Leinster benefit from cull

Celtic League News: Leinster have been boosted by the trimming down of Eddie O'Sullivan's Ireland squad as Jamie Heaslip, Robert…

Celtic League News: Leinster have been boosted by the trimming down of Eddie O'Sullivan's Ireland squad as Jamie Heaslip, Robert Kearney, Kieran Lewis and Reggie Corrigan are all available for Celtic League duty against Edinburgh in Donnybrook this Sunday.

Eric Miller and Guy Easterby were not considered at international level because of recent injuries but they too are back in a 33-man squad. Will Green also returns, but Bernard Jackman, although selected, is unlikely to feature.

With Felipe Contepomi on international duty with Argentina and Christian Warner injured long-term, coach Michael Cheika will have to consider a new option at outhalf, where the experienced Brian O'Meara is expected to get the nod over UCD's Eoghan Hickey.

Ulster have felt the effects of an Irish squad selection as they lose eight players ahead of the Ospreys tie at Ravenhill.

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Coach Mark McCall will be hoping scrumhalf Isaac Boss (calf) and Neil McMillan (knee) shake off injuries before he names his squad today.

Munster include David Wallace, another player cut by Ireland, in their squad for tomorrow's trip to the Arms Park to play Cardiff Blues. John O'Sullivan returns to the squad having been ruled out with a calf muscle injury since early September.

In the absence of Anthony Foley, 23-year-old Stephen Keogh is likely to be given the captain's armband when the side is finalised.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made two changes from the side that won in Montpellier for tomorrow's game against Glasgow at Hughenden.

Keith Matthews comes in for the injured John Hearty at centre, while Brendan O'Connor takes over from Matt Lacey in the back row.

The province also announced the signing of Kiwi centre Gavin Williams, son of the former All Black Bryan. Unavailable for the pool stages of the European Challenge Cup, Williams is expected to make his debut against Leinster in December.

Meanwhile, the management team for the inaugural club international against a Scottish equivalent, to be held at Donnybrook on March 10th, will be announced today. Only non-contracted club players will be considered for selection. The AIB Cup draw will also take place at Lansdowne Road this afternoon.

The plans and images of the proposed new Lansdowne Road stadium will be on show this Saturday at Dublin's Grand Canal Hotel between 9.30am and 1pm. Representatives of the stadium-development company will attend to answer questions.

CONNACHT (v Glasgow): M Mostyn; T Robinson, D Yapp, K Matthews, C McPhillips; P Warwick, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop; C Short, A Farley (capt); J Muldoon, B O'Connor, C Rigney.

LEINSTER (squad v Edinburgh): G Easterby, B O'Meara, B O'Riordan, J Hepworth, E Hickey, D McAllister, S Grissing, G Stafford, G Brown, B Burke, J Norton, R McCarron, R Kearney, K Lewis, R Corrigan, R McCormack, J Lyne, B Blaney, B Jackman, J Wickham, W Green, E Byrne, B Gissing, B Williams, D Toner, C Jowitt, S Crawford, N Ronan, K Gleeson, E Miller, D Dillon, K McLaughlin, J Heaslip.

MUNSTER (squad v Cardiff): S Payne, J Kelly, I Dowling, M Lawlor, G Connolly, T Halstead, A Pitout, B Murphy, J Manning, P Burke, F Murphy, M Prendergast, T O'Leary, F Roche, T Buckley, E McGovern, F Pucciariello, J Flannery, D Fogarty, T Hogan, M O'Driscoll, S O'Connor, J O'Connor, J O'Sullivan, S Keogh, F Cogan, DWallace.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent