Rugby

Munster register 22 new players ahead of Champions Cup opener

Three academy players among new crop as province boosts ranks ahead of trip to Wasps

Patrick Campbell appeared in a development XV this year and is among those registered. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Gerry Thornley's face
Gerry Thornley
Tue Dec 7 2021 - 19:19

As expected, Munster have delved heavily into their own underage ranks and the All-Ireland League in nominating another 22 players for registration with Heineken Champions Cup organisers EPCR.

After consultation with the leagues and unions, EPCR extended the deadline for registration of players until Wednesday primarily in an effort to help the four teams who had to leave South Africa after the postponement of the round six and seven URC games there.

Munster brought 34 players to South Africa who are now in quarantine either there or at their own locations in Ireland, and the province have supplemented the core of nine internationals who remained in their HPC in the University of Limerick and sprinkling of academy players and others with 22 more players.

Three additions to the Munster academy less than a month ago are among those added, namely 19-year-old Young Munster full-back Patrick Campbell, a former Cork All-Ireland minor football champion, the 19-year-old Garryowen outhalf Tony Butler and 18-year-old Cobh Pirates lock Edwin Edogbo, although he is currently injured.

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The remaining 19 are either NTS (National Talent Squad) or PTS (Provincial Talent Squad) members, and all of the 22 players are 21 or younger.

The majority of the 22 have featured for their clubs in the opening rounds of the All Ireland League, and 15 of them played for a Munster Development XV in fixtures against Ulster and Leinster earlier this season.

They included the aforementioned academy trio along with John Forde, Alessandro Heaney, Darragh McSweeney, Dylan Murphy, Fearghail O’Donoghue, Jack O’Sullivan, Kieran Ryan, George Coomber, Alan Flannery, Darragh French, Adam Maher and Jamie Shanahan.

Peter Hyland, Andrew O’Mahony and Jack Oliver all lined out for the Munster under-19s in September during the Interprovincial Championship.

Munster’s 22 new EPCR registered players:

Forwards: Edwin Edogbo (lock), John Forde (backrow), Nicky Greene (backrow ), Alessandro Heaney (loosehead prop), Peter Hyland (backrow), Jack Kelleher (backrow), Darragh McCarthy (tighthead prop), Darragh McSweeney (tighthead prop), Conor Moloney (backrow), Dylan Murphy (hooker), Fearghail O'Donoghue (backrow), Jack O'Sullivan (backrow), Kieran Ryan (loosehead prop).

Backs: Tony Butler (outhalf), Patrick Campbell (fullback/wing), George Coomber (wing), Alan Flannery (centre), Darragh French (centre), Adam Maher (scrumhalf), Andrew O'Mahony (scrumhalf), Jack Oliver (scrumhalf), Jamie Shanahan (wing).