Five academy graduates sign senior Munster contracts

Ben Healy: Put pen to paper on a new Munster contract. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Johann van Graan welcomed more good news for Munster on Thursday after the province announced a raft of contract extensions and the promotion of four academy stars to the senior squad for next season.

Ben Healy, John Hodnett, Jake Flannery, James French and Seán French have all signed their first senior deals while Munster have also secured the services for an extended spell of Mike Haley, Gavin Coombes and Neil Cronin. The announcement came hours after the IRFU announced it had extended Munster captain Peter O’Mahony’s central contract for a further two years to 2023.