Tipp man set to face former boss in semis

DENIS LEAMY will reunite with the coach who handed him his professional debut six years ago in Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Saracens at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on April 27.

The Munster No 8 burst onto the scene during the 2002/03 season when Alan Gaffney, currently the Saracens director of rugby, succeeded Declan Kidney’s as provincial head coach for a three-year term.

Though making just five appearances in his first year under the affable Australian, Leamy learnt the ropes and became part of the Munster machine during Gaffney’s progressive reign, a period in which they contested two Heineken Cup semi-finals in 2003 (against Toulouse, lost 13-12) and 2004 (versus London Wasps, lost 37-32).