It will be the dawn of a new era for Leinster Rugby this weekend as they play their first BKT URC game at the redeveloped Laya Arena.

The league champions will welcome second-placed Cardiff Rugby to their new-look home at the Royal Dublin Society site on Saturday evening, with a bumper crowd expected for the landmark fixture.

As a result of the redevelopment, which is the product of more than 220,000 working hours, the capacity is now up to 20,600, with the new Anglesea Stand holding 6,775.

One other nice stat is that the total distance of seating if laid end to end would stretch 3.39km. For those with local knowledge, that takes you as far as the Ha’penny Bridge!

So, after a season at the Aviva Stadium, Leinster are back at the RDS, having signed a 25-year agreement to use the Laya Arena for their home games.

Head coach Leo Cullen views it as a very welcome move as he embarks on his final season at the helm.

“You want a proper club ground, with a proper club feel, that’s the big thing,” he said.

“When you go to an international stadium, it’s very hard to generate a club feel because you are on the bus, you are under the tunnel, it’s an international ground.

“Here at the Laya, there’s proper engagement with the fans with everyone on top of each other. That’s what club rugby should be like.

“Kids who come into the ground can actually see their heroes whereas it’s always a bit more distant at the bigger stadiums like the Aviva.

“Don’t get me wrong, we are very lucky to play there, but it’s not a club ground. Club is the big thing for me.”

On the redevelopment project, he said: “A huge amount of work has gone into upgrading the venue and we can’t wait to build a powerful bond with our team and supporters as we progress through the season.”

Adding his thoughts, assistant coach Emmett Farrell said: “The old RDS had some great nights and we are looking forward to having some really big nights in the Laya Arena.”

Assessing the challenge presented by Cardiff, Farrell said: “It will be a big test. They are really good.

“They are definitely the strongest Welsh team at the moment. They are growing the depth of their squad with quality guys. So they are definitely a threat.

“They got the better of us twice last year. They beat us in pre-season at Tallaght and then they beat us at the Arms Park later in the year. So they will be very confident.

“They have had a really strong start to the season.

“They got an away win in a Welsh derby, which is a big confidence boost, and they had a nice comfortable win against Zebre.

“They look very strong. Their pack has been brilliant, their maul has been going well.

“They’ve got really good half-backs. Their tactical kicking is very strong, so we are going to have to be very secure in the back.

“Their aerial game is very strong. They did a bit of a job on us in Cardiff when they won a lot of the aerial contests. So we have to make sure we reverse that trend.”

He concluded: “They will be coming here full of confidence which is a danger to us. They are going to have a good crack. They will have good belief that they can do it.

“There will be no holds barred on the weekend.”

Title holders Leinster will be looking for their first win of the BKT URC season having lost their opening two games out in South Africa – against the 10Bet Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks – while picking up three losing bonus points as valuable consolation.

It was only eight months ago that Siba Mahashe made his BKT URC debut.

But the 22-year-old loose forward is already being seen as one of the brightest young talents in South African rugby.

That was illustrated by his inclusion in a Springboks alignment camp in May, while he went on to make his debut for South Africa A against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha the following month.

Then, in August, he further enhanced his rising reputation with a Player of the Match display in the 10Bet Lions’ thrilling clash with the touring All Blacks.

Now he has begun the new season by helping the Johannesburg-based side win their opening two BKT URC fixtures to lie third in the league table.

Next up comes a big derby clash with the Vodacom Bulls at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld this Saturday.

It’s been a remarkably rapid rise for Masashe and he is clearly a young man with a big future in the game.

However, rugby really found him by chance.

“I started playing in primary school when I was eight,” he explains.

“I actually didn’t plan on playing rugby. I used to play football and cricket.

“B ut my friends played rugby and they were short of a player.

“So my dad had to go quickly to buy me kit to play in.

“I always refer to that as the year that rugby chose me.”

Born and raised in the Eastern Cape, Mahashe earned a scholarship to Hudson Park High School in KuGompo City and went on to catch the eye while playing for Border at the famous Craven Week in 2022.

That earned him selection for South Africa Schools and he was to captain the team on a couple of occasions, later going on to win international honours with the Baby Boks at the 2024 U20s World Championship.

Having relocated to Johannesburg, he made his debut for the Lions in a Challenge Cup clash with Lyon in January of this year and then took his BKT URC bow versus the Hollywoodbets Sharks the following month, marking the occasion with a try.

His obvious dynamic talent was soon recognised as he was fast tracked into a 40-strong Springboks alignment camp.

