Champions Cup
Munster Rugby Confirm Greencore Academy Squad For 2023/24
Munster Rugby can confirm five new additions to the Greencore Academy ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The new Academy recruits are Dylan Hicks, Shay McCarthy, Ben O’Connor and Ireland U20 Grand Slam winners Brian Gleeson and George Hadden.
As previously confirmed, Patrick Campbell and Cian Hurley will progress from the Academy to the senior squad ahead of the new season with Edwin Edogbo moving up ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
See player bios for the new Academy additions below and scroll down for the full 2023/24 Greencore Munster Rugby Academy squad.
Brian Gleeson
Position: No. 8
Age: 19 (5/02/2004)
The powerful back-row forward came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College and has been involved in Munster underage sides for a number of years.
Gleeson was still eligible for the Ireland U19s this season but earned a place in the Ireland U20s side for the 6 Nations and was a standout performer as they clinched the Grand Slam, winning two Player of the Match awards.
He has featured for Garryowen in Division 1A of the AIL this season and has also represented Tipperary in hurling at underage level.
George Hadden
Position: Prop
Age: 20 (20/02/2003)
From Gorey RFC in Wexford, Hadden started all five games at loosehead prop for the Ireland U20s this season as they won the Grand Slam.
Hadden has represented Leinster at underage level and plays his club rugby with Clontarf RFC.
George Hadden celebrates with his family at Musgrave Park after helping the Ireland U20s beat France.
Dylan Hicks
Position: Out-half
Age: 18 (25/01/2005)
Bantry Bay RFC and Colaiste Pobail Bheanntraí out-half Dylan Hicks joins the Academy straight out of school after a very successful season.
Hicks helped Bantry Bay win the Bank of Ireland Munster Clubs Boys U18 Cup in March two months after playing a part in Colaiste Pobail Bheanntraí’s first-ever win in the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup.
This year has also seen Hicks play for the Munster U18 Clubs team and get capped by the Ireland U18 Schools side.
Dylan Hicks runs in a try for the Munster U18s against Ulster.
Shay McCarthy
Position: Wing
Age: 20 (6/11/2002)
Shay McCarthy joins the Academy having trained with the squad since the start of the year.
McCarthy lined out for the Ireland U20s in 2022 and came up through the ranks at Richmond RFC and has featured extensively for Young Munster RFC in recent seasons.
Shay McCarthy in action for the Ireland U20s last year.
Ben O’Connor
Position: Full-back
Age: 19 (20/08/2004)
A talented sportsman, O’Connor joins the Academy having won two All-Ireland medals with Cork in hurling – at minor level in 2021 and U20 level at the weekend.
He has flourished at PBC and played a leading role as they won this year’s Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title.
He was a Schools Senior Cup finalist with PBC last year and has lined out for Munster and Ireland at U19 level this season.
Ben O’Connor helped PBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup title in March.
2023/24 Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Squad
Year 3: Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly, Edwin Edogbo, Daniel Okeke.
Year 2: Fionn Gibbons, Darragh McSweeney, Evan O’Connell, Jack Oliver, Ruadhán Quinn, Kieran Ryan.
Year 1: Brian Gleeson, George Hadden, Dylan Hicks, Shay McCarthy, Ben O’Connor.
As with previous seasons, there may be more additions to the Academy squad throughout the campaign.
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Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to announce that Academy trio Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan and Mark Donnelly will be promoted to the senior squad in the summer.
We can also confirm that hooker Scott Buckley, who graduated from the Academy to the senior squad in 2022, has signed a contract extension.
Out-half Butler, scrum-half Coughlan (both 21) and 22-year-old prop Donnelly have all signed on for the next two seasons after impressing over their three years in the Academy.
Butler and Coughlan become the first Ennis RFC players to earn senior Munster contracts.
As previously confirmed, Academy lock Edwin Edogbo (21), who also came up through the Munster Youths system with Cobh Pirates, will graduate from the Academy to the senior squad on a two-year deal next season.
Buckley, Butler, Coughlan and Donnelly all made their Munster debuts in the famous Champions Cup win over Wasps in December 2021.
Tony Butler in action against Dragons.
Ennis out-half Tony Butler has earned his first senior contract after a very productive three years in the Academy.
He has made six senior appearances to date, including two starts so far this season against Dragons and Connacht.
A Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s in 2022, Butler now plays his AIL rugby with Young Munster having previously lined out for Garryowen.
He captained Ennis at underage level, teaming up with Coughlan in the half-backs as they enjoyed success in the Munster U16 and U18 Clubs competitions.
Scrum-half Ethan Coughlan is enjoying an excellent campaign with three starts so far this year and eight senior appearances in total since joining the Academy.
