Irish Rugby

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Ulster back row James McNabney is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The 22-year-old had been named in the Ireland squad as a training panellist, but will now miss their summer tour and is likely to a considerable portion of next season's United Rugby Championship campaign with Ulster.

He has been replaced in interim head coach Paul O'Connell's squad by uncapped Munster back row Brian Gleeson.

His fellow uncapped Munster team-mates Diarmuid Kilgallen and Evan O'Connell have also been called up as a training panellists.

Kilgallen comes in as cover as wing Calvin Nash is managing an ankle injury.

Ireland face Georgia and Portugal in two Tests on 5 and 12 July.

Ireland squad

Forwards: Tom Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Max Deegan (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Alex Kendellen (Munster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster).

Backs: Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Connacht), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Training panellists: Brian Gleeson (Munster) Diarmuid Kilgallen (Munster), Evan O'Connell (Munster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).

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Lock Tadhg Beirne says taking on Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, while wearing the colours of the British and Irish Lions, will be another "special day" for the squad's Ireland contingent.

The 33-year-old is one of six Irish players who will be on show when the 2025 Lions squad takes the field for the first time against the Pumas on Friday (20:00 BST).

Beirne, Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham all start, while Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher and Mack Hansen have been named among Andy Farrell's replacements for what is the only game before the squad depart for their three-Test tour of Australia.

"For us Irish players it's extra special and means a lot to us," said Munster's Beirne.

"[Playing] where we've had a lot of special days, and then to add playing a game for the Lions to that long list of good days here, is pretty special."

With 14 first-timers among the Lions side, for Beirne and his usual Ireland team-mates the week has felt both familiar and very different.

"The lead-up to the game is going to feel very similar, doing all the same things that we would do in Irish camp, either going to the same coffee places or preparing for the game the same way.

"A lot of it is similar but different at the same time, because you're not used to being around the same players that you would be used to, and it makes it a lot more enjoyable."

Beirne was part of the Ireland side that just edged Argentina 22-19 at the same venue in November.

"They really put it to us, and we probably just got over the line in the end," he added.

"It'll be no different come Friday, it'll be their World Cup final and that's the way we're going to treat it. It's a huge opportunity for us to set the tone for the tour."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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Johnny Sexton told Ireland fly-halves Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley to "delete social media" in order to guard themselves from online commentary during the early stages of their careers.

Following Sexton's retirement, there has been intense debate over whether Leinster fly-half Prendergast or Munster's Crowley should become his long-term successor.

Sexton says both players have "the world at their feet", but the 39-year-old is dismayed by how their competitive rivalry has highlighted the "split" between Leinster and Munster fans.

The former Ireland and Leinster captain experienced something similar at the start of his Test career when he battled Munster great Ronan O'Gara for the shirt.

"One thing I disagree with is the narrative around it, in terms of there's obviously a split in the country in terms of Munster and Leinster," said Sexton, who has worked with Prendergast and Crowley since November in his role as Ireland kicking coach.

"I've been there before, I've been in that situation. With social getting bigger and bigger, it's tough on them at times. We should be supporting whoever is picked and getting fully behind them.

"I told them to delete social media. I don't know [if they did]."

Sexton, who explained his rivalry with O'Gara during the formative stages of his Test career was "tough", said he is not sure if Prendergast or Crowley have been affected by the online discourse.

"Sometimes you can get a sense, but I'm not sure. All you can do is try to advise in terms of what worked for me," added the five-time Six Nations winner.

"I was exposed to it a little bit at the very start and it's tough, because as a kid all you want to do is play for Ireland and then you do it and suddenly you're getting criticised - not all the time, but sometimes - and you're like, 'wow, this is tougher than I thought it'd be', but it builds a resilience.

"You find out who are your mates, who you can trust and those you can lean on. Going forward, they'll be stronger for it."

While Sexton feels Prendergast and Crowley deserve time to prove their worth, he believes they are already ahead of where he was at the same stage of his career.

"The work ethic they have, they're humble guys," said Sexton, who will continue to work with Ireland's fly-halves in a full-time capacity after he completes his British and Irish Lions coaching duties this summer.

"They want to learn and practise hard and that's the thing you look at the most as a coach; the attitude and how humble they are because ultimately that's what will stand to them going forward."

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Leinster captain Jack Conan says winning the United Rugby Championship helped his side "silence a few critics".

