King set to rule the wing for Leinster

Former Meath minor footballer and St Patrick's player Aitzol King will win his third cap for Leinster Rugby tomorrow (Saturday) when he lines out on the wing for the province's United Rugby Championship (URC) clash with Connacht at the Aviva Stadium, kick-off 5.30pm, live on RTE.

King, who played full back for the Meath minors in 2019 alongside others such as Ciaran Caulfield and Eoghan Frayne, joined Leinster Academy before the start of the 2022/23 season and in January 2023 he was included in the matchday squad for the URC game against Cardiff.

He started his rugby career with Balbriggan before joining Clontarf. The 22 year old was a member of the Ireland u-20 Grand Slam winning side.

In the 2022 u-20 Six Nations he came on in the second-half against England and scored two superb tries.

King will line out in the backs alongside All-Black Jordie Barrett who will make his third appearance for the province.

There are 13 changes in personnel to the starting XV from last Saturday's 15-7 win over ASM Clermont Auvergne, with Barrett switching to 12 and Jimmy O'Brien swapping from the wing to full-back to accommodate King.

Jack Conan captains the side from number eight with Alex Soroka, who is making his first appearance of the season, and Scott Penny joining him in the back row.

Diarmuid Mangan is one of five Academy players along with King named in the starting XV and he will partner RG Snyman in the second row.

Jack Boyle and Rabah Slimani will scrum down either side of Academy hooker Gus McCarthy in a repeat of the same front row who faced Connacht in October.

The experienced duo of Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath will steer the ship from the halfback positions, with Academy star Charlie Tector selected to partner Barrett in the centre.

With O'Brien at full-back, the Academy pair of Andrew Osborne, who scored in October's win over Connacht in Galway, and King have been given the nod on the wings.

Lee Barron, Michael Milne and Cian Healy provide the front row cover from the bench with Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird and Max Deegan offering further reinforcements in a 6-2 split.

Jamison Gibson-Park and Harry Byrne will provide a change of pace as the replacement halfbacks.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):

15. Jimmy O’Brien (87)

14. Aitzol Arenzana-King (2)

13. Charlie Tector (12)

12. Jordie Barrett (2)

11. Andrew Osborne (6)

10. Ross Byrne (171)

9. Luke McGrath (218)

1. Jack Boyle (14)

2. Gus McCarthy (8)

3. Rabah Slimani (7)

4. Diarmuid Mangan (4)

5. RG Snyman (7)

6. Alex Soroka (9)

7. Scott Penny (75)

8. Jack Conan (155) CAPTAIN

Replacements:

16. Lee Barron (20)

17. Michael Milne (46)

18. Cian Healy (283)

19. Brian Deeny (28)

20. Ryan Baird (74)

21. Jamison Gibson-Park (148)

22. Harry Byrne (71)

23. Max Deegan (121)