Munster name first team of the season — in fact, two teams — for trip to Gloucester
Head coach Clayton McMillan at squad training in UL. Pic: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
New Munster boss Clayton McMillan has named his first matchday squad of his tenure as the province begins its pre-season fixtures at Gloucester on Friday night.
The former Chiefs head coach, who became the permanent successor to 2023 URC winner Graeme Rowntree after guiding the New Zealand side to a third straight Super Rugby final in June, will take a 31-player squad to Kingsholm with both clubs fielding a different team for each half of the friendly fixture.
There are debuts for summer signings Dan Kelly, at centre in the first-half line-up, returning fly-half JJ Hanrahan and former UCC lock Conor Ryan, both of whom will play in the second half against an English Prem side which will be Munster’s Champions Cup group rivals this season, providing the opposition at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this December.
There is also a comeback from a long-term absence for versatile back Shane Daly, who sustained a serious hamstring injury on Ireland duty against England A in Bristol last March.
Wing Andrew Smith and hooker Lee Barron also feature for the first time since joining the province permanently in July following loan switches from Connacht and Leinster respectively last season.
There are also first appearances as senior players for academy graduates Shay McCarthy, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhán Quinn and Kieran Ryan while current academy players Seán Edogbo and Max Clein are both included.
Munster will be captained by Niall Scannell in the first half and Jack O'Donoghue in the second.
Munster’s Ireland and Ireland U20 internationals have not been considered for selection having only recently returned to the province for pre-season training following their summer call-ups.
Gloucester, meanwhile, will start the game with former Leinster and Ireland fly-half Ross Byrne making his debut in cherry and white following his summer move to England.
McMillan’s competitive campaign as head coach begins at Scarlets on Saturday, September 27 in the opening round of the URC and the new boss will have a home pre-season clash against Johann van Graan’s English champions Bath, also Champions Cup pool opponents at Cork’s Virgin Media Park on Friday, September 12.
The Munster squad will round out their preparation for the new season with have an internal game the following week.
C Atkinson; B Loader, W Joseph, W Butler, O Thorley; R Byrne, C Englefield; Ciaran Knight, J Singleton, K Gotovtsev; F Thomas, C Jordan; J Basham, L Ludlow (captain), J Mann.
M Haley; A Smith, T Farrell, D Kelly, S McCarthy; T Butler, E Coughlan; J Loughman, N Scannell (captain), J Ryan; E O’Connell, F Wycherley; R Quinn, J Hodnett, B Gleeson. M Clein, M Donnelly, K Ryan.
J Hathaway; J Morris, J Edwards-Giraud, M Knight, J Cotgreave; G Barton, M Austin; H Bellamy, J Innard, J Benz-Salomon; D Gwynne, M Alemanno; W Trenholm, J Venter, J Clement (captain). G Knowles, A McArthur, O Allport, H Taylor, C James, R Price.
T Abrahams; S Daly, S O’Brien, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; JJ Hanrahan, P Patterson; J Wycherley, L Barron, O Jager; C Ryan, F Wycherley/E O’Connell; S Edogbo, R Quinn/J Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue (captain). M Clein, M Donnelly, K Ryan.
