Captain Fardy.

Leo Cullen has named the Leinster Rugby squad to face Newcastle Falcons this Friday night at Energia Park (KO 7pm) in the province’s final Bank of Ireland Pre-season Friendly ahead of the start of the new season.

There are 10 changes to the starting XV from last week’s 17-18 win over US Montauban at Stade Sapiac. Scott Fardy comes into captain the side, alongside Mick Kearney in the second row.

Josh Murphy is retained at blindside flanker in the back row with Will Connors coming in for Rhys Ruddock and Caelan Doris starting at number 8. Michael Bent starts at tighthead prop once again and will be joined in the front row by Ed Byrne and James Tracy.

The midfield partnership of Rory O’Loughlin and Joe Tomane is retained from the Montauban match. The game in France was Tomane’s first appearance in Leinster colours since his arrival from Montpellier in the summer. Friday night’s game will mark his first in front of the home support.

Leinster’s top try scorer from last season, Barry Daly is the other man retained in the backline from last week’s game in France. Dave Kearney, who returned to action last week against Montauban following an injury in March, comes in to start at full-back and Hugo Keenan is named on the right wing to complete the back three.

A new halfback partnership of Jamison Gibson-Park and Ciarán Frawley has been selected to face Newcastle, with an extended list of 11 replacements named for the game at Energia Park.

Leinster Rugby

15. Dave Kearney
14. Hugo Keenan
13. Rory O’Loughlin
12. Joe Tomane
11. Barry Daly
10. Ciarán Frawley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Ed Byrne
2. James Tracy
3. Michael Bent
4. Scott Fardy CAPTAIN
5. Mick Kearney
6. Josh Murphy
7. Will Connors
8. Caelan Doris

Replacements

Peter Dooley
Bryan Byrne
Vakh Abdaladze
Ross Molony
Ian Nagle
Max Deegan
Luke McGrath
Jimmy O’Brien
James Lowe
Tom Daly
Adam Byrne