Scrum-half Williams, hooker Sherry and back-rower O’Callaghan were each homegrown talents who served Munster for their entire playing careers

There were times during Joey Carbery’s explanation of his decision to leave Leinster when you wondered whether the gifted fly-half had lost his grasp of geography.

Ian Madigan admits to fears that he could slip out of Joe Schmidt’s World Cup plans, what with two of his main rivals for a place in the squad set to benefit from the opportunity to display their wares in the Pro12 play-offs.

Shane Horgan called time on his illustrious playing career yesterday due to injury as team-mates, past and present, hailed his contribution to both Leinster and Irish rugby.