Anyone attend the open training last night in Donnybrook?

Zero updates or content from Leinster as usual, but looking at the sportsfile/inpho photos it seems Tector, Larmour, Paddy McCarthy & Hugh Cooney were back training, which is good news for SA trip. Didn't see Baird but he had been back training also I believe.

Lots of pictures of Josh Neill too, who looks physically up to the level and could see a bit of game time.

TOB, Carbery and Boyle were also there albeit not togged out.

Stephen Smyth is another guy that Leinster seem to like to use in PR and get lots of images of. Not sure how much you can tell from that, but given he's also captained the A side you'd imagine he's very highly rated.

Hopefully our Leinster marketing team will see fit to bless us poor supporters with even a 30 second video from the event, albeit I wouldn't hold my breath. (Meanwhile Connacht are doing a whole YouTube series about their pre-season.)

Not going to set the pulses racing, but that’s a smart solid signing.

Brings some much needed experience, knows the setup well, good injury profile and will slot in well to the LH depth chart particularly with Paddy Mc, Boyle and Porters minutes to be limited, and two of those injured also.

Hopefully there’s another signing or two to come.

I'm bizarrely very confident about this game. I feel like the Stormers have flattered to deceive a bit this season, with a brilliant start but have barely won an away game in the NH since Christmas.

They're missing a big chunk of their Bok contingent in SFM, Reinach, Van Heerden, Malherbe, Fourie and I think if Leinster's pack can deliver, the backline attack looked really good last week.

Leinster have clear daylight in second row, at 9 and in the centres for me. Bench is even enough and the Stormers 6/2 could come into the equation if it's tight.

The Stormers scrum is the big worry. Good test for TC, Kelleher and Porter.

Willemse is their one world class back, so keeping him under pressure will be key.

Bookies have it Leinster -14, weather is set to be good. Hopefully the boys get it done.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Hugo Keenan (84)
14. Jimmy O’Brien (119)
13. Rieko Ioane (16)
12. Jamie Osborne (75)
11. James Lowe (100)
10. Sam Prendergast (50)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (172)

1. Andrew Porter (149)
2. Rónan Kelleher (93)
3. Thomas Clarkson (78)
4. Joe McCarthy (64)
5. James Ryan (110)
6. Max Deegan (159)
7. Josh van der Flier (174)
8. Caelan Doris (107) CAPTAIN

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy (30)
17. Alex Usanov (8)
18. Rabah Slimani (37)
19. Diarmuid Mangan (29)
20. Jack Conan (178)
21. Luke McGrath (255)
22. Harry Byrne (92)
23. Garry Ringrose (149)

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU).

Leinster Rugby

15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Tommy O'Brien, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Harry Byrne, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tom Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Jack Conan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Paddy McCarthy, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Diarmuid Mangan, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Jamie Osborne

Union Bordeaux Bègles

15. Salesi Rayasi, 14. Pablo Uberti, 13. Damian Penaud, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Maxime Lucu (c), 1. Jefferson Poirot, 2. Maxime Lamothe, 3. Carlü Sadie, 4. Boris Palu, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Pierre Bochaton, 7. Cameron Woki, 8. Marko Gazzotti

Replacements:

16. Gaetan Barlot, 17. Ugo Boniface, 18. Ben Tameifuna, 19. Lachie Swinton, 20. Temo Matiu, 21. Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22. Arthur Retiere, 23. Hugo Reus

Tommy O’Brien is due to be further assessed after withdrawing from the matchday squad for Saturday’s 68-14 win over Ospreys and a decision on his availability will be made later in the week.

Brian Deeny, Joshua Kenny and Paddy McCarthy are all due to be further assessed with a decision on their availability to be made later in the week.

Hugh Cooney sustained a injury at the weekend and will be unavailable for the rest of the season.

There are no further updates on Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle, Will Connors, RG Snyman and Charlie Tector.

Both TOB and Paddy McCarthy pictured training today. Hopefully both available.

COT captains the A team this weekend so looks like we’ll see Deeny/Mangan and one of Ryan/Joe in the senior squad potentially.

