Munster’s van den Heever ruled out of Clermont clash

WINGER Gerhard van den Heever has been ruled out of Munster’s European Champions Cup return game with Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin due to a knee injury.

Van den Heever picked up the injury during the course of Munster’s defeat at home to the French Top 14 side at Thomond Park on Saturday. The South African will now miss the sides clash in France this Sunday which kicks off at 3.15pm Irish time.

Prop Dave Kilcoyne, who also injured his knee against Clermont last weekend, will continue to be assessed by the medical staff this week.

Kilcoyne’s replacement James Cronin, who finished the game, is under medical review after taking a knock to his shoulder while Robin Copeland, Paddy Butler, Eusebio Guinazu and Andrew Smith continue to be integrated into training with the squad this week.

Munster have also confirmed that Alan Cotter, who sustained a torn bicep when playing for Munster A against Nottingham in the BI& Cup last Friday night, underwent surgery in Dublin this Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a newspaper report this Wednesday has linked Munster’s JJ Hanrahan with a move to English Premiership side Northampton Saints for next season.

Twenty two-year-old Hanrahan is in the second year of a two-year contract at Munster. The UL-Bohs clubman is reported to have been offered a deal worth €190,000 a year to join Northampton.