He enjoyed great success alongside Butler with Ennis RFC at underage level before captaining the Ireland U18 Clubs team.
He also won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s in 2022 and plays his AIL rugby with Shannon.
Prop Mark Donnelly has already made nine senior appearances for Munster after coming up through the ranks at Midleton RFC, Midleton College and CBC.
He was a Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup winner with CBC in 2019 and featured for the Ireland U20s in the 2021 Six Nations.
He joined the Academy that summer before making his Munster debut along with Buckley, Butler and Coughlan against Wasps in December 2021
Along with his nine senior Munster appearances, Donnelly has also played regularly for Garryowen in the AIL over the past three years.
Mark Donnelly at Munster training.
Hooker Scott Buckley (23) has signed a one-year contract having made 25 appearances for Munster to date.
A product of the Munster Rugby Academy, Buckley started out with Kinsale RFC before captaining CBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2019.
He was Player of the Match against Wasps on his Munster debut and made nine appearances last season as Munster won the URC title.
A UCC clubman, he scored the match-winning try against Crusaders at Páirc Ui Chaoimh earlier this month.
Scott Buckley scores a try against Leinster in pre-season.
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Munster Rugby are pleased to confirm the signing of 23-year-old winger Diarmuid Kilgallen on a two-year deal ahead of the 2024/25 season.
In further contract news, hooker Eoghan Clarke has signed a one-year deal for next season after rejoining Munster in November.
Prop Keynan Knox has completed his time at the province after scoring three tries in 33 appearances and we wish him all the best for the future.
Diarmuid Kilgallen in action against Ulster in November.
Kilgallen hails from Eadestown in Kildare and has scored 12 tries in 22 appearances for Connacht to date.
He started out at Naas RFC before playing schools rugby for Cistercian College Roscrea on the Tipperary-Offaly border.
He joined the Connacht Academy in 2019 and made his debut against Munster in 2020.
A tall, athletic winger, he scored five tries in eight appearances last season and has five tries in six appearances so far this year.
Eoghan Clarke made his first start for Munster against Crusaders earlier this month.
25-year-old hooker Clarke has signed on for next year after impressing since returning to the province in November.
Clarke spent three years in the Munster Academy before departing for Jersey Reds in 2021. He won the English Championship with Jersey last season but the club went into liquidation in October.
He has made five appearances for Munster since returning, including a debut against Bayonne in December and a first start against Crusaders at Páirc Uí Chaoimh earlier this month.
24-year-old tighthead prop Knox departs after over seven years at Munster Rugby.
He joined the Academy midway through the 2017/18 season after completing his second level education with Michaelhouse in South Africa.
The Young Munster clubman made his senior debut against Dragons in September 2019 and moved up to the senior squad in 2020.
Knox featured in eight games last season as Munster clinched the URC title. In total, he scored three tries in 33 Munster appearances.
We wish Keynan all the best with his next move.
Keynan Knox at training last month.
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The Munster squad started preparations on Monday ahead of Saturday’s vital Investec Champions Cup clash against Northampton at Thomond Park (5.30pm).
There are a limited number of tickets remaining here.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the match here.
There were no new injuries to report after the win over Toulon on Saturday.
Following a consultation last week, Jack O’Donoghue will not require surgery on his knee injury and will be managed conservatively by the medical department. He is unavailable for three to four months.
Oli Jager is continuing to follow the return to play protocols and his availability for the Northampton game will be determined later this week.
There is good news for Jack Daly (ankle) as he returns to training this week.
Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles) and Mike Haley (hip) are increasing their training demands and will target a return to play in the coming weeks.
Continuing to rehab: Jack O’Donoghue (knee), Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Jean Kleyn (eye/knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), RG Snyman (chest/shoulder), Roman Salanoa (knee), Mike Haley (hip), Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles).
There were eight Munster players in AIL action at the weekend.
Academy out-half Tony Butler kicked two penalties and a conversion for Young Munster as they were beaten 23-13 by Cork Constitution at Temple Hill. Chris Moore started at hooker for the Cookies.
Academy scrum-half Jack Oliver kicked two penalties and a conversion for Garryowen in their 23-10 win over UCC at the Mardyke. Colm Hogan scored a try for Garryowen with Academy prop George Hadden also featuring.
Jack O’Sullivan started at no.8 for College.
Evan O’Connell was in action for UL Bohs as they were beaten 34-7 by Old Crescent.
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Tickets
Champions Cup Round 4: Saturday, January 20
Munster Rugby v Northampton Saints, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here
Saturday, February 3
Munster Rugby v Crusaders, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm; SOLD OUT
URC Round 11: Friday, March 1
Munster v Zebre Parma, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
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