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Sheahan set for return

RUGBY: Munster coach Declan Kidney has named a squad of 26 for tomorrow's friendly with Leicester Tigers at Musgrave Park (7pm…

Thu Aug 24 2006 - 01:00

RUGBY: Munster coach Declan Kidney has named a squad of 26 for tomorrow's friendly with Leicester Tigers at Musgrave Park (7pm).

It includes six Academy players in Darragh Hurley, Tim Ryan, Seán Cronin, Ross Noonan, Gerry Hurley and Tom Gleeson, a further five - Donncha Ryan, Shane O'Connor, James Coughlan, Australian scrumhalf Chris Delooze and Ciarán O'Boyle - on development contracts and two club players, Brendan Cuttriss and the former Connacht centre James Downey.

Frankie Sheahan returns from long-term injury, as does Ian Dowling, who missed the Churchill Cup, and the former All Black Christian Cullen.

Kidney had to plan without his Ireland squad players, so it'll be interesting to note how young players like Shannon hooker Cronin, Cork Constitution centre Gleeson and former Sydney University scrumhalf Delooze fare.

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The former Wallaby and Saracens wing Mark Bartholomeusz makes his competitive bow for Ulster against the Earth Titans at Ravenhill tomorrow (7.30pm).

Kieron Dawson, returning to his province of birth following a distinguished career at London Irish, is named in the backrow.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; M Bartholomeusz, P Wallace, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, T Court; J Harrison (capt), T Barker; K Dawson, N McMillan, S Ferris. Replacements: S Philpott, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, C Henry, P Marshall, K Maggs, S Young.

MUNSTER SQUAD: E McGovern, F Pucciariello, D Hurley, Tim Ryan, F Sheahan, S Cronin, C Wyatt, D Ryan, S O'Connor, R Noonan, J Coughlan, J O'Sullivan, B Cuttriss; C Delooze, T O'Leary, G Hurley, J Manning, E Hickey, J Downey, T Gleeson, S Payne, J Kelly, I Dowling, C Cullen, C O'Boyle, M Lawlor.

LEINSTER (v London Irish): Forwards: W Green, R McCormack, R Corrigan, F Pala'amo, R Sweeney, J Wickham, H Vermaas, B Blaney, B Jackman, A Byrnes, T Hogan, D Toner, R Leyden, O Finegan, N Ronan, S Keogh, D Dillon, J Heaslip, C Potts. Backs: C Whitaker, G Easterby, F Contepomi, C Warner, M Berne, A Dunne, J Sexton, S Grissing, L Fitzgerald, K Lewis, G Brown, R Kearney, R McCarron.