Jamie Heaslip back to captain Leinster for Castres

Matt O’Connor gives Marty Moore and Luke Fitzgerals first european starts this season

Matt O'Connor has names his Leinster side to face Castres Olympique at the RDS tomorrow, with Jamie Heaslip returning to skipper the team from number eight.

Marty Moore and Fergus McFadden also start in what will be their first Champions Cup appearances of the campaign.

Moore joins Sean Cronin and Michael Bent in the frontrow, and his return to fitness provides a major boost with Jack McGrath suspended and Cian Healy still recovering from the serious hamstring injury he picked up early in the season.

Mike McCarthy and Devin Toner make up the engine room, while captain Heaslip is joined in the backrow by Jordi Murphy and Jack Conan, who makes his first Champions Cup start.

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Jimmy Gopperth will be marshalling the back line from 10, with Eoin Reddan at scrum half and Ian Madigan starting at inside centre.

Luke Fitzgerald joins Madigan in the midfield, while Rob Kearney is selected at fullback with brother Dave and McFadden on the wings.

Leinster: Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Luke Fitzgerald, Ian Madigan, Dave Kearney, Jimmy Gopperth, Eoin Reddan; Michael Bent, Sean Cronin, Marty Moore, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Jack Conan, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Jamie Hagan, Tadhg Furlong, Kane Douglas, Dominic Ryan, Luke McGrath, Gordon D'Arcy, Darragh Fanning

Patrick Madden

Patrick Madden

Patrick Madden is a former sports journalist with The Irish Times