MUNSTER WILL BE able to call on Tom Ahern for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Scarlets.
Ahern was called into Ireland’s Six Nations squad last week as part of preparations for Sunday’s victory over Scotland in Murrayfield.
The 24-year-old did not feature in Simon Easterby’s matchday 23, and Munster confirmed that he has now returned to the province ahead of Scarlets’ visit to Thomond Park.
Munster have also been boosted by the return of Sean O’Brien, Josh Wycherley and Cian Hurley to training following long injury absences.
O’Brien and Wycherley have both been sidelined since November with a leg and a neck injury respectively, while Hurley has been recovering from a knee injury suffered in pre-season.
Munster currently sit seventh in the URC table, a point behind sixth-placed Scarlets.
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The province, meanwhile, have made three contract announcements today.
Niall Scannell, the 20-cap Ireland international hooker, has signed a one-year contract extension.
The 32-year-old is on track to reach 200 appearances for Munster having scored 22 tries in 189 appearances to date. He made his debut against Scarlets in December 2013 having come up through the ranks at PBC and Dolphin RFC.
Seán O’Brien has been given a two-year extension. The 26-year-old, who can play in the centre and on the wing, joined Munster in 2023.
O’Brien has scored six tries in 24 appearances since joining from Exeter Chiefs after playing a key role in their progression to the Champions Cup semi-final in 2022/23.
The Westmeath native is a former Ireland U20 international and was a member of the Connacht Rugby Academy before moving to Exeter in 2021.
Loosehead prop Josh Wycherley has also been given a two-year contract extension.
A graduate of the Munster academy, the 25-year-old has made 66 appearances for the province having made his debut against Cardiff in 2020.
Wycherley came up through the ranks at Bantry Bay RFC and Cistercian College Roscrea and joined the Academy in 2018, playing his AIL rugby with Young Munster.
He starred in the Ireland U20s’ Grand Slam-winning Six Nations campaign in 2019 along with Craig Casey and John Hodnett, and also featured prominently in that summer’s World Rugby U20 Championship.
Wycherley featured in 15 games last season, including all Champions Cup games.
He played in the first two games of this season but sustained a neck injury in October.
He returned to team training this week ahead of Saturday’s URC clash against Scarlets at Thomond Park.
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Tom Ahern released back to Munster ahead of URC clash with Scarlets
LAST UPDATE | 10 Feb
MUNSTER WILL BE able to call on Tom Ahern for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Scarlets.
Ahern was called into Ireland’s Six Nations squad last week as part of preparations for Sunday’s victory over Scotland in Murrayfield.
The 24-year-old did not feature in Simon Easterby’s matchday 23, and Munster confirmed that he has now returned to the province ahead of Scarlets’ visit to Thomond Park.
Munster have also been boosted by the return of Sean O’Brien, Josh Wycherley and Cian Hurley to training following long injury absences.
O’Brien and Wycherley have both been sidelined since November with a leg and a neck injury respectively, while Hurley has been recovering from a knee injury suffered in pre-season.
Munster currently sit seventh in the URC table, a point behind sixth-placed Scarlets.
The province, meanwhile, have made three contract announcements today.
Niall Scannell, the 20-cap Ireland international hooker, has signed a one-year contract extension.
The 32-year-old is on track to reach 200 appearances for Munster having scored 22 tries in 189 appearances to date. He made his debut against Scarlets in December 2013 having come up through the ranks at PBC and Dolphin RFC.
Seán O’Brien has been given a two-year extension. The 26-year-old, who can play in the centre and on the wing, joined Munster in 2023.
O’Brien has scored six tries in 24 appearances since joining from Exeter Chiefs after playing a key role in their progression to the Champions Cup semi-final in 2022/23.
The Westmeath native is a former Ireland U20 international and was a member of the Connacht Rugby Academy before moving to Exeter in 2021.
Loosehead prop Josh Wycherley has also been given a two-year contract extension.
A graduate of the Munster academy, the 25-year-old has made 66 appearances for the province having made his debut against Cardiff in 2020.
Wycherley came up through the ranks at Bantry Bay RFC and Cistercian College Roscrea and joined the Academy in 2018, playing his AIL rugby with Young Munster.
He starred in the Ireland U20s’ Grand Slam-winning Six Nations campaign in 2019 along with Craig Casey and John Hodnett, and also featured prominently in that summer’s World Rugby U20 Championship.
Wycherley featured in 15 games last season, including all Champions Cup games.
He played in the first two games of this season but sustained a neck injury in October.
He returned to team training this week ahead of Saturday’s URC clash against Scarlets at Thomond Park.
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Munster Rugby squad update Tom Ahern