URC teams: Frawley's Leinster return, Connacht make five changes

Ciarán Frawley returns to the Leinster lineup for the first time since featuring for Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations while Ed Byrne will make his 100th appearance against Zebre Parma in their BKT URC clash in Italy on Saturday night (live on RTÉ2).

Prop Byrne (30) made his Leinster debut in February 2014, coincidentally coming on as a sub in Parma against Zebre. The Carlow native has scored 13 tries for the province, and was part of the teams that won the Guinness PRO14 in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Academy duo Andrew Osborne and Diarmuid Mangan are also set to make their debuts

Osborne featured in the recent friendlies against Saracens and Bath, and the Naas RFC graduate was part of Ireland U20s Grand Slam-winning team last year. He is the younger brother of Leinster back Jamie.

The duo will become the third set of brothers to play together for Leinster this season, following in the footsteps of Ross and Harry Byrne, and Joe and Paddy McCarthy.

Mangan is a product of Newbridge College, and the Kildare native played with Osborne in last year's Ireland U-20 Six Nations Grand Slam team that also reached the U-20 Rugby World Cup Final.

Frawley is joined in the back three by Rob Russell and the debutant Osborne.

In the centre, Liam Turner and Jamie Osborne partner together, while Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath partner once more at half-back.

Centurion Byrne is joined in the front row by hooker Lee Barron and Thomas Clarkson.

In the second row, Ross Molony and Jason Jenkins join forces, while Will Connors, captain Scott Penny and Max Deegan complete the pack.

Among the replacements, Mangan is joined by fellow Academy players Fintan Gunne and Henry McErlean.

Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Rob Russell, Liam Turner, Jamie Osborne, Andrew Osborne;