Leinster send largely second string 31-man squad to South Africa

Leinster are sending a mostly second-string squad on a two week tour of South Africa in the United Rugby Championship.

Just six of the 23-man matchday squad that started against Connacht on Friday are included in the 31-man squad to play two URC games in the coming fortnight.

Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Michael Ala’alatoa, Josh Murphy, Rhys Ruddock and Ciaran Frawley are the only survivors from the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 second leg at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland internationals Porter and Kelleher are both returning from injury and in need of game time.

Ruddock will captain the side which will play the Cell-C Sharks at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park and a week later, in Cape Town, the DHL Stormers at the Green Point Stadium.

Second row James Ryan - who was concussed during the Guinness Six Nations game against England after colliding with Charlie Ewels - is not included in the squad.

It will be the first time that Leinster will have played either side.

Leinster Rugby are in first place with three rounds remaining before the Quarter-Final line-up is announced, while both South African sides are vying for a berth in the top four of the United Rugby Championship table.

The Cell-C Sharks are currently in 6th position with nine wins from 15 games in the United Rugby Championship, and they are a point behind the DHL Stormers in 5th, also with nine wins from 15 games played.

So far just one European-based URC side has claimed a victory on South African soil in the inaugural season. Mike Blair Edinburgh bagged a 21 - 5 victory over the Sharks.

31-man Leinster squad: 

1. Ed Byrne

2. Peter Dooley

3. Michael Milne

4. Andrew Porter

5. Rónan Kelleher

6. John McKee

7. James Tracy

8. Vakh Abdaladze

9. Michael Ala’alatoa

10. Thomas Clarkson

11. Brian Deeny

12. Jack Dunne

13. Josh Murphy

14. Martin Moloney

15. Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN

16. Seán O’Brien

17. Scott Penny

18. Max Deegan

19. Alex Soroka

20. Cormac Foley

21. Nick McCarthy

22. Harry Byrne

23. David Hawkshaw

24. Tommy O’Brien

25. Rob Russell

26. Ciarán Frawley

27. Rory O’Loughlin

28. Jamie Osborne

29. Adam Byrne

30. Chris Cosgrave

31. Max O’Reilly