URC: Team News for Play-Off Quarter-Finals - James Lowe returns for 100th Leinster cap

Four stacked fixtures are in store to get the knock-out action up and running, with Glasgow Warriors set to host Connacht this evening at Scotstoun Stadium. The league leading Scots have enjoyed a stellar run in to the play-offs once again, and host the gutsy Galweigians who qualified at the last possible moment a few weeks ago. Connacht's dramatic clinching of the eighth spot upon the final round of the regular season booted Ulster out of the top eight, with Stuart Lancaster's men eager to defy the odds once more.

The fixtures then continue into Saturday, as the Bulls host Munster at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Whilst it is quite the daunting task to grab the away win in South Africa, Munster's previous play-off success in the land of the Springboks will be sure to boost Clayton McMillan's injury-hit side. Elsewhere on Saturday, Cardiff head to Cape Town for a return-fixture against the Stormers, following the blue and blacks recent win over the heavily-rotated South African side at the Arms Park.

We return back up to the Northern Hemisphere for the late kick-off, as Leinster host the Lions at the Aviva Stadium, as Leo Cullen's men pursue a successful URC title defence. Whilst it was Champions Cup heart-break yet again for the Dubliners following their one-sided defeat to Bordeaux-Begles in Bilbao, an expected win over the Lions will stand the capital city side in good stead for the ir title retention hopes.

However, you should not be quick to count out the Lions, who like Cardiff, have reached the top eight for the first time in their history. Once again, we have compiled all the URC team news to get you up to speed, as we count-down to this evenings opening quarter-final contest in Glasgow.

Scott Cummings returns from injury to headline Glasgow Warriors’ push into the BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-finals, with Franco Smith naming a settled and international-heavy side for Friday night’s knockout clash with Connacht at Scotstoun (7.45pm). The British & Irish Lions second-rower comes straight back into the starting XV after a spell out since January, adding further steel to a pack already packed with Scotland internationals as Glasgow chase a home semi-final berth.

Cummings partners Alex Samuel in the second row, while the front row sees Patrick Schickerling return at loosehead alongside Johnny Matthews and Zander Fagerson. The back row is at full strength with Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge both back from rotation, joining Jack Dempsey at number eight in an all-Scotland loose-forward trio designed to bring both gain-line punch and breakdown control.

Connacht arrive with a reshaped but experienced side, led by captain Cian Prendergast from blindside flanker in a back row completed by Shamus Hurley-Langton and Paul Boyle. Up front, Dylan Tierney-Martin starts at hooker alongside Billy Bohan and Sam Illo, while Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray combine in the second row. British & Irish Lion Bundee Aki again anchors the midfield alongside John Devine.

In the half-backs, Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane steer Connacht, with Shane Jennings, Shayne Bolton and Sam Gilbert forming a consistent back three. Glasgow respond with George Horne and Dan Lancaster at half-back, Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall in midfield, and Kyle Steyn captaining an unchanged back three featuring Kyle Rowe and Josh McKay.

Both sides also welcome impact from the bench, with Glasgow including returning forwards such as Rory Sutherland and Sam Talakai, while Connacht have named Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham among their reinforcements.

GLASGOW WARRIORS XV (1–15): 1. Patrick Schickerling, 2. Johnny Matthews, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Scott Cummings, 5. Alex Samuel, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. George Horne, 10. Dan Lancaster, 11. Kyle Rowe, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 13. Stafford McDowall, 14. Kyle Steyn (c), 15. Josh McKay.

Replacements: 16. Gregor Hiddleston, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Jare Oguntibeju, 20. Euan Ferrie, 21. Sione Vailanu, 22. Jack Oliver, 23. Ollie Smith.

CONNACHT XV (1–15): 1. Billy Bohan, 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin, 3. Sam Illo, 4. Josh Murphy, 5. Darragh Murray, 6. Cian Prendergast (c), 7. Shamus Hurley-Langton, 8. Paul Boyle, 9. Ben Murphy, 10. Josh Ioane, 11. Shayne Bolton, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. John Devine, 14. Shane Jennings, 15. Sam Gilbert.

Replacements: 16. Dave Heffernan, 17. Peter Dooley, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Joe Joyce, 20. Sean O’Brien, 21. Matthew Devine, 22. Hugh Gavin, 23. Seán Naughton.

The Vodacom Bulls have made several key changes to their matchday 23 for Saturday’s quarter-final against Munster at Loftus Versfeld, recalling a host of proven performers for the knockout clash. Kurt-Lee Arendse returns on the wing, Stravino Jacobs is promoted to the starting XV, while captain Marcell Coetzee comes back from illness to lead a powerful loose trio alongside Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw in a side chasing a fifth straight semifinal appearance.

Ruan Vermaak is elevated into the second row to partner Ruan Nortje, while Handré Pollard and Embrose Papier again form the half-back axis, with Willie le Roux providing experience at fullback. Munster, meanwhile, are unchanged from their win over the Lions, with Alex Nankivell the only addition to the starting side as he joins Seán O’Brien in midfield.

Craig Casey and JJ Hanrahan continue at half-back, while Mike Haley, Andrew Smith and Shane Daly retain their back three roles. Up front, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Michael Ala’alatoa anchor the front row, with Tom Ahern and Evan O’Connell locking the scrum behind a back row of Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett and Brian Gleeson. The Bulls’ bench includes Marco van Staden in a six-two split, while Munster welcome back Fineen Wycherley among their replacements as both sides target a place in the semifinals.

BULLS XV (1–15): 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), 7. Elrigh Louw, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Embrose Papier, 10. Handré Pollard, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. Canan Moodie, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15. Willie le Roux.

