Leinster Rugby have this morning confirmed the Academy list for the 2018/19 season with eight new players starting pre-season in UCD this summer.

The list of Year One players includes Michael Milne (Roscrea), Jack Dunne (DUFC), Ryan Baird (St. Michael’s College), Scott Penney (St. Michael’s College), Patrick Patterson (UCD), Harry Byrne (UCD), Aaron O’Sullivan (Wasps) and Michael Silvester (DUFC).

Dunne, Byrne and Silvester were all named in Noel McNamara’s Ireland Under 20s squad that competed in the recent World Rugby Championship in France.

Leinster Rugby have also confirmed that six players would be leaving the Leinster Academy system to pursue other opportunities.

Peter Smyth, the Leinster Rugby Academy Manager said, “We are delighted to confirm these players as new additions to the Academy for next season.

“Having dealt with them all individually over the last few years and having seen their development at first hand, they are a credit to their families, their clubs and schools but above that to themselves.

“They have applied themselves brilliantly and I look forward to welcoming them to UCD and seeing them develop as players and as young men in a new environment.

“Finally I’d like to thank those leaving the Academy system for their efforts over the last few years and to wish them every success with their future endeavours.”

Leinster Rugby also confirmed this morning that Will Connors has been promoted from the Academy to the Senior set up and becomes the fifth player to have done so ahead of the new season.

It had already been confirmed in May that Vakh Abdaladze, Caelan Doris, Jordan Larmour and Josh Murphy had been promoted from the Academy and would start the 2018/19 season on their first professional contract and former Clongowes Wood College pupil Connors now joins that list.

Connors, 22, is a back row forward and made his Leinster senior debut in the Guinness PRO14 in February against Edinburgh and played on three occasions in total last season in the PRO14.

Confirmed Departures:

Ian Fitzpatrick

Oisin Heffernan (to Nottingham Rugby)

Terry Kennedy

Jeremy Loughman (to Munster Rugby)

Sean McNulty

Charlie Rock

Leinster Rugby Academy – Year Three:

Hugo Keenan

Jack Kelly

Conor O’Brien

Jimmy O’Brien

Leinster Rugby Academy – Year Two:

Jack Aungier

Oisín Dowling

Ciarán Frawley

Rónan Kelleher

Gavin Mullin

Tommy O’Brien

Hugh O’Sullivan

Leinster Rugby Academy – Year One:

Ryan Baird

Harry Byrne

Jack Dunne

Aaron O’Sullivan

Michael Milne

Patrick Patterson

Scott Penney

Michael Silvester