Munster Rugby name side to face Leicester Tigers at Welford Road

A YOUTHFUL Munster squad including 12 Academy members has been named for Friday night’s mid-season clash against Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, 7.30pm.

UCC RFC lock Conor Ryan and Old Crescent RFC back three player Jed O’Dwyer are also both included with O’Dwyer set for his first senior appearance having come up through the ranks at Old Crescent and Crescent College Comprehensive.

Ben O’Connor, Patrick Campbell and Shay McCarthy start in the back three. Campbell is in line for his first Munster appearance since pre-season after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Ben Brownlee, who has been training with the squad for the past number of weeks, and Gordon Wood are named as the centre partnership.

Paddy Patterson and Tony Butler, who captains the side, start together in the half-backs.

Mark Donnelly, Max Clein and John Ryan pack down in the front row with Cian Hurley and Evan O’Connell in the engine room. Hurley is set for his first Munster appearance of the season after recently returning from a long-term knee injury.

Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn and Brian Gleeson start in the back row.

Danny Sheahan, Kieran Ryan and Ronan Foxe are the front row replacements with UCC’s Conor Ryan completing the forward cover.

Jack Oliver, Dylan Hicks, Andrew Smith and O’Dwyer are the backline replacements.

Back three player Smith has signed a short-term loan deal with the province until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old Ireland 7s international has made 14 appearances for Connacht since joining the province two years ago.

He joined the province this week and will bolster the squad for the coming months. Back three players Thaakir Abrahams, Liam Coombes, Shane Daly, Mike Haley and Diarmuid Kilgallen are all currently unavailable due to injury with Calvin Nash in Ireland camp.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Ben O’Connor; Patrick Campbell, Gordon Wood, Ben Brownlee, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler (c), Paddy Patterson; Mark Donnelly, Max Clein, John Ryan; Cian Hurley, Evan O’Connell; Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson. Replacements: Danny Sheahan, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Conor Ryan, Jack Oliver, Dylan Hicks, Andrew Smith, Jed O’Dwyer.