Emerging Ireland release Gus McCarthy, Sean O'Brien and Jude Postlethwaite back to provinces

Leinster will have Gus McCarthy available for Saturday's BKT URC derby with Munster, who will be able to call on Sean O'Brien after the players were released from the Emerging Ireland squad.

Jude Postlethwaite will also travel back from South Africa later today ahead of Ulster's game against Connacht.

Ireland hooker Rónan Kelleher was injured during Leinster's victory at Benetton on Saturday with an update due later today.

With Dan Sheehan also recovering from a long-term knee injury, McCarthy, a former Ireland U20 captain, will come into the mix for selection. He started Sunday's 29-24 win over Western Force.

Graham Rowntree's Munster have a lengthy injury list themselves ahead of the match at Croke Park (kick-off 5.45pm, live on RTÉ).

Backs Shane Daly, Thaakir Abrahams and Alex Nankivell all missed out on Saturday's win over Ospreys, while Mike Haley limped off with ten minutes to play.

O'Brien, who started both of Emerging Ireland's game so far, at centre and on the wing, will bolster the ranks.

Ulster's Postlethwaite (above) also featured against the Pumas and Western Force for Simon Easterby's side in South Africa.

Four first-half tries from Postlethwaite, Chay Mullins, Sean Jansen and player of the match Alex Kendellen, and three conversions and a penalty from the boot of Sam Prendergast were enough to give Emerging Ireland victory over Western Force on Sunday afternoon.

They conclude their three-match series on Wednesday evening against the Cheetahs (kick off 6pm Irish time).

Watch Leinster v Munster in the URC on Saturday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary with Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.

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