Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton will captain Leinster in their opening United Rugby Championship match with the Bulls at the Aviva Stadium.

Munster’s record try scorer Simon Zebo is named to start in Munster’s opener with the Sharks after returning to the province.

Former Ulster favourite Ruan Pienaar starts for the Sharks in Limerick.

Sexton is one of a number of internationals to be named in Leinster’s starting team after missing out on the British and Irish Lions squad and subsequently being rested for Ireland’s summer matches with the USA and Japan.

Prop Andrew Porter, who missed the Lions tour with a foot injury, comes into Leo Cullen’s side while Garry Ringrose has recovered from a foot injury.

Leinster, who defeated Munster in the Pro14 decider in March, have plenty of international experience in their back line with Luke McGrath partnering Sexton at half-back while wingers James Lowe and Hugo Keenan also start in the opening game, which kicks off at 17:15 BST.

Ireland forwards Porter, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris bolster a powerful pack for the province.

The Bulls lost the Rainbow Cup final to Benetton in their first foray into the then Pro14 – the former name for the rebranded URC – and are led by Springbok forward Coetzee, who was a fan favourite at Ulster’s Kingspan Stadium prior to his departure to the South African team in April.

Coetzee will be joined in the back row by the powerful Arno Botha and Elrigh Louw, while veteran former Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis will make his Bulls debut in the tournament.

Leinster: Keenan; O’Loughlin; Ringrose, Frawley; Lowe; Sexton (capt), McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Ala’alatoa, Molony, Ryan, Ruddock, van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Tracy, E Byrne, Healy, Baird, Deegan, Gibson Park, R Byrne, Osborne.

Bulls: Kriel; Hendricks; Mapoe, Vorster, Tambwe; Goosen, Burger; Steenekamp, B Du Plessis, M Smith, Steenkamp, Nortje, Coetzee (capt), Botha, Louw.

Replacements: Van Zyl, Matanzima, Van Rooyen, Swanepoel, J Du Plessis, Johannes, C Smith, Gans.

Munster are boosted by the return of Ireland international Zebo and South African World Cup winner Snyman, who is named as a replacement and is set to make his second appearance for the province after he sustained a long-term knee injury in the early stages of last season.

Johann van Graan has named eight Ireland internationals in his starting team, including half-back duo Craig Casey and Joey Carbery.

Peter O’Mahony captains the side in the back row alongside Jack O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes, who was Munster Player of the Year for the previous campaign.

Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and John Ryan pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.

Former Ulster scrum-half Pienaar, on loan from the Cheetahs, marks his return to the Sharks after an 11 year absence from the team where his senior career began.

Munster: Haley; Conway, Goggin, R Scannell, Zebo; Carbery, Casey; Kilcoyne, N Scannell, Ryan; Kleyn, Wycherley; O’Mahony (capt), O’Donoghue, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Loughman, Knox, Snyman, Ahern, Osborne, Healy, Cloete.

Sharks: Bosch, Penxe; Kok, Louw; Abrahams; Chamberlain; Pienaar; Mona, van Vuuren, du Toit; Roets, Grobler; Richardson ,Venter, Buthelezi (capt).

United Rugby Championship Players to Watch 2021-22

New season, new competition. The Pro 14 has rebranded as the United Rugby Championship and expanded to 16 teams, with four South African franchises joining – Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers.

We’ve highlighted players to watch at each of the URC clubs – and don’t miss the in-depth team guides in Rugby World’s start-of-season issue 2021-22.

United Rugby Championship Players to Watch 2021-22

Benetton

Rhyno Smith brings experience and versatility to a back-line that can look laboured. He could play at full-back or on the wing, or even as an auxiliary fly-half.

Looking home-grown, Riccardo Favretto offers real dynamism across the back five of the scrum.

Bulls

Marcell Coetzee headlines a robust pack, but don’t be surprised if blindside Elrigh Louw makes a lasting impression. Duane Vermeulen has already tipped the fearless flanker to become a Springbok sooner rather than later.

Cardiff

Ben Thomas, who plays ten, 12 and 15, made his Wales debut against Canada in July. Dai Young turned inexperienced players into internationals in his first stint at the club: think Sam Warburton, Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny… Now to do the same again.

Connacht

They’ve brought in Mack Hansen from the Brumbies at full-back and Leva Fifita, the Tonga lock, but the most intriguing recruit is Ireland U20 prop Sam Illo.

The 6ft 1in, 18st tighthead was terrific in the U20 Six Nations. It will be fascinating to see what progress he makes out west.

Dragons

Ben Carter, 20, has been tipped by Wayne Pivac as a potential successor to Alun Wyn Jones. He won his first cap against Canada this summer, has led Wales at age-group level and played in 20 Dragons games last season – on his debut against Glasgow he made 31 tackles!

He will benefit from having the knowhow of Rowlands alongside.

Edinburgh

You have to be seriously good to merit a mention in the context of the Edinburgh back row, but all the signs are that Ben Muncaster will be right in the conversation.

One of the few players to impress in Scotland’s disastrous U20 Six Nations, the No 8 showed up well in the Rainbow Cup and should get more opportunities this year.

Glasgow

Josh McKay arrives from the Crusaders with a reputation that will immediately endear him to a Scotstoun crowd desperate for a quicksilver full-back to latch onto since Stuart Hogg left town.

A world champion with New Zealand U20, he will also be on tap year-round – he is not Scotland-qualified.

Leinster

Rónan Kelleher is only 23 but it feels like the hooker has been on the scene for ages.

He’s a fantastic footballer; he scored four tries against the USA in July. The Lions called him up and he’ll have learnt a lot. This could be a big season for him.

Lions

With Elton Jantjies moving to Japan, Jordan Hendrikse, 20, should have an extended opportunity to develop at fly-half.

The younger brother of new Bok scrum-half Jaden, he has troubled South African defences.

Munster

Still only 23, Gavin Coombes was voted the province’s Player of the Season and his try-scoring record is off the scale.

Ospreys

Not a new signing but Gareth Anscombe must feel like a new squad member now he’s finally got back on the pitch after suffering a serious knee injury playing for Wales in 2019.

Scarlets 

Corey Baldwin, who plays wing or centre, is back at Scarlets after a tough season at Exeter, where he played just four matches.

Wayne Pivac was a fan of Baldwin when he was in charge at Scarlets; the 22-year-old could attract his attention again with his pace and physicality.

Sharks

Aphelele Fassi scored with his first touch on his Test debut against Georgia. The full-back is more than a finisher, though; his passing and kicking skills should enhance the Sharks’ approach.

Stormers

No 8 Evan Roos was one of the top performers in the Currie Cup, and will be tasked with providing further impetus at the collisions and breakdowns in the URC.

Ulster

James Hume really announced himself last term.

The centre not only put in a steady stream of excellent performances but won his first Ireland cap. He’s a lovely footballer with plenty of steel. Hume could fly this season.

Zebre

Jacopo Trulla, 21, was elevated to the national team quickly by Franco Smith. It didn’t do the back-three man any favours, his greenness ruthlessly exposed. But a season of solid club rugby could do wonders for his confidence and composure.

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