URC
Academy Update | February 2024
14 Munster Rugby Academy and pathway players have featured for the Munster senior team so far this season as young players continue to develop on the Munster Rugby pathway.
Ireland U20 internationals Ben O’Connor and Brian Gleeson, who are both in the first year of the Academy, have even made their Champions Cup debuts and are the only members of the Ireland U20 squad who have featured in the URC this season.
We spoke to Munster Rugby Academy & Pathway Manager Gar Prendergast for the latest update on the province’s young players.
Season so far & what’s coming up…
“It’s been great. We‘re getting a lot of exposure to the different teams and representative teams. Starting with the seniors, we’ve had numerous Academy player appearances in the URC, Champions Cup and the game against Crusaders.
“We love to see all these Academy lads getting their opportunity. It’s huge for accelerating their development, getting exposed to that standard of rugby is fantastic.
“That’s the key, the exposure to game time, it can’t be replicated. The training we do with the senior team is fantastic but getting that game time as well complements that.
“I’ve said it many a time that the AIL provides that platform for these lads and it’s a real test to play adult level rugby. To get those reps in the AIL is crucial.
“More representation in the IRFU’s Combined Academies squad has been fantastic and coming up at Easter we’ll have the representative teams then – the Irish U19s and Schools etc.
“We’ve also had development games against Ulster and the Ireland U20s.”
Crusaders involvement…
“It was an incredible opportunity to play in front of 41,000 people. You had Ruadhán Quinn, Mark Donnelly, Ethan Coughlan, Shay McCarthy, Tony Butler and Daniel Okeke all involved from the Academy along with Kamil Nowak, who made his debut.
“What a golden few weeks for them to stick their hands up while lads are away on international duty.
“We had a couple of NTS (National Talent Squad) lads involved in the warm-up as travelling reserves and it was a huge experience for them. It shows the importance of the NTS programme as well – we have NTS and PTS (Provincial Talent Squad) players who are developing all the time.
Evan O’Connell captaining the Ireland U20s & Academy graduates making their mark for Ireland…
“Evan captaining the Ireland U20s at the weekend is a huge achievement for him and his family and we’re delighted for him. It’s a great reflection on Evan and it’s been brilliant to have six Munster players involved in the opening two rounds.
“At senior level, the performances from Jack [Crowley] and Calvin [Nash] so far are a great reflection on the two lads themselves and a great reflection on the coaching. It was brilliant to see two lads who came up through the Academy in recent years play so well.
“These are all really positive stories for us.”
Schools & underage club rugby…
“We’re right in the middle of the schools and underage clubs competitions now as well, which are important platforms.
“When you look across the whole spectrum, there are lads getting opportunities at all levels and it’s all leading towards one direction which is our north star, playing senior representative rugby for the province – that’s the ultimate goal.
“Getting these opportunities at different age-grades is a huge part of their development on the pathway.”
Open day for schools coaches at HPC…
“Those connections are so important. We did it with the AIL coaches at the start of the season and then the schools coaches at the start of January, which proved to be a really worthwhile day.
“We had the NTS players in for a session and the coaches were able to watch and get a sense of how we plan and preview our sessions, they also got the chance to speak with the senior coaches too. It was a really positive experience and something we really want to build on next year again with both clubs and schools.”
See more information on the day here with a video below.
Injury update…
“Fionn Gibbons (centre/wing) and Max Clein (hooker) are just back and Kieran Ryan (prop) is due back training shortly. Ronan Foxe (prop) and Edwin Edogbo (lock) are long-term absentees.”
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
The Munster squad are preparing at the HPC ahead of Saturday night’s URC Round 13 clash against Cardiff at Thomond Park.
The game kicks off at 7.35pm with tickets from €20 available here.
In player news, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony have all returned to the HPC after helping Ireland to the 6 Nations title.
On the injury front, Academy back-row forward Ruadhán Quinn suffered a hand injury against Ospreys on Friday night and will be sidelined for a number of weeks.
Oli Jager and Fineen Wycherley have started their rehab following minor procedures for respective knee injuries.
Alex Nankivell is completing the RTP protocols and his availability will be determined later this week.
Simon Zebo was unavailable for the Ospreys game due to a low-grade hip injury and is due to return to training this week.
Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).
There were 15 Munster players in AIL action at the weekend.
In Division 1A, Fionn Gibbons and Chris Moore helped Young Munster beat Dublin University with Gibbons among the tries.
Mark Donnelly lined out for Cork Constitution as they were beaten by Terenure College.
Kieran Ryan, Darragh McSweeney and Daniel Okeke couldn’t prevent Shannon falling to a defeat to City of Armagh.
In Division 1B, Colm Hogan, Jack Oliver, George Hadden, Max Clein, Cian Hurley and Jack Daly helped Garryowen to a win over Queen’s University. Hogan, Clein and Cronin were among the tries with Oliver kicking a conversion.
Scott Buckley and Andrew O’Mahony were in action for UCC as they lost to St Mary’s College.
Tickets
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; 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
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
The Munster squad are continuing preparations ahead of Friday night’s URC Round 12 clash against Ospreys in Swansea (7.35pm).
On the injury front, there is good news for John Hodnett (finger), Jack O’Donoghue (knee) and Simon Zebo (knee) as they all return to training this week.
Oli Jager (knee) and Fineen Wycherley (knee) are both due to see specialists this week for possible surgery.
Alex Nankivell is following the return to play protocols following a head injury in training last week.
On the international front, Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman have returned to the squad after Ireland’s 6 Nations triumph at the weekend.
Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).
Tickets
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; 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
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Sutherland to join Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors can confirm that Scotland prop Rory Sutherland will join the club this summer.
The British and Irish Lion joins the Scotstoun-outfit from French side Oyonnax, making the move to Scotstoun on a two-year deal as Franco Smith’s squad continues to take shape.
The confirmation of the loose-head prop’s move to Glasgow also comes on the eve of his involvement in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin, where he is in contention to win his 30th cap for Scotland, part of the match day squad.
The 31-year-old Sutherland will bring a dynamic ball-carrying presence to the Warriors in addition to a solid platform at the set-piece.
After making his debut for Edinburgh in 2014, the prop went on to make 91 appearances in the capital before a summer switch to Worcester Warriors in 2021.
A short-term stint with Ulster followed after Worcester’s demise in 2022, running out on 12 occasions for the Irish province.
Sutherland’s form for Scotland across the 2020 and 2021 campaigns saw him selected for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, joining future Glasgow team-mate Zander Fagerson amongst the front-row options.
He became the first Scottish prop to represent the invitational squad since the late Tom Smith when selected for the first Test, playing just under an hour in the 22-17 victory over the Springboks.
Sutherland said: “The past couple of years have been tough since I had to leave Worcester. I’ve been at a few clubs and I haven’t had the consistency I’d have liked in my game. This move to Glasgow, and back to Scotland, offers me the chance to work on getting that back into my rugby.
“Glasgow is a really successful team, so to be offered the chance to come to Scotstoun is attractive for any player. For me, it allows me to come back home, and be closer to my family, which will work wonders for me.
“I’ve gotten close to some of the Glasgow players while in camp with Scotland and they talk highly of Franco and the culture in the club. I’m looking forward to that and getting back to the homeland!”
Head Coach Smith added: “We are pleased to be able to add a prop of Rory’s calibre to our squad ahead of next season.
“His qualities will make him a real asset to our playing group, as we continue to develop our strength in every position.
“We look forward to seeing him in action at Scotstoun over the next couple of seasons and we know that the Warrior Nation will welcome him to our club.”
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