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01 Jan 2026
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01 Jan 2026
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Brian Gleeson returns to the Munster Rugby matchday squad after injury for Friday night's URC clash with Ulster in Belfast
THE Munster Rugby team has been named for Friday night’s URC Round 9 clash against Ulster at Affidea Stadium in Belfast, 7.45pm, live on Premier Sports.
There are 10 personnel changes and one positional switch from the side that lost out 8-13 to Leinster at a sold-out Thomond Park on December 27.
Calvin Nash returns from illness with Dan Kelly, JJ Hanrahan and Paddy Patterson also coming into the starting backline.
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Captain Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, John Hodnett and Alex Kendellen start in the pack.
In the replacements, Brian Gleeson returns from the elbow injury he sustained at Croke Park in October.
Full-back Mike Haley, Nash and Thaakir Abrahams form the back three with Alex Nankivell and Dan Kelly named as the centre partnership.
Patterson and Hanrahan, who made his 150th Munster appearance against Ospreys in December, are the half-back pairing.
Josh Wycherley, Barron and Michael Ala’alatoa start in the front row with Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.
Tom Ahern moves from the second row to blindside flanker with Hodnett and Kendellen completing the back row.
Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman and Conor Bartley provide the front row back-up as Jack O’Donoghue and Gleeson complete the forward cover.
Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler and Seán O’Brien are the backline replacements.
MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron (Capt), Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen. Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Seán O’Brien.
Unavailable for selection this week:
Oli Jager (head) – estimated return to full training in two to three weeks.
Andrew Smith (hamstring) – estimated return to full training in one to two weeks.
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