Munster Rugby name match-day squad to face Gloucester in pre-season fixture

A 30-MAN Munster squad has been named for Friday night’s pre-season clash against Gloucester at Virgin Media Park, Cork which has a 7pm kick-off time.

New signing Thaakir Abrahams makes his first start for Munster on the wing.

Academy scrum-half Jack Oliver also makes his first start after his first appearance for the province last week.

Oliver and Billy Burns start together in the half-backs with Seán O’Brien and Shane Daly forming a new centre partnership.

Abrahams, Liam Coombes and Mike Haley are named in the back three.

Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Gavin Coombes and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.

Academy flanker Ruadhán Quinn, Alex Kendellen and captain Jack O’Donoghue complete the side.

Academy back-row forward Seán Edogbo is in line for his first Munster appearance off the bench.

Club players Luca Cleary (UL Bohs), Gordon Wood (Garryowen) and Conor Ryan (UCC) are also named among the replacements with Wood set for his first Munster appearance.

Diarmuid Barron, Scott Buckley, Eoghan Clarke, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan and Academy prop Ronan Foxe are the front row replacements.

Ryan, Jack Daly and Edogbo complete the forward cover.

Luca Cleary, Tony Butler, Tom Farrell, Bryan Fitzgerald, Wood and Patrick Campbell complete the squad.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley; Liam Coombes, Shane Daly, Seán O'Brien, Thaakir Abrahams; Billy Burns, Jack Oliver; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Gavin Coombes, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, Alex Kendellen, Jack O'Donoghue (Capt). Replacements from: Diarmuid Barron, Scott Buckley, Eoghan Clarke, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Conor Ryan, Jack Daly, Seán Edogbo, Luca Cleary, Tony Butler, Tom Farrell, Bryan Fitzgerald, Gordon Wood, Patrick Campbell.