Seniors boost Munster A

MUNSTER A start the build-up to the British and Irish Cup campaign with a game against Irish rivals Leinster at Donnybrook on Sunday (2.30pm) and are boosted by the inclusion of some key figures from the senior squad.

Dave Foley has been nominated to lead the team although coach Anthony Foley has yet to choose the starting line-up from a group of 24 players.

Included are the vastly experienced James Coughlan, who returns after being injured in the pre-season opener against Leicester Tigers August 20, while Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, Ian Nagle, Duncan Williams and Scott Deasy are others with extensive recent game time for the senior squad. Others such as Simon Zebo, Ivan Dinneen, Conor Murray, Darragh Hurley, Stephen Archer and Paddy Butler also featured in Munster’s pre-season friendly games against the Tigers and Gloucester.

Munster are drawn in a British and Irish Cup group alongside Bristol, Esher, Llanelli, Nottingham, and Melrose whom they meet away in the first round on December 11.

Leinster will play inaugural winners Cornish Pirates, Currie, Newport, Worcester, and Plymouth Albion, against whom they are drawn first time out at home, also on December 11.

MUNSTER A: S Scanlon, L O’Dea, R O’Mahony, D Hurley, I Dineen, E Maloney, T Smith, S Zebo, C Murray, D Williams, S Deasy, D Hurley, S Archer, A Cotter, D Kilcoyne, S Henry, G Burke, D Foley, I Nagle, D O’Callaghan, B Holland, T O’Donnell, P Butler, J Coughlan.