“It was a dream come true for me,” says the flanker.

“Most rugby players dream of playing for the Springboks, so to know I was considered part of that environment made me very happy.

“It ignited a belief in me that the work I had been putting in and the good performances I had been producing had been recognised.

“It was a huge motivation for me to continue doing better and improve in each match I play.”

As for his memorable outing against New Zealand, he says: “Everyone grows up watching the Springboks against the All Blacks, so watching the Haka and actually experiencing it was an unreal moment for me.”

Mahashe is clearly a very dedicated young man as he reveals when outlining his approach to his job.

“For me, it’s having friends that are not athletes and being able to say no to them whenever they want to go out during the week,” he said.

“It’s knowing your why and what makes you perform on the weekend.

“My younger self would be very proud that I kept going. Even on the days that it was tough, I kept going and kept pushing.”

He continued: “My game really revolves around bringing energy to the team. I’m always going to give my all on the field, whichever game it is, no matter the scoreboard, if we’re losing or winning.

“I want people to remember me as a guy that played rugby to have fun and to enjoy it.

“My family calls me every day, to make sure I am good and them doing that helps me remind myself why I’m doing this.”

As for what makes the Lions tick as a side, he says: “I think it’s the love we have for each other and the willingness to work for each other all the time.

“We are not only playing for ourselves, we are playing for everyone in Johannesburg. It means a lot. We really love putting in a performance for the supporters.

“I think the highlight for me so far was winning the South African Shield last season. Since I’ve been at the Lions, I’ve always wanted to win a trophy. So to win my first one was a very special moment.”

He added: “The leaders here make it very easy for us youngsters to feel part of the team. So I am fully settled and comfortable in the side.

“We have very good loose forwards here and, as a youngster, I obviously learn from the older guys. I’m around people who can mentor me. There is a lot that I learn and take from them at every training session.

“The way I play and the game that we play at the Lions is very suited for loose-forwards like me. The style of play here is the best for my abilities.

“I’d like to stay fit and injury free as the season goes on and just get better. There are parts of my game that I think I can still improve on.”

Franco Smith insists there are no easy games in the BKT United Rugby Championship as his Glasgow Warriors team set out on a mission to make amends for their disappointing end to last season.

After topping the table following the regular campaign, they then suffered a heartbreaking 22-21 defeat at home to the Vodacom Bulls in the play-off semi-finals.

They will be using that narrow loss as motivation as they embark on another quest for silverware, with tomorrow’s testing trip to Limerick to take on Munster Rugby providing the opening challenge.

“There’s not one easy game in this competition,” said head coach Smith.

“All the teams are working to get themselves in a better position and produce a better product.

“It’s year six of the BKT URC and teams’ expectations, sponsorship, strategy and tactics will always change for the better.

“We are not oblivious of the fact that all teams would like to be at the top of the table at the back end of the season.

“We have been there and we will have a target on our back, I have no doubt about that. We know what’s coming.

“For now, we focus on playing one minute at a time, on getting our process going and making the most of our time in the competition.”

As for their hopes of repeating their 2024 title triumph, Smith said: “That’s always the mission.

“Nobody thought at the start of that season that we would win it.

“Nobody thought we would be top of the log last season after we lost the two games in South Africa.

“We are determined to be the best version of ourselves. We know what we need to do and that’s what we are focusing on.”

Smith added: “We had a disappointing final game last season.

“There’s just one way to use that disappointment and that’s as motivation.

“There is a lot of energy and excitement and motivation to get the show on the road again.

“We have got the determination as always.

“They are all proud Warriors. I am really proud that everybody is eager and ready to go.”

It’s been a summer of change at Glasgow, with the likes of Huw Jones, Jack Dempsey, Johnny Matthews, Adam Hastings and Jamie Bhatti moving on, while Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie has joined from Perpignan with fellow back row Ruwald van der Merwe coming on board from South Africa.

Turning to the opener against Munster, it will be a big day for the versatile Jamie Dobie as he makes his 100th appearance having been selected on the wing.

Smith said: “He’s an impressive man and a true warrior.

“It doesn’t matter what number is on his back, he is always contributing. He is a very good example for the young players coming through. He’s very positive at training and has a big influence in the club.

“He’s a fantastic player and an excellent person to have in the team. To have him in his 100th game is brilliant and he’s still young.”

As for Munster, new front row signings Marnus van der Merwe and Kieran Brookes are both set to make their debuts in the big Thomond Park clash.