenure College to the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup final in 2025.
Most recently, he lined out eight times for the Ireland U-20s last season across the U-20 Six Nations and World Rugby Junior World Championship.
Max Doyle
Growing up in Kilkenny, it is no surprise that Doyle's first love was hurling, just like his father who played at intercounty level. Max played in County Championship-winning teams at U-13 and U-17 level with Dicksboro, but fell in love with rugby at Kilkenny RFC, where he began playing at minis level.
The prop has captained his country at U-19 level and played in all 10 of Ireland's U-20 Six Nations and World Rugby Junior World Championship games last season. He also lined out for Leinster 'A' in a 64-21 win over Ulster 'A' last May.
Harry Goslin
Goslin grew up playing soccer, hurling and Gaelic football before becoming the first in his family to take up rugby at the age of eight with Ashbourne RFC and Coolmine RFC.
As a prop who attended Belvedere College and now plays for Clontarf FC, it is no surprise that he cites Cian Healy as an influence, with Leinster's most-capped player mentoring him through his journey up the ranks.
He has captained both Leinster and Ireland at age-grade level, most recently leading the Ireland Under-19 team.
Dylan McNeice
McNeice first took up rugby at the age of five with Clontarf FC but initially wanted to play inter-county hurling with Dublin. In fourth year, the 6ft 6in second row decided to focus on rugby and won the Bank of Ireland Vinnie Murray Cup with CUS in 2023.
He then went on an exchange to St. Stithian's College in Johannesburg where he gained experience in the South African schools system, playing at the biggest sporting festivals in the country.
He has represented Leinster and Ireland throughout the age-grades, and even made an appearance for Leinster 'A' last season against Munster 'A'.
Charlie Molony
The cousin of former Leinster players Ross and Liam Molony, Charlie Molony took up rugby at the age of five. A multi-sport athlete, he also played hockey and football throughout his childhood before committing to the oval ball.
A Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup winner with Blackrock College in 2024, he also has plenty of provincial and international age-grade appearances to his name, as well as five Leinster 'A' caps over the last two years.
The outside back travelled to France last week to play in Leinster's pre-season clash with Lyon OU.
Artur Smykovskiy
Born in Moscow, Smykovskiy played 'pretty much every sport under the sun' as the child of two parents who earned Candidate Master of Sports of Russia titles in their chosen sports. Artur's father was a professional Greco-Roman wrestler, while his mother competed internationally in cross-country skiing.
Having tried everything from martial arts to water polo, he finally picked up a rugby ball at the age of 13 with Unió Esportiva Santboiana in Barcelona after some encouragement from his older brother.
The second row then moved to Ireland where he won the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup with Blackrock College in 2025. He made four appearances for Leinster 'A' last season, and also featured for the senior side in Lyon last week.
YEAR ONE (Energia All-Ireland League Clubs in Brackets):
Sami Bishti (UCD RFC)
Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC)
Max Doyle (UCD RFC)
Harry Goslin (Clontarf FC)
Dylan McNeice (UCD RFC)
Charlie Molony (UCD RFC)
Artur Smykovskiy (Dublin University FC)
YEAR TWO:
Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC)
Jack Deegan (Blackrock College RFC)
Connor Fahy (Clontarf FC)
Lee Fitzpatrick (Blackrock College RFC)
Todd Lawlor (Lansdowne FC)
Ciarán Mangan (Lansdowne FC)
Alex Mullan (Old Belvedere RFC)
Josh Neill (Old Wesley RFC)
YEAR THREE:
Oliver Coffey (Terenure College RFC)
Caspar Gabriel (Terenure College RFC)
Joshua Ericson (Old Belvedere RFC)
Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC)
Ruben Moloney (UCD RFC)
Alan Spicer (Clontarf FC)
Andrew Sparrow (St. Mary's College RFC)
PROMOTED TO SENIOR CONTRACTS -
Conor O'Tighearnaigh
Stephen Smyth
Joshua Kenny
