Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley and Seán O'Brien pen contract extensions with Munster

Niall Scannell has penned a one-year extension with Munster while Josh Wycherley has signed a two-year contract extension. 

CONTRACT EXTENSIONS: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycerley and Seán O'Brien pen new contract extension with Munster.

Munster and the IRFU have announced that Niall Scannell has penned a one-year contract extension while Josh Wycherley and Seán O'Brien have signed a two-year contract with the province.

Scannell has made 189 appearance to date scoring 22 tries for Munster and made 20 appearances for Ireland.

The 32-year-old was a key member of the squad that won the URC title in 2022/23 making 22 appearances during that campaign with 15 starts.

Scannell made his Munster debut against Scarlets in December 2013 after coming through the ranks at PBC and Dolphin RFC.

He captained PBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup in 2010 before leading the Ireland U20s at the 2012 Junior World Championship.

Niall and his brother Rory were the first set of brothers to start for Munster in the PRO12 away to Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in December 2015. The duo in 2017 became the first Munster brothers to play for Ireland in the professional era against Japan in Shizuoka. 

Scannell made his Ireland debut in the Six Nations against Italy in Rome in 2017 amd went on to feature in the remaining four games. In 2018, he was part of the Ireland squad that won a first Test series in Australia since 1979.

Wycherley is a graduate of the Munster Academy and has made 66 appearance for the province since his debut against Cardiff in 2020.

The 25 year-old came through the ranks at Bantry Bay RFC and Cistercian College Roscrea before joining the Academy in 2018. He played his AIL rugby with Young Munster RFC.

Wycherley was part of the 2019 Ireland U20 Grand Slam winning Six Nations side alongside Craig Casey and John Hodnett and featured prominently in that summer's U20 World Rugby Champoinship.

He made his Champions Cup debut against Harlequins in December 2020 before making his first European start against against Clermont Auvergne the following week.

The loosehead made 21 appearances over the campaign when Munster won the URC title. He sustained a neck injury in October and returned to team training this week ahead of Saturday's URC clash against Scarlets at Thomond Park. 

O'Brien is in his second season with Munster having joined from Exeter Chiefs. He has made 24 appearances since joining the province scoring six tries. 

The Westmeath native was a member of the Connacht Academy before moving to Exeter for two years in 2021. 

O'Brien scored five tries in 20 appearances in his debut campaign making appearances on the wing and in midfield.

He earned a call-up to the Emerging Ireland squad for their tour to South Africa at the start of this campaign. He made four appearances for Munster this season before a leg injury ruled him out the last few months. 

O'Brien returns to team training this week ahead of the Scarlets clash on Saturday.