Ireland

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2023

News

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

Monday was community legacy day at Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 as the IRFU's 'Spirit of Rugby' programme brought together some local disability rugby players from DLSP Eagles, Seapoint Dragons and Westmanstown Wasps, and a number of WRWC players and coaches from the competing nations, for a fun-filled coaching/training session and Tag rugby games.

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."

Speaking ahead of Saturday's second Test against Japan, Ireland tour captain Rhys Ruddock said: "We've been happy with the results so far, and there's been bits of the performances we've been really happy with and some bits that we're looking to improve on. Tomorrow marks the last opportunity to go out and do that, so we're all really excited about getting out there now."

Speaking about working with the provinces and monitoring players' progress, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt told RTE Radio 1: "For us, having the best quality of performance within the provinces, getting some really good coaching from the provincial coaches, which we know is happening at the moment, that's the foundation that we need because in the end we get the players in a match week pretty much."