Irish sides name their teams for first round of United Rugby Championship fixtures

The United Rugby Championship is back this weekend and all four Irish sides are in action as the competition kicks-off.

Much has been made of the Irish sides prospects in the competition this season. Last term, Leinster and Ulster made it to the semi-finals, while Munster made it to the last eight.

But with the South African sides growing in strength, it may be a more difficult season ahead for the Irish contingent.

READ MORE: 'You'd tear your arm off for it' - Munster's Josh Wycherley happy to get Emerging Ireland call

Leinster and Munster face away day trips to Zebre and Cardiff respectively, while Ulster host Connacht at the Kingspan Stadium in the first inter-provincial clash of the season.

Here's how the Irish sides will line-up for the first game of the new season:

Leinster Starting XV:

15. Max O’Reilly 14. Rob Russell 13. Jamie Osborne 12. Charlie Ngatai 11. Dave Kearney 10. Ross Byrne 9. Luke McGrath

1. Ed Byrne 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Michael Ala’alatoa 4. Ross Molony 5. Jason Jenkins 6. Rhys Ruddock 7. Scott Penny 8. Max Deegan

Leinster Replacements: 16. John McKee 17. Michael Milne 18. Vakhtang Abdaladze 19. Brian Deeny 20. Alex Soroka 21. Nick McCarthy 22. Ciarán Frawley 23. Will Connors

Munster Starting XV :

15. Shane Daly 14. Calvin Nash 13. Chris Farrell 12. Malakai Fekitoa 11. Liam Coombes 10. Ben Healy 9. Paddy Patterson

1. Josh Wycherley 2. Niall Scannell 3. Keynan Knox 4. Jean Kleyn 5. Fineen Wycherley 6. Jack O’Donoghue 7. Alex Kendellen 8. Jack O’Sullivan.

Munster Replacements : 16. Diarmuid Barron 17. Dave Kilcoyne 18. Roman Salanoa 19. Tom Ahern 20. John Hodnett 21. Neil Cronin 22. Jack Crowley 23. Rory Scannell

Ulster Starting XV :

15. Stewart Moore 14. Rob Baloucoune 13. Luke Marshall 12. Stuart McCloskey 11. Jacob Stockdale 10. Billy Burns 9. Nathan Doak

1. Eric O’Sullivan 2. Tom Stewart 3. Marty Moore 4. Alan O’Connor 5. Sam Carter 6. Matty Rea 7. Marcus Rea 8. David McCann

Ulster Replacements: 16. John Andrew 17. Callum Reid 18. Jeff Toomaga-Allen 19. Cormac Izuchukwu 20. Jordi Murphy 21. David Shanahan 22. Angus Curtis 23. Aaron Sexton

Connacht Starting XV :

15. Tiernan O’Halloran 14. Byron Ralston 13. Tom Farrell 12. Tom Daly 11. John Porch 10. Conor Fitzgerald 9. Kieran Marmion

1. Peter Dooley 2. Dave Heffernan 3. Jack Aungier 4. Gavin Thornbury 5. Leva Fifita 6. Josh Murphy 7. Conor Oliver 8. Paul Boyle

Connacht replacements : 16. Dylan Tierney-Martin 17. Denis Buckley 18. Sam Illo 19. Niall Murray 20. Shamus Hurley-Langton 21. Caolin Blade 22. David Hawkshaw 23. Oran McNulty

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