Familiar faces return to Munster Rugby underage coaching set-ups

FAMILIAR faces will return to the Munster Rugby fold this summer as Tommy O'Donnell and brothers Neil and Sean Cronin are all set to return to the province in a coaching form for the underage inter-pros. 

The Munster U19 Boys, U18 Girls, U18 Boys Clubs and U18 Boys Schools will all take part in an interprovincial series which will begin the weekend of August 10.

Neil Cronin announced back in April of this year that he would be hanging up his red jersey after playing for Munster over the last 10 years, making his debut against Leinster on St Stephen's Day in 2014. The scrum-half made 40 appearances for the side over that time while battling back from an ACL injury in training in October 2020. The Garryowen clubman will take over as attack coach for the U19 Boys side this summer. 

Brother Sean Cronin will come into the province's underage coaching staff as Assistant Coach for the Munster U18 boys schools team. The hooker announced his retirement from the game back in 2022 winning 204 caps for Leinster and has representing Ireland on 72 occasions.

Tommy O'Donnell, one of Munster's much loved former players, returns to the club as the Technical Advisor for the Munster U18 Boys clubs side. O'Donnell also retired in 2022 after making 187 appearances for Munster and spending his entire professional career with them. 

All the squads listed below are currently in the middle of a training programme across bases in Cork and Limerick ahead of the series.

Munster U19 Boys Coaching Team

Aiden McNulty – Head Coach

Brendan O’ Connor – Assistant

Neil Cronin – Attack Coach

Lee Nicholas – Defence Coach

Rob Cassidy – S&C

Darragh McNamara – Team Manager

Fixtures (kick-off times and venues TBC)

v Leinster – Weekend of August 17th

v Ulster – Weekend of August 24th

v Connacht – Weekend of August 31st

Munster U18 Girls Coaching Team

Noel O’ Meara – Head Coach

Ken Imbusch – Technical Advisor

Kenneth Mills – Assistant Coach/S&C

Evan Cusack – Assistant Coach

John O’ Sullivan – Assistant Coach

Jen Ryan – Team Manager/Player Welfare and Logistics

Fixtures (kick-off times and venues TBC)

v Leinster – Weekend of August 17th

v Connacht – Weekend of August 24th

v Ulster – Weekend of August 31st

Finals Day – Weekend of September 7th

Munster U18 Boys Schools Coaching Team

Matt Brown – Head Coach

Sean Cronin – Assistant Coach

John O’Donoghue – Assistant Coach

Ben Swindlehurst – Assistant Coach

Maurice Hartery – Team Manager

Gordon Crowley – Logistics

Fixtures (kick-off times and venues TBC)

v Ulster – Weekend of August 10th

v Leinster – Weekend of August 17th

v Ulster – Weekend of August 24th

v Leinster – Wednesday August 28th

Munster U18 Boys Clubs Coaching Team

Gerry Casey – Head Coach

Eugene McCarthy – Assistant/Forwards Coach

Olan Daly – Assistant/Backs Coach

Tommy O’ Donnell – Technical Advisor

Bernard Kiely – Team Manager

Fixtures (kick-off times and venues TBC)

v Leinster – Weekend of August 17th

v Ulster – Weekend of August 24th

v Connacht – Weekend of August 31st