Williams new Munster captain

JIM WILLIAMS has been named as the new Munster rugby captain in succession to Mick Galwey.

The Australian international, who joined Munster at the start of last season, was the unanimous choice of both management and players to succeed the Kerryman who had captained the provincial side through the past six seasons.

During that spell, Galwey helped spearhead success in three consecutive interprovincal championships, while he also led them to two European Cup finals and a semi-final in the past three years. Galwey is still a member of the Munster squad but stood down as captain at the end of last season. “I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s a great honour and I’m deeply honoured,” Williams said yesterday

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has named a 25-strong squad from which the Munster side to play Bristol Shoguns will be selected for Tuesday’s warm-up against Bristol Shoguns at Thomond Park (7pm). The squad includes newcomers Dominic Malone and Eddie Halvey plus a number of non-contracted players brought in by Gaffney because of injury and non-availability due to national squad commitments. Leinster prepare to defend their Celtic League title with warm-up match against Bristol in Longford next Saturday and London Irish in Greystones the following Wednesday.

Like the European Cup finalists, they will be very much understrength as none of their international players will be allowed to participate.

MUNSTER: D Crotty, T Cregan, J Lacey, M Lawlor, M Mullins, K Keane, J Staunton, M Prendergast, D Malone, P Brennan, F Roche, J Blaney, J Fogarty, R Laffen, T Buckley, R McKinney, M Galwey, D O’Callaghan, T Hogan, P Malone, C McMahon, E Halvey, D Bowles, U O’Callaghan, J Williams