Munster Rugby confirm seven departures from playing squad this summer

MUNSTER Rugby have confirmed that senior players Billy Burns, Patrick Campbell, Liam Coombes, Scott Buckley, Jack Daly and Cian Hurley will depart the province at the end of the season.

The province has also confirmed that Academy scrum-half Jack Oliver has completed his time at the province and is currently training with Glasgow Warriors.

Munster Rugby has thanked the departing players for their contributions to Munster Rugby and have wished them all the best for the future.

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Munster supporters will get the opportunity to show their appreciation to the departing players ahead of Munster's crucial clash with Benetton at Virgin Media Park, in Cork tonight, Friday, 8pm.

Twenty four-year-old hooker Scott Buckley, who is currently on loan at Ealing Trailfinders, scored three tries in 24 Munster appearances.

After captaining CBC to the Munster Schools Senior Cup title in 2019, Buckley joined the Munster Academy in 2020.

He was one of 12 players to make their senior Munster debuts in the bonus-point Champions Cup win over Wasps in December 2021. An excellent display saw Buckley cross for his first Munster try in a Player of the Match performance.

He made nine appearances in the 2022/23 season, helping Munster to the URC title.

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Thirty-year-old out-half Billy Burns joined Munster last summer and scored 28 points in 10 Munster appearances.

The seven-cap Ireland international, who joined after an excellent six years at Ulster, made his debut against Connacht in the season-opener and guided Munster to a bonus-point win, kicking three conversions.

Burns made his Champions Cup debut against Stade Francais at Thomond Park in December.

Currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, his final Munster appearance against Edinburgh in February saw the out-half kick a last-minute conversion to earn a bonus-point.

Back three player Patrick Campbell scored four tries in 12 appearances for Munster since making his try-scoring debut against Wasps in December 2021.

Prior to joining the Academy, he helped PBC reach the final of the curtailed 2020 Munster Schools Senior Cup.

Also a very talented Gaelic Footballer, he was a central figure in Cork’s 2019 All-Ireland minor-winning side.

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Campbell won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2022 and made his first URC start for Munster against Zebre in October 2022. The 22-year-old has been unfortunate with injuries that have limited his involvement over the past two seasons.

Winger/centre Liam Coombes has scored six tries in 19 Munster appearances since making a try-scoring debut against Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in November 2017.

The Skibbereen RFC man won a Schools Senior Cup with CBC in 2017 and lined out for the Ireland U20s later that year.

Coombes scored two tries from outside centre in a memorable win away at Scarlets in October 2021.

He scored a vital bonus-point try against Lions in January 2023 and ended the campaign with two tries in seven appearances as Munster clinched the URC title.

Flanker Jack Daly has made 10 appearances for Munster after coming up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC.

A former Ireland U20 international, Daly joined the Munster Academy in 2018 and made his senior debut against Zebre at Thomond Park in 2020.

The 26-year-old has also represented the Ireland 7s, making his debut for the side in 2019.

He made his Champions Cup debut for the province against Toulouse in the 2022 quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium.

Daly has lined out for Garryowen FC in the AIL and has featured extensively for Munster A, captaining the side on a number of occasions.

Flanker/lock Cian Hurley made five appearances for Munster after coming up through the ranks of Clonakilty RFC and CBC.

He made his senior debut as a starter at the age of 20 against Benetton in March 2021. Paired with Tom Ahern (21) in the second row, they became the youngest starting second row combination for Munster Rugby in the professional era.

Hurley played a further four senior games for Munster in 2022/23, including an appearance in the historic victory over South Africa A at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The 25-year-old has been unfortunate with injuries that have limited his involvement over the past two seasons.

Twenty two-year-old scrum-half Jack Oliver departs after three years in the Munster Academy.

A Garryowen FC clubman and former Castletroy College student, Jack started the 2021/22 season by captaining the Munster U19s during the Interprovincial Championship.

He has featured regularly for Garryowen in the All Ireland League and lined out for the Ireland U20s in 2023.

He was a try-scorer on his first Munster start in the pre-season clash against Gloucester in September 2024.