Comings And Goings In Munster Academy : Irish Rugby

Six members of the current Munster Academy are moving on to senior development contracts for next season, five of those with Munster - Cian Bohane, Duncan Casey, James Cronin, Ronan O'Mahony and Niall Scannell - and James Rael is heading to Connacht.

Corey Hircock has returned to Bedford Blues, while Cathal O'Flaherty has not been re-contracted and both Philip Donnellan and Brian Hayes are understood to be negotiating opportunities to play abroad.

The new recruits include six players promoted from the province's sub-academy - Niall Horan, David Johnston, Sean McCarthy, John Madigan, Darren O'Shea and Rory Scannell - two players from Schools level, Gearoid Lyons and Greg O'Shea (both Crescent College Comprehensive), and one Irish Exiles player - Jack Cullen (Saracens).

As Rory Scannell joins the Academy, his big brother Niall advances to the next level - both Rory Scannell and Sean McCarthy were part of the Ireland Under-20s squad that competed in the RBS 6 Nations this year.

Gearoid Lyons captained Crescent College to the Munster Schools Senior Cup title in March, defeating Rockwell College in the decider.

2013/14 MUNSTER RUGBY ACADEMY (Position/Age/Club) -

Year 3: Shane Buckley (Back rower/21/Garryowen).

Year 2: Brian Haugh (Scrum half/20/Young Munster), Jonathan Holland (Out-half/21/Cork Constitution), Harry McNulty (Centre/20/Young Munster), Darren Moroney (Winger/22/UL Bohemians), Ryan Murphy (Back rower/20/Dolphin), Jack O'Donoghue (Back rower/19/UL Bohemians), Darren Sweetnam (Full-back/20/UCC).

Year 1: Jack Cullen (Scrum half/18/tbc), Niall Horan (Prop/19/Shannon), David Johnston (Full-back/19/UL Bohemians), Gearoid Lyons (Out-half/18/CCC), Darren O'Shea (Lock/21/Dolphin), Greg O'Shea (Winger/18/CCC), Sean McCarthy (Lock/19/Shannon), John Madigan (Lock/18/Dolphin), Rory Scannell (Centre/19/Dolphin).

Munster Rugby Academy Staff:

Elite Development Manager: Peter Malone
Elite Player Development Officers: Colm McMahon and Greig Oliver
Strength and Conditioning Coaches: Feargal O'Callaghan and Joe McGinley
Sub Academy Strength and Conditioning Coaches: Gordon Brett and PJ Wilson
Physios: Patrick Hanley and Damien Mordan
Video Analysis: Elliot Corcoran

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne spoke to Irish Rugby TV about the Union's 2016/17 Annual Report, which includes increased investment in Women's rugby and addresses the challenges of funding for the game in Ireland.

The launch of a commemorative stamp to mark the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland was a special day for Women's rugby, team captain Niamh Briggs and her family. We spoke to her and her dad Mike at the GPO.

Marie Louise Reilly joined her Ireland team-mates Nora Stapleton and Lindsay Peat at a recent Dublin City Council event in support of the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. Reilly, who works as a DCC Sports Officer, said: "The team are coming together really well, we're working hard and hopefully August will be really memorable not just for us but for the whole country."