'I want to win medals': Gavin Coombes says personal glory no substitute for silverware

Left, Gavin Coombes: I’m very much team-driven so I want to achieve with Munster and now with Ireland, I want to win medals.’ Picture: Ryan Byrne

For all the accolades and recognition Gavin Coombes has received in a remarkable breakthrough season that has ended with a call-up to Ireland’s summer squad, there was one glaring omission.

The 23-year-old from Skibbereen saw what had been a slow-burning career ignite in 2020-21, transformed from three starts in 15 appearances in the previous two campaigns to Munster’s leading appearance maker for the season just passed having featured in 22 of his province’s 25 games, 17 of which were starts. Not insignificantly the back-rower also racked up 15 tries, a record tally for a Munster player in a single season.