DIARMUID BARRON CAPTAINS a 30-man Munster squad that travels to Bath for tomorrow’ pre-season clash against former head coach Johann van Graan’s side at 3pm.
New signings Billy Burns and Tom Farrell both start on their first Munster appearances with a mixture of senior, academy and club players included for the trip to The Rec.
Among the replacements, new signings Bryan Fitzgerald and Diarmuid Kilgallen are also set for their first Munster appearances along with academy players Ronan Foxe and Jack Oliver, and club players Conor Ryan (UCC) and Luca Cleary (UL Bohemian). Ryan came up through the ranks at Clonakilty RFC with Cleary from Ennis RFC.
Full-back Patrick Campbell returns to action after a long-term shoulder injury with Liam Coombes and academy man Shay McCarthy on either wing.
Seán O’Brien and Farrell form a new centre partnership as Ethan Coughlan and Burns pair up in the half-backs for the first time.
Jeremy Loughman, Barron and John Ryan pack down in the front row with Gavin Coombes and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.
Academy back-row Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett and Jack O’Donoghue complete the side.
Scott Buckley returned from his short-term loan with Australian side Randwick earlier this week and goes straight into the squad among the replacements.
Max Clein, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Foxe, Conor Ryan, Jack Daly and Alex Kendellen complete the forward cover.
Jack Oliver, Luca Cleary, Tony Butler, Fitzgerald, Kilgallen and Mike Haley are the backline replacements.
The game will be live on Bath Rugby’s TikTok account.
Munster face Gloucester at Virgin Media Park next Friday at 7pm.
Munster:
15. Patrick Campbell
14. Liam Coombes
13. Tom Farrell
12. Seán O’Brien
11. Shay McCarthy
10. Billy Burns
9. Ethan Coughlan
1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Diarmuid Barron (capt)
3. John Ryan
4. Gavin Coombes
5. Fineen Wycherley
6. Ruadhán Quinn
7. John Hodnett
8. Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements from: Scott Buckley, Max Clein, Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Ronan Foxe, Conor Ryan, Jack Daly, Alex Kendellen, Jack Oliver, Luca Cleary, Tony Butler, Bryan Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Mike Haley.
Struggling for locks. No Jean Klyne?
You need a TikTok account to watch rugby now?!
@Nicholas Farrar: “emerges from his cave”, you don’t have Tickety tock?, no sure how they’ll show a full 80 minutes with one swipe.
@Stuart: Haha! I’ve managed without so far, but I do agree that there’s probably no point resisting.
@Nicholas Farrar: I absolutely refuse to get Ticktock..
@Noel Roe: Same tic tok is cringe
@Nicholas Farrar: Would be nice to have an update on JK to be fair.
@TL55: More importanly update on the irish locks injured
@TL55: I’m all good chief, thanks.
Out of the 31 players named I’m failing to see any excitement produced in the Munster ranks this coming season bar 1 or 2 new comers from the academy … There are some names still within that squad which Munster have failed to replace/offload and also hold onto with some kind of loyalty towards them that i feel in the professional game is not justified. I’m not going to mention names but they know the players who should have been moved on and replaced out of respect to the loyal and faithful support…. You can see that number falling at the gate for the same poor management and I’m not having a go at Rowntree I feel he’s done a great job considering.
Coombes at 4 ffs. We’re gonna start like that?