Munster and Leinster add four U20 Grand Slam stars to Champions Cup squads

Leinster and Munster have added players from Ireland's U20 Grand-Slam winning team to their respective squads ahead of the knock-out stages of the Heineken Champions Cup.

The U20s secured the grand slam with a 36-24 win over England and some of the team's key players have been rewarded as a result of their contributions. Scrum half Fintan Gunne was one of the team's most impressive performers throughout the campaign and, along with centre Hugh Cooney and hooker/captain Gus McCarthy, he has been added to the Leinster squad by the team's manager Leo Cullen. McCarthy and Cooney were both part of Blackrock College's Leinster senior cup winning team in 2022, with McCarthy having skippered the school to glory. Gunne, meanwhile, came through the St Michael's school. [caption id="attachment_285533" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Fintan Gunne of Ireland, right, celebrates with teammate Gus McCarthy after scoring his side's second try during the U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at Stadio Comunale di Monigo in Parma, Italy.[/caption] Leinster will take on Ulster in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday April 1, in their eagerly anticipated round of 16 meeting. Leo Cullen will be without key men Johnny Sexton and Garry Ringrose for that game, in a blow that will test the depth of his squad. Meanwhile, Munster boss Graham Rowntree has added two hookers to his squad in Max Clein and Danny Sheahan, with Sheahan also having been part of the under-20 Grand Slam winning team. He is a nephew of former Munster and Ireland player Frankie Sheahan. [caption id="attachment_285530" align="alignnone" width="2016"] Danny Sheahan is pictured with his uncle Frankie and cousin Jacob, both of whom were on the Ireland U20 team.[/caption] The Champions Cup round of 16 takes place on the weekend April 1, with the fixtures as follows.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP – Round of 16

Friday 31 March Leicester Tigers v Edinburgh Rugby Saturday 1 April Sharks v Munster DHL Stormers v Harlequins Leinster Rugby v Ulster Rugby Stade Rochelais v Gloucester Rugby Sunday 2 April Exeter Chiefs v Montpellier Saracens v Ospreys Stade Toulousain v Vodacom Bulls Related links

• Ireland vs. England: All the talking points, biggest moments and player ratings
• Garry Ringrose in the form of his life and Ireland's captain-in-waiting
• Brian O’Driscoll puts into words what whole nation is feeling about Johnny Sexton
• Peter O’Mahony’s comments on Owen Farrell should take no one by surprise
• James Lowe challenges Ireland's Grand Slam winners to scale even greater heights
• Three Ireland stars nominated for Six Nations Player of the Championship