Munster boosted by return of seven players to full training 

BOOST: Tom Farrell, Roman Salanoa, Edwin Edogbo, Mike Haley, Andrew Smith, Mikey Milne and John Ryan all return to full training for Munster. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Munster’s bid for a third straight victory in their new URC campaign this Friday has been boosted by the return to full training of seven senior squad member ahead of the visit of Edinburgh to Cork’s Virgin Media Park.

Tighthead prop Roman Salanoa and lock Edwin Edogbo are among the returning septet as they continue their comebacks from serious injury while the shorter-term absentees are Munster Player of the Year and centre Tom Farrell, full-back Mike Haley, wing Andrew Smith, and props Mikey Milne and John Ryan.

The availability all the returning players for Friday night’s URC round three clash will be determined later this week ahead of Thursday’s team announcement, Munster said on Monday, but scrum-half Craig Casey, who sustained a hamstring injury in training last week, remains an outside bet for featuring against Edinburgh and is expected to return for the round four trip to Croke Park to face Leinster on October.

Fly-half JJ Hanrahan, who started the round-one win at Scarlets but sustained a concussion and missed last Saturday’s home victory over Cardiff, is continuing to follow the return-to-play protocols and his availability will also be determined later in the week, while wing Diarmuid Kilgallen is increasing his training load. Another whose availability is to be determined is hooker Niall Scannell, who sustained a hand laceration in the 23-20 win at Thomond Park.

Definitely missing out this weekend is wing Shane Daly, who failed a HIA post-match after being removed on 10 minutes against Cardiff and will now enter the return-to-play protocols.