Five Irish players named in URC Dream Team

Leinster, Ulster and Munster are all represented on the United Rugby Championship's Dream Team for the 2021/22 season.

Leinster's Ross Byrne, Ulster pair James Hume and Nick Timoney, and Munster's Jean Kleyn and Craig Casey have been included in the team which was voted for by a media panel.

Byrne is named at out-half, with the Leinster 10 fifth in the season's scoring charts on 121 points, having played 15 games.

The 26-year-old is the only Leinster played named in the team, despite their dominance this season, a reflection of the squad rotation in Leo Cullen's side.

Hume, who starred in Ulster's quarter-final win against Munster last week is included at outside centre, while Timoney, who has made more tackles that any other players this season, is picked in the back row.

Kleyn is picked in the second row after scoring three tries in his 15 games for Johann van Graan's side in the campaign, while Casey gets the nod at scrum-half.

The Dream Team is exclusively made up of Irish and South African sides, with the Stormers contributing five players, with former Ulster back row Marcell Coetzee one of three Bulls voted in, as well as two for the Sharks.

URC Dream Team: Warrick Gelant (Stormers); Seabelo Senatla (Stormers), James Hume (Ulster), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Leolin Zas (Stormers); Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Ox Nche (Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Bulls), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Evan Roos (Stormers)