But if David Doyle and Brendan Macken are to return to action then it will be restricted as they are named among the replacements.

Ruddock said: “After winning the Championship last season the stakes are set high for us this year. But this is a new season, a new squad and a clean slate.

“Our focus for now is on kicking off the championship with a strong performance and while it is great to have a core of experienced players we will be looking for the entire squad to show what they can do.

“We have prepared well and have gelled as a team. The skill level, attitude and performances of the players and of the team as a whole have been very impressive. “We hope to reproduce this for the tournament.”

15 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon - Ulster)
14 - Andrew Conway (Blackrock - Leinster)
13 - Alex Kelly (UCD -Leinster)
12 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena - Ulster)
11 - Andrew Boyle (UCD - Leinster
10 - Patrick Jackson (Dungannon - Ulster)
9 - Blane McIlroy (Ballymena - Ulster)
1 - James Tracy (UCD -Leinster)
2 - Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster) (Captain)
3 - Martin Moore (Lansdowne - Leinster)
4 - Michael Kearney (Clontarf - Leinster)
5 - Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers - Connacht)
6 - Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne - Leinster)
7 - Aaron Conneely (Corinthians - Connacht)
8 - Eoin McKeon (Galwegians - Connacht)

Replacements:
16 - David Doyle (UCD - Leinster)
17 - Conor Carey (Ballymena - Ulster)
18 - Finlay Bealham (Exile)
19 - William Iain Henderson (Queens - Ulster)
20 - Peter Du Toit (UCD - Leinster)
21 - Cathal Marsh (Dublin University - Leinster)
22 - Brendan Macken (Blackrock - Leinster)