Leinster add Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy to European squad

Leinster have added Six Nations winners Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy to their squad for next month’s European Champions Cup quarter final against Bath.

With clubs allowed to bring in three extra players for the knockout stages, increasing squad size from 38 to 41, Matt O’Connor has named two of his big guns for the Easter showdown at the Aviva Stadium, as well as including the Ireland under 20 scrum half Nick McCarthy.

Backrow O’Brien was instrumental in Ireland’s Six Nations Championship win as he battled back from injury to pick up man of the match in the decisive final game against Scotland.

Healy was reinstated in Joe Schmidt’s starting lineup at Murrayfield following appearances from the bench and in the blue of Leinster as he made his comeback from a serious hamstring injury, and both he and O’Brien will be vital to the provinces hopes of lifting a fourth title.

Meanwhile Connacht have added back Tiernan O’Halloran and backrow Eoghan Masterson to their squad for their Challenge Cup quarter final against Gloucester on Good Friday.