Temporary stand ready for Wasps’ visit

A NEW-look Musgrave Park will stage tonight’s glamour pre-season friendly between Munster and London Wasps (7pm).

Just 10 weeks after the old west stand structure was demolished, a new temporary stand at the ground will be in use for the clash of the former Heineken Cup winners which has increased the capacity to 9,251.

Sales and marketing manager at the club, Glyn Billinghurst, admitted that while he’s delighted with the new stand, he is hopeful of something more permanent in the future.

“We always recognised the need for new facilities at Musgrave Park and this construction is just the first step in a long-term plan for a permanent facility here,” he said.

The stand itself has an all- seated capacity of 2,900 and runs between the two 22s, banked by terraces at either side.

“I have to credit the people who’ve worked so hard over the past while to make this happen in time for the game tonight and in particular our facilities manager Ian Dunne,” he added.

Planning permission had been granted for a permanent stand but the downturn in the economy forced those plans to be shelved while the planning permission for the temporary stand runs for two years, after which it is hoped to put the permanent structure in place.

Following on from tonight’s game, Musgrave Park will host five games in the RaboDirect Pro12 League. Wasps, under the coaching eye of Dai Young will bring a mainly experimental side to Cork, although Tom Varndell is a familiar top name in the squad.

Following last week’s 19-12 defeat in La Rochelle, Munster coach Tony McGahan has called on the experience of Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi, Peter Stringer, Wian Du Preez and new signing BJ Botha, who makes his debut.

McGahan still intends experimenting and does so by naming David O’Callaghan and Paddy Butler at numbers six and eight respectively in a back row that also features Peter O’Mahony.

Meanwhile, in Donnybrook (7pm), Leinster take on the touring Melbourne Rebels, the most recent addition to the Super 15 in the southern hemisphere.

New Zealand out-half Mat Berquist makes his first appearance for Leinster since his summer arrival from the Canterbury Crusaders and he will partner recent Academy graduate John Cooney at half-back.

Left-winger Fionn Carr and front row Jamie Hagan, who have returned east after a spell with Connacht, are both named in the team which will be captained by back row Rhys Ruddock.

At The Gnoll tomorrow night, teenagers Peter Nelson and Christopher Farrell join Michael Allen in making their debuts in a youthful Ulster side that will face Neath.

They are joined in the backs by Luke Marshall, Paddy Jackson and Craig Gilroy, all of whom will make their first appearances of the season.