Big blow for Munster as Jack Crowley to miss URC quarter-final

There is some good news for Munster head coach Clayton McMillan with Fineen Wycherley and Alex Nankivell returning to training after missing the win against the Lions

Munster out-half Jack Crowley will miss his side's URC quarter-final against the Bulls. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Jack Crowley has been ruled out of Munster’s URC quarter-final visit to South Africa’s Bulls on Saturday in a serious blow to the province ahead of the knockout stages.

The Ireland fly-half had been expected to return for the URC play-offs having missed the last three rounds of the regular season with a neural leg issue sustained in the pre-game warm-up against Ulster on April 25. He was ruled out of the following week’s derby away to Connacht but named as the starting 10 for the final-round clash at home to Lions on May 16, only to again be withdrawn during the pre-match on-pitch preparations.

Munster are due to depart for Pretoria on Tuesday, with arrival scheduled for Wednesday afternoon but Monday’s squad update means they will leave without Crowley, with JJ Hanrahan set to continue as the starting fly-half.

Crowley joins a list of frontline injury absentees which also includes captain Tadhg Beirne and fellow locks Edwin Edogbo and Jean Kleyn, tighthead prop Oli Jager, loosehead Michael Milne, centre Tom Farrell and wing Calvin Nash.

Head coach Clayton McMillan did receive some good news from the Munster medical department with second row Fineen Wycherley and centre Alex Nankivell having returned to training after missing the win over Lions last time out.