Cheika includes D'Arcy and Hines

LEINSTER COACH Michael Cheika has included Lions duo Gordon D’Arcy and Nathan Hines in an extended squad for Saturday’s Magners League game against the Dragons at the RDS (7pm). The 27-strong panel also contains academy players David Kearney, younger brother of Rob, and Brendan Macken.

Niall Morris, who made his senior debut for the province when coming on as a replacement in the defeat to Llanelli at the weekend, retains his place as do summer signings Mike Ross and Shaun Berne. Australian-born, Scottish international lock Hines could be in line to make his Leinster bow after signing from Perpignan.

While he did play at blindside wing forward for the Lions in South Africa and on occasion during his time in French rugby, the second row is a more familiar home and it’s where Leinster are more likely to employ his talents.

D’Arcy was called out to join the Lions as a replacement and this is primarily why he is available for selection now while the remainder of the Leinster contingent who took part in that tour won’t reappear with the Irish province until week four of the league.

There is a possibility that Macken, who played for Ireland Schools last season, may be rerouted to an under-20 interprovincial between Leinster and Ulster at Donnybrook on Friday night. Bernard Jackman missed the Scarlets match through injury but is named as one of three hookers, along with John Fogarty and Jason Harris-Wright.

Over 13,500 tickets have already been sold for Saturday night as supporters clamour to see the first competitive home game of the new season for the European champions.

Leinster have sold a record number of season tickets (10,500) to date while there are just 1,000 remaining for their opening Heineken Cup match, against London Irish on October 8th. Tickets for the Magners League match against Munster at the RDS (October 3rd) will be made available to season ticket holders with none likely to go on public sale.

Munster coach Tony McGahan welcomes back Alan Quinlan and John Hayes to a 25-man squad for Friday night’s clash with the Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park (7.05).

Munster, like Leinster, lost on their travels last weekend, going down 22-9 to Glasgow and will be keen to assert their intent to retain their Magners League crown with a much improved performance.

Danny Barnes returns to the squad and although he didn’t feature last week was impressive in the pre-season and may be given an opportunity, as could Scott Deasy.

Connacht’s Michael Bradley has made three alterations to his squad for Friday evening’s trip to Murrayfield to take on Edinburgh. The Irish province managed to snaffle a bonus point in losing to the Ospreys at the weekend and take on a Scottish side that will be brimming with confidence following an away win over Cardiff.

Flanker Mike McCarthy, winger Aidan Wynne and prop Ronan Loughney have been drafted in with injury ruling out Robbie Morris and Niva Ta’auso. It was feared McCarthy might be ruled out for several weeks but his calf injury was not as serious as the initial prognosis suggested.

Ta’auso is out with a fracture in his hand and will undergo further medical tests to establish the extent of the damage. Morris has a back injury which forced him to retire during the Ospreys match.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin will neither be pleased by his side’s poor performance against the Dragons at Rodney Parade nor the injury problems that emanated from that encounter ahead of Saturday’s difficult trip to the Liberty stadium where the Ospreys await.

Fullback Bryn Cunningham hyper-extended his elbow and is almost certainly out while Ryan Caldwell (ankle) is also doubtful. Centre Ian Whitten is, however, expected to recover from a bruised foot. Meanwhile, Ireland face a very difficult draw in next year’s under-20 World Cup – it’s actually known officially as the IRB Junior World Championship – in Argentina next June.

They have been pooled alongside number two seeds, England, France (5) and hosts Argentina (11). The draw will certainly provide an added resonance to this season’s under-20 Six Nations Championship. Ireland will open their campaign against France on June 5th, take on England four days later before completing the pool stages on June 13th against the baby Pumas. All three matches take place in Rosario. The tournament finals take place on Sunday, June 20th.

LEINSTER(squad): S Berne, G D'Arcy, S Horgan, C Keane, D Kearney, S Keogh, B Macken, F McFadden, N Morris, I Nacewa, P O'Donohoe, J Sexton, L Cullen (capt), J Fogarty, J Harris-Wright, C Healy, N Hines, B Jackman, S Jennings, S Keogh, R McCormack, K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, M O'Kelly, M Ross, D Toner, S Wright.

MUNSTER(squad): D Barnes, F Jones, S Deasy, D Hurley, D Howlett, B Murphy, T Gleeson, L Mafi, J Manning, T Morland, P Stringer, M Horan, T Buckley, J Brugnaut, J Hayes, D Fogarty, D Varley, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, A Quinlan, B Holland, T O'Donnell, N Ronan, D Leamy, J Coughlan.

CONNACHT(squad): A Browne, F Carr, S Cronin, G Duffy, A Flavin, J Hagan, I Keatley, R Loughney, K Matthews, M McCarthy, M McComish, J Muldoon, F Murphy, T Nathan, M Nikora, J O'Connor, R Ofisa, C O'Loughlin, B Tuohy, B Upton, B Wilkinson, A Wynne.