Rory Scannell: ‘Nearly men’ tag now wearing thin at Munster

At 24, Rory Scannell has not been on the Munster scene long enough to bear the pain of the province’s long wait for silverware. 

The emotional scar tissue of a seventh season without a trophy does not tear at the nerves the same way it might for more experienced team-mates. Yet Scannell shares the frustration, is aware that for some, the time for glory is running out and is certain he does not want his career to remain unaccompanied by medals for as long as it has for others in the squad.

The Ireland centre will lace up the boots at the RDS on Saturday for Munster’s Guinness PRO14 semi-final showdown against European champions Leinster aiming to help the province into a second successive league play-off final and prevent another season ending unfulfilled.