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O’Leary And Crosbie To Start As Munster ‘A’ Half-Backs

O’Leary And Crosbie To Start As Munster ‘A’ Half-Backs

A strong Munster ‘A’ team has been named for Saturday’s British and Irish Cup Pool 2 opener against London Welsh at Midleton RFC (kick-off 2.30pm). Head coach Peter Malone has included the likes of captain Cian Bohane, Tomas O’Leary and Andrew Conway alongside a wealth of emerging provincial talent.

A total of 12 players are in line to make their British & Irish Cup debuts for the province, with Peter Malone selecting players from across the senior, Academy and club ranks.

Four debutants will start in the pack – Dolphin lock John Madigan and the Academy trio of Vincent O’Brien, John Foley and Gavin Coombes.

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Madigan has overcome the injuries that curtailed his competitive involvement in previous seasons and starts in the second row alongside Darren O’Shea, while hooker O’Brien joins Peter McCabe and Academy tighthead Rory Burke in the front row. Foley and Coombes will join their Academy colleague Sean O’Connor in the back row.

A further three B&I Cup debutants for Munster ‘A’ are seen across the back-line, including Ireland international Tomas O’Leary, former Leinster ‘A’ play-maker Steve Crosbie and Dublin University full-back Colm Hogan.

The experienced O’Leary and new signing Crosbie form a new half-back partnership with captain Cian Bohane and David Johnston taking charge in midfield. Andrew Conway and Alex Wootton start on the flanks with Trinity starlet Hogan completing the back-three.

Included among the replacements, the Academy’s Fineen Wycherley and Calvin Nash and club talents Peter Kelleher (UL Bohemians), Niall Mulcahy (Shannon) and Abrie Griesel (Young Munster )are all in line to make their B&I Cup bows for the province.

Entry is free for all Munster Rugby Supporters Club members and 10-Year ticket holders on production of membership cards or season tickets. Click here for full Munster ‘A’ v London Welsh matchday Information.

MUNSTER ‘A’ (v London Welsh): Colm Hogan; Andrew Conway, David Johnston, Cian Bohane (capt), Alex Wootton; Steve Crosbie, Tomas O’Leary; Peter McCabe, Vincent O’Brien, Rory Burke, John Madigan. Darren O’Shea, Sean O’Connor, John Foley, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Liam O’Connor, Peter Kelleher, Niall Mulcahy, Fineen Wycherley, Abrie Griesel, Calvin Nash, Steven McMahon.