Can the champions complete a three-peat in Leo Cullen’s final year at the helm?
Rumors of Leinster’s decline may have been slightly exaggerated. Despite a slow start to last season’s United Rugby Championship, the Irish side finished with their second successive title. Of course, that fifth Champions Cup win (and first since 2018) remains elusive, but you wouldn’t bet on Leinster being in the URC mix again next June – especially as the players will be keen to give outgoing head coach Leo Cullen a send-off to remember.
Below, we assess the chances of the reigning champions to complete the memorable treble. The world of rugby will also feature season previews for everyone United Rugby Championship and Gallagher PREM sides from now until the big kick-off on Friday 25th September.
Leinster’s talking points
The reigning champions are hoping to make it three titles in a row in Leo Cullen’s final season as head coach. He has won six league titles – the last two big wins over the Bulls – but has lost five Champions Cup finals since tasting glory against Racing in 2018.
More silverware is in high demand and they will be heavily reliant on that much-vaunted Leinster academy to fill the gaps. In Luke McGrath, Ciaran Frawley, James Lowe and Will Connors, lost 540 appearances, valuable knowledge and experience. In addition, foreign signatures River Ioane and Rabah Slimani were not replaced and RG Snyman can only return at the end of the year.
On the plus side, they are back at the RDS (Laya Arena), so the smaller home games should be livelier. The bigger matches at the Aviva Stadium and Croke Park will be less frequent and thus feel more special.
A key player
As with Ireland, it is difficult to look past Jamison Gibson-Park. The Kiwi-born scrum-half is the heart of Leinster’s attack, a pace-setter and a player who gets stuck in when defensive sets are called for.
With McGrath, the veteran back-up, leaving for Perpignan, Fintan Gunne and Cormac Foley must now step up.
It’s shaping up to be a big season for fly-half Sam Prendergast with the World Cup just a year away (Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
One to watch
This is a massive season for Sam Prendergast, who last campaign lost and then regained the Leinster and Ireland jerseys with the number 10. Man of the match in the URC final, a total rally World Cup the winner Handré Pollardhis footwork and short passing are excellent; his defense less so. Joey Carbery will challenge him for the number ten shirt.
Trainer box
By the time Cullen steps down at the end of the season, it will be 32 years since he first represented Leinster as a schoolboy. For his last campaign in the main seat, he will have support Jacques Nienaber (senior coach), Tyler Bleyendaal (attack), Sean O’Brien (contact) and Robin McBryde (forward).
Leinster Prediction 2026-27
In what will be the end of an era, it would be unwise to bet against them achieving a URC three-peat.
Leinster 2026-27 quotas
6-4
Vital statistics
Leinster led the way in tries scored (93) in last season’s URC and also had the most clean breaks (219).
Fly-half Joey Carbery returns to Ireland to compete for Prendergast for both Leinster and national team (ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
Leinster signings
- Joey Carbery (Bordeaux-Bègles)
- Peter Dooley (Connacht)
- Stephen Smyth (advanced from academy)
- Conor O’Tighearnaigh (promoted from academy)
- Josh Kenny (promoted from academy)
Leinster ddepartures
- James Lowe (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath)
- Rieko Ioane (blues)
- Rabah Slimani (Toulon)
- Luke McGrath (Perpignan)
- Ciaran Frawley (Connaught)
- Will Connors (Connacht)
- Jerry Cahir (Connaught)
- John McKee (Scarlets)
- Ed Byrne (retired)
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