Fineen Wycherley captains Munster for Leicester Tigers clash in Cork 

New signings Marnus van der Merwe and Kieran Brookes are both included as van der Merwe makes his first appearance

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: Ben O'Connor will feature in both halves on home turf for Munster on Friday night. Picture: INPHO/Dan Clohessy

An extended 29-man Munster squad has been named for Friday’s pre-season clash against Leicester Tigers at Virgin Media Park (7.15pm).

The match will be live-streamed on Access Munster as Fineen Wycherley captains Munster for the first time with new signings Marnus van der Merwe and Kieran Brookes both included as van der Merwe makes his first appearance for the province.

Academy backs Jake O’Riordan, Gordon Wood and Charlie O’Shea are all named with new recruit O’Shea in line for his first senior appearance at out-half.

Tony Butler, who departed over the summer after five years at the province, joined squad training this week and is also included.

Young Munster’s Hubert Gilvarry makes his second appearance of pre-season.

Tom Ahern, Alex Nankivell and Josh Wycherley are set for their first action of the campaign, having missed the clash against La Rochelle last month.

Munster Rugby (First Half): 

Ben O’Connor; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Shay McCarthy; Charlie O’Shea, Ben O’Donovan; Michael Milne/Josh Wycherley, Marnus van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes; Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo, Alex Kendellen, Brian Gleeson.

Munster Rugby (Second Half): 

Ben O’Connor; Hubert Gilvarry, Gordon Wood, Dan Kelly, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Jake O’Riordan; Josh Wycherley/Mark Donnelly, Diarmuid Barron, Ronan Foxe/Michael Ala’alatoa; Evan O’Connell, Tom Ahern; Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.