Munster Rugby rule out signing South African hooker Malcolm Marx

MUNSTER Rugby will not be signing South African hooker Malcom Marx.

Assistant coach Denis Leamy confirmed the news when asked about Marx's possible switch to the province at a Munster Rugby press briefing ahead of Saturday's big Heineken Champions Cup fixture with Northampton Saints at Thomond Park, 3.15pm.

World Cup winnng hooker Marx is currently playing club rugby in Japan with Kubota Spears, but had been linked with a possible switch to Munster next season.

However, former Munster back-row Leamy today ruled out the prospect of Marx joining the province.

Leamy said: "I'd like to work with Malcolm Marx, but there's nothing in it. There's nothing there for us. No, that's not something that's happening, to be as clear about that as I can.

"Look, obviously we look in different areas of the market but that's not a conversation that's ongoing."

The Munster Rugby squad trained at Saturday's match venue Thomond Park today, Tuesday.

On the injury front, Munster Rugby had reported on Monday that hooker Diarmuid Barron (shoulder) is going for a scan and his availability will be determined later in the week. Josh Wycherley (ribs) is being monitored by the medical department and his availability will also be determined later in the week.

In relation to those injuries, Leamy said a call on both players availability would be made later in the week.

Leamy said he was delighted by the news that former Munster Rugby player Mossy Lawler will join the province at the beginning of the 2023/24 season as Skills Coach. 

"It’s fantastic news. Wig (Graham Rowntree) rang me on Saturday to give me the heads up that it was happening and it’s great. Mossy’s a great character, he was a terrific Munster man back in our playing days and it’s brilliant.

“He’s been coaching for seven or eight years up in Connacht now and doing a really, really good job. I often came up against him when I was working for Leinster in EPDO (Elite Players Development Officer) roles and our teams would often clash at Under-20 level and stuff like that and he always had a really good team and a really good outfit.

“It’s very exciting to get Mossy back and we’re really looking forward to working with him.”