Six Irish players named to United Rugby Championship Elite XV

Six Irish players have been included on the BKT United Rugby Championship's Elite XV for the 2022/23 season.

Top-seeds Leinster led the way with three players included in the team of the season, with two for Connacht and one for Munster in a selection that was voted for by the media.

Ross Byrne is the only player to make the team two seasons in a row and is selected at out-half, while Dan Sheehan pipped the league's record scorer Tom Stewart of Ulster to the hooker spot.

Scott Penny is the third Leinster player to make the selection, named in the back row after scoring five tries in 11 games in the regular season.

Niall Murray is one of two Connacht players to be voted into the side, having led the league for lineout steals with 16, while Ireland international prop Finlay Bealham made the cut at tighthead prop with two tries in 11 starts.

Gavin Coombes is the sole Munster player voted to the XV off the back of another prolific season in which the Corkman scored 10 tries in his 13 regular season games.

In total, 11 of the 16 teams are represented in the team, with Ulster, Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and the Lions not represented.

BKT United Rugby Championship Elite XV: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls); Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Daniel du Plessis (DHL Stormers), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma); Ross Byrne (Leinster), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks); Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); Niall Murray (Connacht), Federico Ruzza (Benetton); Vaea Fifita (Scarlets), Scott Penny (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster)

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