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/2026/05/07/conor-otighearnaigh-to-captain-leinster-a-for-ulster-a-clash

Hopefully this is a sign that Baird might return before end of season although that may be 2+2=5.

https://preview.redd.it/cc1rjiqadwzg1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12c08f44a3ef1bbb0c19224f1fe60f848046d2f3

https://preview.redd.it/9gt3v8w6dwzg1.jpg?width=544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b122d61e126993fda88bc99ce747254a22380984

Obviously injuries pending, particularly regarding Conan and Henshaw, and we’ve two big league games to play, but I’d hope we can put out the following for the final:

Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, Ryan, McCarthy, Conan, VDF, Doris, JGP, Byrne, Lowe, Osborne/Henshaw, Ringrose, TOB, Keenan

Kelleher, Cahir, Furlong, Deegan, Penny, McGrath Frawley, Henshaw/Osborne

A fit J Lowe makes a big difference if he can find a bit of form. Wouldn’t have Ioane in the 23.

I think we now have to go Frawley and would select him at 10 in one of the league games.

Soroka v Deegan is a tough call but Max has the experience factor.

That bench looks a good bit stronger than yesterday and should give the final a good rattle.

The amount of negativity around Leinster this season has been staggering. From media, from opposition, even from our own fans. The lack of excitement is palpable, and part of it is the frustration and embarrassment of what happened at this stage last year.

In a Lions year which has been hugely interrupted regarding player availability, compounded by loads of injuries, we’ve certainly flattered to deceive at times.

But this is a chance to avenge a few things. To finally beat Toulon in this tournament, to make a statement to the rest of Europe and to one step closer to 5 stars.

Let’s remind ourselves that we’ve the shot at a mid table Top14 team in a home European semi final, with the carrot of another crack at the holy grail afterwards.

Whatever the team selected/available, it’ll be stacked full of Lions, Irish internationals and high quality players who are desperate to win a Champions Cup. We’ve at least four guys who would be in contention for a World XV.

We’ve an aggressive, mobile pack with loads of carriers. We’ve defensive lineout threats, two hookers that are far beyond what any team left in the comp can put out, a 4/5 pairing who will crack skulls, a former WPOTY and a Lions test starter in the backrow, a captain and a 9 who can win games on their own, a 10 who can tackle and kick goals, a 14 who’s in the form of his life and will literally run through brick walls, a 15 who’s reminding everyone why he’s the best in the world.

For years, we’ve heard from media that ‘Leinster haven’t really been challenged’ until this stage of the tournament. This year we certainly have been challenged, and we’ve come through numerous very tight games. The muscle memory of pressure is there.

My ask of anyone reading this is simple – for the next 48 hours at least, just suspend any gripes you may have about coaching, selection or whatever and get behind the side.

If you can remember it, try to summon up some of the excitement that was around in 09, 11 and 12. Get positive.

The 35k odd in the stadium tomorrow will be mainly made up of the ‘hardcore’ base. It’s up to them to actually make the atmosphere intense and get behind the side, because they’ll need it.

Get in to the ground early, leave the pints for afterwards (or have plenty before), wear blue and remind Toulon that this is big boy stuff now.

If you can’t do that, then stay on the couch and watch something else.

TLDR?

ALLEZ LES F*CKIN BLEUS!

Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final against RC Toulon at Aviva Stadium (KO: 3pm, live on Premier Sports 1).

AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION:

N/A.

FURTHER ASSESSMENT REQUIRED:

James Lowe, Diarmuid Mangan and Jordan Larmour all return to training this week with further assessment required.

Tadhg Furlong is due to be further assessed and a decision on his availability will be made later in the week.

Andrew Porter is due to be further assessed and a decision on his availability will be made later in the week.

NOT AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION:

Ryan Baird is not available for selection this week.

Charlie Tector is not available for selection after a shoulder injury sustained on Saturday.

NO FURTHER UPDATES ON:

Jack Boyle, Paddy McCarthy, RG Snyman, Alex Usanov.