Munster Rugby name team to face Gloucester in pre-season friendly

A 31-player squad has been named by new Munster Head Coach Clayton McMillan for Friday’s opening pre-season game against Gloucester at Kingsholm (7.30pm).

Two teams have been named for each half to provide game-time to as many players as possible.

New signings Dan Kelly, JJ Hanrahan and Conor Ryan will make their first appearances since joining Munster in the summer.

Andrew Smith and Lee Barron also feature for the first time since joining the province permanently in July.

Shay McCarthy, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhán Quinn and Kieran Ryan are all involved having been promoted from the Academy to the senior squad.

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Shane Daly makes his return from the hamstring injury he sustained for Ireland A in February.

Munster’s Ireland and Ireland U20 internationals who were on international duty in the summer were not considered for selection having only recently started the pre-season training programme.

Preparations for the new season will continue with a pre-season clash against Bath at Virgin Media Park next Friday, September 12, at 7pm. 

The squad will have an internal game the following week before the URC season kicks off with an away game against Scarlets on Saturday, September 27.

First Half Team

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Kieran Ryan.

Second Half Team

Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Shane Daly, Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Lee Barron, Oli Jager; Conor Ryan, Fineen Wycherley/Evan O’Connell; Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn/John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Kieran Ryan.