Kilcoyne delight as key figures commit to cause

Dave Kilcoyne has hailed Munster’s Ireland stars in signing new contracts as a commitment to the new generation’s cause in trying to emulate the Heineken Cup feats of 2006 and 2008.

It has been a good couple of months for Munster on the field, bouncing back from a European pool opening defeat at Edinburgh to move top of the group with back-to-back wins over Perpignan and occupying top place in the RaboDirect Pro12 ahead of Saturday night’s resumption of league action at Musgrave Park against Scarlets.

Off the field developments in that period have been just as encouraging for the province, with Munster landing Irish-born Cardiff Blues No.8 Robin Copeland for next season, while Tommy O’Donnell, Conor Murray and, on Sunday, Donnacha Ryan have committed their futures to Munster and Ireland rather than being lured away by overseas interest in their signatures.