Ireland Inter-Pro Team News: Munster A vs Ulster A & Connacht Eagles vs Leinster A

There are plenty of Ireland hopefuls across the four confirmed squads, after the most promising talents took centre stage this past Friday at Thomond Park. A day removed from Ireland's underwhelming Six Nations opening round defeat to France, the Ireland XV took on England A in Limerick for a tough defeat. Now, the players are back at their clubs for an exciting weekend of Irish inter-pro derbies. Here's how the quartet of developmental teams line up, as Munster take on Ulster and Connacht play hosts to Leinster.

Connacht Eagles will host Leinster Rugby ‘A’ at the new Clan Stand at Dexcom Stadium on Friday (KO 2pm, entry free) in the latest round of the IRFU ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship. The Eagles are captained by Eoin de Buitléar, leading a 23-man squad, against a Leinster A side that featuring five Energia All-Ireland League players and a mix of senior and Academy talent.

Connacht’s back three includes Cian Brady, Rourke O’Sullivan, and Paul Sharkey, while the midfield is anchored by John Devine and Thomas Cotton. Tomas Farthing and Calum Elwood manage the half-back roles. The front row packs down with Adam Cooper, Eoin de Buitléar, and Fiachna Barrett, while Rory Gavin and Oisin McNicholas form the engine room. The back row sees Bobby Power, Max Flynn, and Eanna McCarthy complete the starting XV.

Leinster A name Academy hooker Stephen Smyth as captain alongside a youthful mix of senior, Academy, and pre-Academy players. The front row is Alex Usanov, Stephen Smyth, and Niall Smyth, with Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Billy Corrigan in the second row. Back-row duties are shared by Alex Soroka, Josh Ericson, and James Culhane. Oliver Coffey and Caspar Gabriel run the half-backs, while Hugo McLaughlin and Ciarán Mangan start in the centres. The back three features Andrew Osborne, Páidí Farrell, and Ruben Moloney.

Connacht Eagles (1–15):
1 Adam Cooper, 2 Eoin de Buitléar (C), 3 Fiachna Barrett, 4 Rory Gavin, 5 Oisin McNicholas, 6 Bobby Power, 7 Max Flynn, 8 Eanna McCarthy, 9 Tomas Farthing, 10 Calum Elwood, 11 Paul Sharkey, 12 John Devine, 13 Thomas Cotton, 14 Rourke O’Sullivan, 15 Cian Brady

Replacements (16–23):
16 Matthew Victory, 17 Jaynal Almanzar, 18 Luke Murtagh, 19 Dara Walsh, 20 Mikey Yarr, 21 Charlie Keane, 22 Albert Lindner, 23 Billy Cross, 24 Ferdia O’Braonain

Leinster A (1–15):
1 Alex Usanov (2), 2 Stephen Smyth (4) (C), 3 Niall Smyth (2), 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh (7), 5 Billy Corrigan, 6 Alex Soroka (24), 7 Josh Ericson (2), 8 James Culhane (22), 9 Oliver Coffey (2), 10 Caspar Gabriel (1), 11 Andrew Osborne (18), 12 Ciarán Mangan (2), 13 Hugo McLaughlin (2), 14 Páidí Farrell, 15 Ruben Moloney (4)

Replacements (16–23):
16 John McKee (41), 17 Jamie Clark, 18 Alex Mullan, 19 Artur Smykovskiy, 20 Inigo Cruise-O’Brien, 21 Tadhg Brophy, 22 Jayden Beckett, 23 Charlie Hempenstall

Munster A will look to build on two hard-fought draws against Leinster A when they host Ulster A at Nenagh Ormond RFC on Friday (KO 3pm, live on Access Munster). With 12 Academy players and 11 senior squad members named, Evan O’Connell will lead the side from number eight in a mix of youth and experience.

The backline sees Ben O’Connor, Andrew Smith, and Shay McCarthy covering the wings and full-back, while Seán O’Brien and Fionn Gibbons form the midfield pairing. Half-back duties are shared between Jake O’Riordan at scrum-half and Tony Butler at fly-half.

Munster’s pack is bolstered by the front row of Mark Donnelly, Max Clein, and Ronan Foxe, with O’Connell partnering Conor Ryan in the second row. The back row features Michael Foy, John Hodnett, and Ruadhán Quinn, with Hodnett making his first appearance since a thumb injury.

Coach Gavin Hogg’s Ulster A side features a blend of 10 Academy players and 10 seniors, captained by Ethan McIlroy. Callum Reid, James McCormick, and Flynn Longstaff form the front row, with Joe Hopes and Paddy Woods in the second row. Academy duo James McKillop and Tom Brigg flank senior number eight Lorcan McLoughlin, while Conor McKee and Jake Flannery manage the half-back roles. The back three sees Ben Moxham, Jonathan Scott, and McIlroy in full-back.

Munster A (1–15):
1 Mark Donnelly, 2 Max Clein, 3 Ronan Foxe, 4 Evan O’Connell (C), 5 Conor Ryan, 6 Michael Foy, 7 John Hodnett, 8 Ruadhán Quinn, 9 Jake O’Riordan, 10 Tony Butler, 11 Ben O’Connor, 12 Seán O’Brien, 13 Fionn Gibbons, 14 Shay McCarthy, 15 Andrew Smith

Replacements (16–25):
16 Danny Sheahan, 17 George Hadden, 18 Kieran Ryan, 19 Conor Kennelly, 20 Seán Edogbo, 21 Rory Woods, 22 Paddy Patterson, 23 Dylan Hicks, 24 Eoghan Smyth, 25 Gene O’Leary Kareem

Ulster A (1–15):
1 Callum Reid, 2 James McCormick, 3 Flynn Longstaff, 4 Joe Hopes, 5 Paddy Woods, 6 James McKillop, 7 Tom Brigg, 8 Lorcan McLoughlin, 9 Conor McKee, 10 Jake Flannery, 11 Ben Moxham, 12 Ben Carson, 13 Wilhelm De Klerk, 14 Jonathan Scott, 15 Ethan McIlroy (C)

Replacements (16–24):
16 Henry Walker, 17 Jacob Boyd, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Ben Moore, 20 Noah Bell, 21 Clark Logan, 22 James Humphreys, 23 Owen O’Kane, 24 Jon Rodgers