Leo Cullen's team won the competition for the first time since 2021 - and ninth time overall - after a comfortable 32-7 victory against the Bulls at Croke Park.

And Conan was pleased with the success after the Irish side's recent shortcomings in European deciders.

"Definitely feeling a bit of relief, just so delighted for everyone who has put in so much work the last few years," he told TG4.

"I'm glad we showed up and performed and were able to silence a few critics."

Conan, who will now link up with the British and Irish Lions for their summer tour of Australia, revelled in winning the trophy at the GAA headquarters and in front of a crowd as Leinster's last triumph in the competition four years ago was behind closed doors due to Covid.

"It's incredibly special and not something you dream of growing up or even in the last few years it's been a while since we played here," he added in the post-match press conference.

Leinster led 19-0 at half-time and Conan believes the strong defensive effort to shut out South African visitors Bulls after racing into the lead helped his side over the line in the second half.

"To hold them out at half-time, credit to the lads for putting their heads in where you wouldn't put a shovel, the mental lift that gave us was huge," he admitted.

"Before the game we spoke about taking it moment by moment and not getting ahead of ourselves. We knew it was going to be unbelievably physical and there was no point focusing on the bigger picture, but we dealt really with how direct they were.

"I'm delighted for the lads that they have performed."

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United Rugby Championship final - Leinster v Bulls

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 June Kick-off: 17:00 BST

Coverage: Live text coverage on BBC Sport website & app

British and Irish Lions trio Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Furlong and Hugo Keenan will play no part in Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls on Saturday.

Gibson-Park was named to start but was ruled out through injury on Saturday morning and has been replaced by Luke McGrath, with academy scrum-half Fintan Gunne a late call-up to the replacements.

Both tight-head prop Furlong and full-back Keenan have been dealing with calf complaints, although fellow Lions Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier are fit to start against the visiting South Africans.

The fixture in Croke Park is the last game before Andy Farrell's full party for the tour of Australia assemble and will be played six days before the first game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June.

Furlong, 32, has struggled with injuries all season, last featuring in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May and made just nine appearances in 2024-25 for his province and Ireland.

Keenan, 29, did start Leinster's URC quarter-final against Scarlets on 31 May but missed out against Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals a week later.

Flanker Van der Flier, who had a hamstring injury, also last featured against the Scarlets, while Garry Ringrose will be making his first appearance since 10 May against Zebre after a calf issue.

The inclusion of the pair and McGrath are the three changes made by Leo Cullen after the semi-final victory against the Warriors last week, meaning that nine Lions will be on show in Dublin.

James Lowe, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and Jack Conan all also start while Ronan Kelleher is on the bench.

The Bulls make one change from their semi-final victory over Sharks with Marco van Staden coming in at flanker to replace the injured Cameron Hanekom and former Ulster back-row Marcell Coetzee switching from blind-side to number eight.

Leinster are aiming for a ninth URC victory but a first since 2021, while the Bulls are seeking a first title having been beaten in two finals in their four seasons in the competition.

Line-ups

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Barrett, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan (captain)

Replacements: Kelleher, Boyle, Slimani, Snyman, Deegan, Gunne, R Byrne, Osborne.

Bulls: Le Roux; Moodie, Kriel, Vorster, De Klerk; Goosen, Papier; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Wiese, Van Heerden, Van Staden, Nortje (captain), Coetzee.

Replacements: Van der Merwe, Tshakweni, Smith, Kiersten, Carr, Burger, Johannes, Williams.

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British and Irish Lions squad members Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Josh van der Flier are injury doubts for Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls.

Furlong, Ringrose and Keenan are nursing calf injuries while Van der Flier's hamstring issue will be assessed before Saturday's game against the South African side at Croke Park, Dublin (17:00 BST).

Tight-head prop Furlong has endured an injury-plagued season and last played in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May.

The 32-year-old has managed just eight appearances for Leinster while he missed all but one of Ireland's Six Nations matches.

Centre Ringrose has missed the play-offs since coming off injured against Zebre on 10 May, while Van der Flier sustained his hamstring problem in the URC quarter-final win over Scarlets.

Fit-again back Jordan Larmour is available to face the Bulls after being part of the extended matchday squad in last weekend's semi-final win over Glasgow, while wing Tommy O'Brien came through that game with no issues after returning from a foot injury.