Squad News: Michael Cheika has named a strong Leinster squad as the Magners League champions take on the Dragons at Rodney Parade this Friday in their final game of the season.
The coach has beefed up his squad with a number of Irish internationals including; Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Luke Fitzgerald, Bernard Jackman, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly and Shane Jennings getting the nod.
Wallaby international Chris Whitaker is also named in the squad along with Gary Brown, Ronan McCormack, Kevin McLaughlin and Michael Berne, who have all performed well for Leinster 'A' in recent weeks.
Cheika only named 10 backs as Rob Kearney, Felipe Contepomi and Jamie Heaslip have all been rested. Leinster are also without Ollie Le Roux and Keith Gleeson, who both played their last game for the province when winning the Magners League at the RDS last week.
Cheika is due to name his starting XV at lunchtime tomorrow.
Matt Williams has made changes to his Ulster squad ahead of Friday's match against Cardiff at Ravenhill.
Scrumhalf Kieran Campbell is replaced by Paul Marshall while number eight Stephen Ferris and David Pollock are also included in the squad
Ulster legend David Humphreys is also named in the squad for the province's final game of the season.
"David is an iconic figure in Ulster and Irish rugby, I hope he gets out on Friday night and hope the people of Ulster turn up to say thank-you for a remarkable career," said Williams.
There will also be fond farwells to a number of other big names on Friday night. Mark Bartholomeusz, Justin Harrison, Neil Best, Tommy Bowe, Kieran Campbell and Roger Wilson will all hang up their white shirts after the game.
Williams is under no illusions regarding the difficult task they face on Friday but hopes Ulster put in a good performance and gives the departing players a good send off.
"Cardiff are the power house of Welsh rugby, European Cup quarter finalists and fighting for second place in the Mangers' they will be a handful," he said. "A win this Friday would be a great send off for our players who are going to pastures new next season and would put the team on a real positive footing for next season."
Elsewhere Michael Bradley has named a 26-man squad ahead of Connacht's final match of the season at the Sportsground against the Ospreys on Friday (kick off: 6.30pm).
Conor O'Loughlin has recovered from his shoulder injury to be included in the squad for the first time since March and Galwegians duo Brian McGovern and Andrew Browne have also been included.
Leinster squad: Cian Healy, Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, Juan Francisco Gomez, Stephen Knoop, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Malcolm O'Kelly, Devin Toner, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Richie Leyden, Kevin McLaughlin, Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, Jonathan Sexton, Christian Warner, Luke Fitzgerald, Michael Berne, Brian O'Driscoll, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey
Ulster squad: Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best, Tom Court, Justin Harrison, Carlo Del Fava, Matt McCullough, Nigel Brady, Bryan Young, Neil Best, Kieron Dawson, Stephen Ferris, Ryan Caldwell, Roger Wilson, David Pollock, Paul Marshall, Paddy Wallace, Niall O'Connor, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Mark Bartholomeusz, Isaac Boss, Rob Dewey, Mark McCrea, Simon Danielli, David Humphreys
Connacht squad: Andrew Browne, Mel Deane, Gavin Duffy, Andrew Dunne, Andrew Farley, Adrian Flavin, John Fogarty, David Gannon, Ronan Loughney, Keith Matthews, Michael McCarthy, Brian McGovern, Conor McPhillips, Robbie Morris, Matt Mostyn, John Muldoon, Troy Nathan, John O'Connor, Ray Ofisa, Conor O'Loughlin, Colm Rigney, Daniel Riordan, Rob Shaw, Ofisa Treviranus, Brett Wilkinson, Darren Yapp.
