Munster hopeful Oli Jager will make comeback in Champions Cup clash with Toulon 

Munster Rugby Squad Training, UL, Limerick 6/1/2026

Munster are hopeful Oli Jager will make his comeback from a long-term absence due to concussion for this Sunday’s Champions Cup pool trip to Toulon.

The one-cap Ireland international tighthead prop, signed from Crusaders in November 2023, has not played since a head injury against URC rivals Edinburgh in Cork on October 18, with Munster’s medical team ensuring the 30-year-old makes a full recovery before allowing him to train again.

Jager has now returned to full squad training and was on the pitch at Munster’s High Performance Centre on Tuesday with senior coach Mike Prendergast saying there was optimism within the coaching staff that the Super Rugby title-winning front-row would be in the selection mix ahead of the visit to Stade Felix Mayol.

“Yeah, Oli is back training, so we'll see how he gets on, through training today, we'll see how he gets on tomorrow, and hopefully he'll be back in the mix for us, which is great to see,” Prendergast said.

Munster will definitely have the four Ireland internationals who missed last Friday’s URC derby loss at Ulster back for selection. Captain Tadhg Beirne, scrum-half Craig Casey, fly-half Jack Crowley and centre Tom Farrell all missed the 28-3 defeat in Belfast but Prendergast added: “They're all available again.

“So look, it brings more experience as well, which you need in away games. You go away from home in a tough place like Toulon, and you're 10 points down (as happened in 2024 before a comeback pool victory). That kind of calmness and experience is invaluable in this competition, so the boys will bring that.” 

Added to the disappointment of a desperately poor performance against Ulster, head coach Clayton McMillan also lost the services of back-row duo John Hodnett and Alex Kendellan last Friday night.

Hodnett had minor surgery on a thumb injury following a dislocation and Munster have yet to confirm a return to play date for the flanker. Kendellen is in the same boat following an ankle injury at Ravenhill and will undergo a period of rehabilitation with the medical team with his return to play date also to be confirmed.

There was better news, though for inside centre Alex Nankivell, who was withdrawn during the game with an elbow knock but has been cleared to resume training with McMillan set to name his team to face the French Top 14 side on Friday afternoon.

Munster on Tuesday also announced that academy graduate prop Mark Donnelly has returned from a three-weeks loan at Ealing Trailfinders, having played three games in that time for the English Championship outfit.