Munster elevate Ben O'Connor to Champions Cup squad ahead of Gloucester clash

The former Cork hurling prodigy was elevated to Clayton McMillan's first-team group for continental duty in Thursday's squad updates released by EPCR

MOVING ON UP: Ben O'Connor at Munster training last week. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Munster have added full-back Ben O’Connor to their Champions Cup squad having deregistered Shay McCarthy from their nominated EPCR list of players ahead of Saturday’s pool clash with Gloucester.

Both players were on All Ireland League duty last weekend as Munster lost their opening Pool 2 clash at Bath.

First-year senior wing McCarthy scored two tries for Young Munster in their 29-19 win over Terenure in Division 1A last Saturday while academy full-back O’Connor also scored two tries in 1B for UCC in the college’s 34-24 defeat to City of Armagh.

Neither player was injured but the full-back has been preferred over the wing for the rest of the pool campaign.

Saturday’s rivals Gloucester have also adjusted their European squad ahead of the Pairc ui Chaoimh tie, deregistering Wales centre Max Llewellyn and replacing him with Caio James.

There have been also been changes to both Connacht and Ulster’s Challenge Cup squads with the westerners adding hooker Dylan Tierney Martin while deregistering academy hooker Matthew Victory in time for their home pool tie against Georgia’s Black Lions at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday night.

At Ulster meanwhile, the injury sustained by Mike Lowry on Ireland A duty last month has seen Instonians full-back Bradley McNamara elevated to the northern province’s European squad, four days after joining on a short-term contract and ahead of this Saturday evening’s trip to Cardiff.