Kidney announces Chicago squad

Munster coach Declan Kidney has announced his Munster 26-man squad for the pre-season trip to have Chicago next Wednesday morning.

The new signings Kieran Lewis, Niall Ronan, Paul Warwick and Rua Tipoki will travel with in a aprty also including young indigenous talent in Ciaran O'Boyle, Gerry Hurley, Mark Melbourne.

Munster play the US Eagles in Toyota Park on Sunday August 27th in what will act as the first of their three match pre-season programme while the game will serve as the final outing for the Americans before the World Cup.

Coach Declan Kidney, looking forward to the trip said, " Everyone's aware of the importance of pre-season work and the matches serve as a significant part of that preparation.

"It is a privilege to be able to include an international side in our pre-season schedule and even more so when we are playing them in their own back yard just before they head off for the World Cup.

"It's a marvellous opportunity for us, and particularly for the younger members of the squad, to get this type of exposure against an international outfit."

MUNSTER SQUAD: F Pucciariello, T Buckley, Darragh Hurley, A Foley, J O'Sullivan, Donnacha Ryan, M O'Driscoll, E McGovern, D Fogarty, N Ronan, J Coughlan, M Melbourne, A Horgan, J Kelly, T O'Leary, C O'Boyle, D Hurley, J Manning, M Lawlor, I Dowling, B Murphy, K Lewis, L Mafi, P Warwick, R Tipoki, G Hurley,