Debuts, returns & tributes – teams named for European openers

Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster name their matchday squads for Saturday's opening Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup games. Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connacht all open their European campaigns on a busy Saturday The Irish provinces begin their respective European campaigns on Saturday with games against French, Italian and English opposition. In the Investec Champions Cup, last year's beaten finalists Leinster travel to France to face Clermont Auvergne (15:15 BST), before Connacht host Saracens (17:30) and Munster welcome Racing 92 to Cork (20:00). Ulster take on Zebre in the Challenge Cup (15:15) as Richie Murphy's side begin their quest to avenge last season's loss to Montpellier in the final. Joey Carbery is set for his first Leinster game in eight years Joey Carbery is set to make his first Leinster appearance in eight years as head coach Leo Cullen names a strong team to take on Clermont at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

Having departed in 2018, fly-half Carbery returned to Leinster in the summer following spells at Munster and Bordeaux. The 30-year-old Ireland international is named on the bench with Sam Prendergast given the nod at 10. A strong starting XV features 14 Ireland internationals, with Dan Sheehan again captaining the side in Caelan Doris' absence. Sheehan is joined by Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong in the front row with Joe McCarthy