Munster ready for new facility
Work on the €9.5m facility at the University of Limerick is under way and is due to be completed ahead of the 2016-2017 season. It will include weight rooms, medical and physiotherapy treatment rooms, offices, audio visual suites, meeting rooms, and a 50-seater lecture theatre.
UL president Don Barry said: “I am delighted that this new facility will further cement the ongoing and successful relationship between Munster Rugby and the University of Limerick. A single training facility will be beneficial to Munster Rugby and the new facilities will help raise the university’s profile.”
Munster Rugby ratified the deal in May 2013. The decision, taken after a lengthy consultative process involving players, management, Munster officials, and an independent outside-consultant. Matches will continue to be played along current fixture scheduling lines in Musgrave Park and Thomond Park.
Munster will maintain their administration headquarters in Cork.
Meanwhile, Mike Sherry is back to strengthen Munster for tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Treviso at Musgrave Park. The hooker plays his first Pro12 game in almost two years since returning from a succession of injuries.
Dave Foley wins his 50th cap in a side to be captained by CJ Stander. Duncan Williams and Ian Keatley form the half-back partnership against a visiting side that will be without all eight of their World Cup internationals.
F Jones; A Conway, D Johnston, R Scannell, S Monahan; I Keatley, D Williams; J Cronin, M Sherry, BJ Botha; J Madigan, D Foley; D O’Callaghan, J O’Donoghue, CJ Stander (captain).
N Scannell, J Ryan, S Archer, R Copeland, S Buckley, C Sheridan, T Bleyendaal, C Bohane.
J Hayward; L Nitoglia, T Iannone, H Bacchin, A Pratichetti; S Christie, C Smylie; A De Marchi (captain), R Santamaria, R Harden; D Naude, T Palmer; R Barbieri, D Budd, B Steyn
L Bigi, Z Matthew, S Ferrari, P Gerosa, J-F Montauriol, M Barbini, A Lucchese, S Ragusi
