Tom Wood ruled out for Munster until new year 

Tom Wood of Munster after the pre-season match match at La Rochelle. Pic: Emilian Baldow/Sportsfile

Munster’s fly-half issues ahead of their URC opener at home to Glasgow Warriors this Saturday have been brought into sharp focus with the loss of Academy number 10 Tom Wood until the new year.

The 20-year-old Ireland Under-20 international, who made his senior Munster debut off the bench at Glasgow last January, is set to undergo surgery this week on a shoulder he injured during training with the province confirming on Tuesday that Wood had been ruled out until January.

With first-choice fly-half Jack Crowley also not expected back until then due to the vascular lower leg issue that has kept him sidelined since April and new signing Will Harrison rehabilitating the knee problem which the former Waratah re-injured on his arrival from Japanese club Kinetsu Liners during pre-season, head coach Clayton McMillan has just one senior number 10 available to him ahead of the Thomond Park round one clash with Glasgow.

JJ Hanrahan missed last Friday’s final pre-season warm-up, a 32-24 defeat to Leicester Tigers in Cork, due to a concussion he sustained in the same in-house game which saw Tom Wood injured and is currently completing his return-to-play protocols with a view to starting against the Warriors this Saturday, while Munster have also re-signed Tony Butler, the Ennis-born fly-half released at the end of last season, on a short-term contract as injury cover.

Butler, 24, made 28 senior appearances in his five seasons at the province and rejoined training last week, appearing as a second-half replacement against Leicester for starting 10 Charlie O’Shea, the academy fly-half who impressed after being pressed into service having returned late to pre-season following his Under-20 World Championship campaign with Ireland.

Head coach McMillan, quoted in Munster’s squad update released on Tuesday, said sending Wood for surgery was the correct decision for both player and team.

“Undergoing surgery now is the best option for Tom in both the short- and long-term.

“He is a very promising young player with a bright future. While it’s disappointing for him to miss the coming months, I know he will use the time wisely and come back in even better condition to make a big contribution to Munster this season and in the years ahead.” 

While there were no fresh injuries arising from last Friday’s Virgin Media Park friendly against Leicester, McMillan must also plan without Lee Barron, who has a short-term ankle injury, fellow hooker Max Clein, lock Edwin Edogbo, centre Tom Farrell and wing Calvin Nash this weekend.

On a positive note, incoming South Africa hooker Marnus van der Merwe made a successful return to action in Cork after rehabilitating the calf injury he sustained with Scarlets last season and looks set for a senior debut on Saturday having dovetailed with Diarmuid Barron against the Tigers.

Munster also reported back-rower Ruadhán Quinn is increasing his training load and is expected to return shortly.