Replacements: 16. Marco van Staden, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Francois Klopper, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Jeandre Rudolph, 21. Paul de Wet, 22. Stedman Gans, 23. Sergeal Petersen.

MUNSTER XV (1–15): 1. Jeremy Loughman, 2. Niall Scannell, 3. Michael Ala’alatoa, 4. Tom Ahern, 5. Evan O’Connell, 6. Jack O’Donoghue, 7. John Hodnett, 8. Brian Gleeson, 9. Craig Casey (c), 10. JJ Hanrahan, 11. Shane Daly, 12. Seán O’Brien, 13. Alex Nankivell, 14. Andrew Smith, 15. Mike Haley.

Replacements: 16. Diarmuid Barron, 17. Josh Wycherley, 18. Conor Bartley, 19. Fineen Wycherley, 20. Gavin Coombes, 21. Ben O’Donovan, 22. Dan Kelly, 23. Alex Kendellen.

Ruhan Nel returns from injury to captain the DHL Stormers in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Cardiff at DHL Stadium, with the Cape side welcoming back key experience for a high-stakes knockout clash. The Stormers secured their home playoff berth after a strong league finish and will look to lean on their proven big-game pedigree in front of a packed Cape Town crowd.

Nel slots straight back into the midfield alongside Dan du Plessis, with the pair set for their 30th start together, equalling the Stormers’ most-capped centre combination alongside De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert. Seabelo Senatla also returns from injury on the wing, adding pace and finishing threat to an otherwise settled backline. The Stormers’ pack remains unchanged, reflecting continuity and confidence in their forward platform heading into knockout rugby.

Cardiff arrive after a statement win over the Stormers earlier in the season and make four changes as they target a historic first URC semi-final. Josh McNally returns in the second row, while Rhys Barratt and Keiron Assiratti are added to the front row. Josh Adams also comes back into the back three, giving the Welsh side added attacking strike and aerial strength.

STORMERS XV (1–15): 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 3 Neethling Fouché, 4 Adré Smith, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 6 Paul de Villiers, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 8 Evan Roos, 9 Imad Khan, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Leolin Zas, 12 Dan du Plessis, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 14 Seabelo Senatla, 15 Damian Willemse.

Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.

CARDIFF RUGBY XV (1–15): 1 Rhys Barratt, 2 Liam Belcher (c), 3 Keiron Assiratti, 4 Josh McNally, 5 Rory Thornton, 6 James Botham, 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Taine Basham, 9 Ioan Lloyd, 10 Johan Mulder, 11 Josh Adams, 12 Ben Thomas, 13 Rory Jennings, 14 Jacob Beetham, 15 Cam Winnett.

Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 George Nott, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Evan Lloyd, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Tom Bowen.

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Leinster Rugby welcome the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening in a BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-final that brings together the reigning champions and the competition’s newest playoff debutants. Leo Cullen’s side arrive with continuity and firepower across the park, while the Lions make history in their first-ever knockout fixture since joining the competition in 2021.

Caelan Doris captains Leinster from number eight, with the Ireland back-rower leading a pack featuring Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in a formidable front row. Joe McCarthy and James Ryan continue their established second-row partnership, while Max Deegan comes into the back row alongside Scott Penny and Doris, giving Leinster balance between lineout power and breakdown work.

In the backs, Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast form the half-back pairing, with Prendergast steering the attack from fly-half. Jamie Osborne is joined by Rieko Ioane in midfield, while Jimmy O’Brien and James Lowe return on the wings, the latter marking his 100th Leinster appearance. Hugo Keenan completes the back three at full-back in a settled and dangerous unit.

The Lions arrive with a settled squad of their own, boosted by the returns of captain Francke Horn and centre Henco van Wyk, both cleared to play after late fitness tests. Nico Steyn comes in at scrum-half for the injured Morne van den Berg, while Erich Cronje returns on the wing to add finishing threat out wide. Quan Horn continues at full-back, forming part of a back three designed to counter Leinster’s kicking and aerial game.

In midfield, Van Wyk partners Richard Kriel, with Chris Smith directing play at fly-half. Up front, the Lions lean on Reinhard Nothnagel and Darrien Landsberg in the engine room, with Horn leading from number eight alongside Siba Mahashe and Batho Hlekani in a mobile loose trio built to disrupt at contact and compete physically at the breakdown.

LEINSTER XV (1–15): 1. Andrew Porter , 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan , 6. Max Deegan, 7. Scott Penny , 8. Caelan Doris (c), 9. Luke McGrath, 10. Sam Prendergast, 11. James Lowe , 12. Jamie Osborne, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Jimmy O’Brien, 15. Hugo Keenan

Replacements: 16. Gus McCarthy, 17. Alex Usanov, 18. Thomas Clarkson, 19. Diarmuid Mangan, 20. Josh van der Flier, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Harry Byrne, 23. Robbie Henshaw

FIDELITY SECUREDRIVE LIONS XV (1–15): 1. SJ Kotze, 2. PJ Botha, 3. Sebastian Lombard, 4. Reinhard Nothnagel, 5. Darrien Landsberg, 6. Siba Mahashe, 7. Batho Hlekani, 8. Francke Horn (c), 9. Nico Steyn, 10. Chris Smith, 11. Erich Cronje, 12. Henco van Wyk, 13. Richard Kriel, 14. Angelo Davids, 15. Quan Horn

Replacements: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Eddie Davids, 18. RF Schoeman, 19. Ruan Delport, 20. Siba Qoma, 21. JC Pretorius, 22. Rynhard Jonker, 23. Haashim Pead