Munster hooker Diarmuid Barron extends stay at province

Diarmuid Barron of Munster during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Dragons. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Munster hooker Diarmuid Barron has put pen-to-paper on a new contract that keeps him at the province until 2028.

The 27-year-old has scored 12 tries in 97 appearances and has captained Munster in 13 competitive fixtures.

The former Cashel RFC and Rockwell College front-row won a Munster Schools Senior Cup title with the Tipperary school in 2015 and joined the Munster academy in 2018.

After making his Munster debut away to Cardiff in September 2018, he went on to make seven appearances as an academy player before earning promotion to the senior squad in 2020.

The 2021/22 season was Barron’s breakthrough campaign as he made 22 appearances over the season, including a Champions Cup debut.

By now a key member of the squad, Barron continued to impress in 2022/23 and helped Munster to the URC title, scoring five tries in 22 appearances.

At international level, along with featuring for Ireland at under-20 level, he has also lined out for Emerging Ireland and Ireland A, and has been named in the Ireland XV squad for next week’s clash against England A at Thomond Park.