British & Irish Lions

Image source, Inpho

Lock Tadhg Beirne says taking on Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, while wearing the colours of the British and Irish Lions, will be another "special day" for the squad's Ireland contingent.

The 33-year-old is one of six Irish players who will be on show when the 2025 Lions squad takes the field for the first time against the Pumas on Friday (20:00 BST).

Beirne, Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham all start, while Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher and Mack Hansen have been named among Andy Farrell's replacements for what is the only game before the squad depart for their three-Test tour of Australia.

"For us Irish players it's extra special and means a lot to us," said Munster's Beirne.

"[Playing] where we've had a lot of special days, and then to add playing a game for the Lions to that long list of good days here, is pretty special."

With 14 first-timers among the Lions side, for Beirne and his usual Ireland team-mates the week has felt both familiar and very different.

"The lead-up to the game is going to feel very similar, doing all the same things that we would do in Irish camp, either going to the same coffee places or preparing for the game the same way.

"A lot of it is similar but different at the same time, because you're not used to being around the same players that you would be used to, and it makes it a lot more enjoyable."

Beirne was part of the Ireland side that just edged Argentina 22-19 at the same venue in November.

"They really put it to us, and we probably just got over the line in the end," he added.

"It'll be no different come Friday, it'll be their World Cup final and that's the way we're going to treat it. It's a huge opportunity for us to set the tone for the tour."

Image source, Getty Images

United Rugby Championship final - Leinster v Bulls

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 June Kick-off: 17:00 BST

Coverage: Live text coverage on BBC Sport website & app

British and Irish Lions trio Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Furlong and Hugo Keenan will play no part in Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls on Saturday.

Gibson-Park was named to start but was ruled out through injury on Saturday morning and has been replaced by Luke McGrath, with academy scrum-half Fintan Gunne a late call-up to the replacements.

Both tight-head prop Furlong and full-back Keenan have been dealing with calf complaints, although fellow Lions Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier are fit to start against the visiting South Africans.

The fixture in Croke Park is the last game before Andy Farrell's full party for the tour of Australia assemble and will be played six days before the first game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June.

Furlong, 32, has struggled with injuries all season, last featuring in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May and made just nine appearances in 2024-25 for his province and Ireland.

Keenan, 29, did start Leinster's URC quarter-final against Scarlets on 31 May but missed out against Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals a week later.

Flanker Van der Flier, who had a hamstring injury, also last featured against the Scarlets, while Garry Ringrose will be making his first appearance since 10 May against Zebre after a calf issue.

The inclusion of the pair and McGrath are the three changes made by Leo Cullen after the semi-final victory against the Warriors last week, meaning that nine Lions will be on show in Dublin.

James Lowe, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and Jack Conan all also start while Ronan Kelleher is on the bench.

The Bulls make one change from their semi-final victory over Sharks with Marco van Staden coming in at flanker to replace the injured Cameron Hanekom and former Ulster back-row Marcell Coetzee switching from blind-side to number eight.

Leinster are aiming for a ninth URC victory but a first since 2021, while the Bulls are seeking a first title having been beaten in two finals in their four seasons in the competition.

Line-ups

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Barrett, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan (captain)

Replacements: Kelleher, Boyle, Slimani, Snyman, Deegan, Gunne, R Byrne, Osborne.

Bulls: Le Roux; Moodie, Kriel, Vorster, De Klerk; Goosen, Papier; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Wiese, Van Heerden, Van Staden, Nortje (captain), Coetzee.

Replacements: Van der Merwe, Tshakweni, Smith, Kiersten, Carr, Burger, Johannes, Williams.

Image source, Getty Images

British and Irish Lions squad members Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Josh van der Flier are injury doubts for Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls.

Furlong, Ringrose and Keenan are nursing calf injuries while Van der Flier's hamstring issue will be assessed before Saturday's game against the South African side at Croke Park, Dublin (17:00 BST).

Tight-head prop Furlong has endured an injury-plagued season and last played in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May.

The 32-year-old has managed just eight appearances for Leinster while he missed all but one of Ireland's Six Nations matches.

Centre Ringrose has missed the play-offs since coming off injured against Zebre on 10 May, while Van der Flier sustained his hamstring problem in the URC quarter-final win over Scarlets.

Fit-again back Jordan Larmour is available to face the Bulls after being part of the extended matchday squad in last weekend's semi-final win over Glasgow, while wing Tommy O'Brien came through that game with no issues after returning from a foot injury.