Gordon D’Arcy has been named in the 27-man Leinster squad from which their team to face Llanelli Scarlets will be selected.Brian O’Driscoll has also been named in the squad alongside fellow Ireland stars Girvan Dempsey, Denis Hickie, Guy Easterby, Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne, Malcolm O’Kelly and Eric Miller. Keith Gleeson is again included after coming through 80 minutes of action in the 26-21 win over Connacht last weekend.
Dwayne Peel and Simon Easterby will start for Scarlets on the bench. Coach Paul Moriarty said that while both had returned to Stradey this week eager to get back into regional action, the coaches had taken the decision not to start them. Llandovery centre, and former Bradford Bulls and Wales Rugby League player, Steve Thomas will be looking to make his Scarlets debut. He starts on the bench in the absence of Salesi FInau with a foot injury.
Leinster Forwards: Reggie Corrigan, Ricky Nebbett, John Lyne, Shane Byrne, David Blaney, Leo Cullen, Malcolm O’Kelly, Ben Gissing, Eric Miller, Shane Jennings, Keith Gleeson, Victor Costello, Des Dillon, Ciaran Potts, Aidan McCullen
Backs: Brian O’Riordan, Brian O’Meara, Guy Easterby, David Holwell, Denis Hickie, Gary Brown, Gordon D’Arcy, David Quinlan, Kieran Lewis, Brian O’Driscoll, Girvan Dempsey, Felipe Contepomi
Scarlets Team: Barry Davies, Garan Evans,  Matthew Watkins, Mark Taylor, Tal Selley, Gareth Bowen, Mike Phillips, Phil John, Robin McBryde, John Davies, Vernon Cooper (capt), Adam Jones, Chris Wyatt, Gavin Thomas, Andy Powell
Replacements: David Maddocks, Aled Gravelle, Bryn Griffiths, Jonathan Mills, Simon Easterby, Dwayne Peel, Steve Thomas
DRAGONS v MUNSTER
At Rodney Parade, 7.05pm live on BBC Wales
Referee: Rob Dickson (SRU)
Newport Gwent Dragons have made nine changes to the team that lost to the Ospreys last Friday night. Wales internationals Kevin Morgan, Ceri Sweeney and Michael Owen are named in the starting XV. Newport’s Gareth Chapman comes in for the injured Gareth Wyatt; Percy Montgomery replaces the injured Nathan Brew whilst. James Ireland comes in for Gareth Baber. There is a complete change in the front row with Adam Black, Steve Jones and Rhys Thomas replacing Rod Snow, James Richards and Chris Anthony who all move to the bench. Luke Charteris replaces Peter Sidoli. Internationals Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, Marcus Horan, Frank Sheahan and Donncha O’Callaghan return to the Munster side for the game against The Dragons.
Dragons Team: 15. Kevin Morgan, 14. Gareth Chapman, 13. Percy Montgomery, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 11. Ben Breeze, 10. Ceri Sweeney, 9. James Ireland, 1. Adam Black, 2. Steve Jones, 3. Rhys Thomas, 4. Ian Gough, 5. Luke Charteris, 6. Jamie Ringer, 7. Jason Forster (c), 8. Michael Owen
Replacements: 16. James Richards, 17. Rod Snow, 18. Chris Anthony, 19. Peter Sidoli, 20. Rhys Oakley, 21. Jonathan Bryant, 22. Daniel GriffithsMunster
Munster: 15. Shaun Payne, 14. John Kelly, 13. Mike Mullins, 12. Jason Holland, 11. Anthony Horgan, 10. Ronan O’Gara, 9. Peter Stringer, 1. Marcus Horan, 2. Frank Sheahan, 3. Frank Roche, 4. Donncha O’Callaghan, 5. Trevor Hogan, 6. Alan Quinlan, 7. David Wallace, 8. Jim Williams
Replacements: 16. James Blaney, 17. Eugene McGovern, 18. Tom Bowman, 19. Stephen Keogh, 20. Frank Murphy, 21. Paul Burke, 22. Paul Devlin
GLASGOW RUGBY v BLUES
At Hughenden, 7.30pm
Referee: Alistair McKay (IRFU)
Scottish internationals Sean Lamont and Andy Craig, return to Glasgow’s XV for the match against Cardiff Blues. Jon Petrie, resumes as No.8 and captain, and Lamont’s young brother, Rory, makes his first Glasgow appearance since his try-scoring international debut against Wales. Four of their Twickenham-duty colleagues, including Gordon Bulloch, Scotland’s captain, are on the bench for Glasgow. All told, eight changes, one positional, have been made in the team who lost to Ulster in Belfast three weeks ago.
Director of coaching David Young utilises six of Cardiff’s returning Grand Slam stars in his starting line-up. In the pack Gethin Jenkins switches to tight-head prop and John Yapp wears the number 1 shirt. In the back row both skipper Martyn Williams and the Blues’ latest cap Robin Sowden-Taylor play as flankers. Robert Sidoli is the fifth member of the Grand Slam squad in the Blues’ pack. Behind the scrum Tom Shanklin plays at outside centre.
Glasgow: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Andy Craig, 13 Graeme Morrison, 12 Scott Barrow, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Calvin Howarth, 9 Sam Pinder, 1 Kevin Tkachuk, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Euan Murray, 4 Joe Beardshaw, 5 Dan Turner, 6 Steve Swindall, 8 Jon Petrie (captain), 7 Andrew Wilson
Replacements: 16 Gordon Bulloch, 17 Ben Prescott, 18 Andrew Hall, 19 Paul Dearlove, 20 Graeme Beveridge, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Andrew Henderson
Blues team: 15 Nick Macleod; 14 Dean Dewdney, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Tristan Davies, 11 Craig Morgan; 10 Nick Robinson, 9 Ryan Powell; 1 JohnYapp, 2 Rhys Thomas, 3 Gethin Jenkins, 4 Craig Quinnell, 5 Robert Sidoli, 6 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 7 Martyn Williams (Captain), 8 Kort Schubert
Replacements: 16 Ben Evans, 17 Gareth Williams, 18 Nathan Budgett, 19 Nathan Thomas, 20 Maama Molitika, 21 Nick Walne, 22 Jonny Vaughton
