Munster Set Off For Spanish Training Camp
Munster coach Tony McGahan headed up a party of 19 players plus back-up staff that has flown out for a week-long warm weather training camp at the La Santa complex in Lanzarote.
The Munster training group will be expanded on Saturday and Sunday by the further arrival of nine more players.
Brian Carney and James Coughlan’s departure was delayed by their involvement with the Ireland Sevens squad and Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan and Barry Murphy have been on duty with Ireland ‘A’ this week.
Meanwhile, Cork Constitution trio Tom Gleeson, Timmy Ryan, Darragh Hurley and Dolphin back rower Nick Williams have an AIB Cup quarter-final to take care of before they can join their colleagues in the sun.
The squad have a full training schedule set out for them under the supervision of Tony McGahan, Laurie Fisher, Jason Holland and Paul Darbyshire.
There will be two full squad training sessions, the final one on Wednesday morning with the squad due to arrive home on Thursday ahead of their Magners League game against Edinburgh in Cork on Saturday.
Explaining the reasoning behind the trip, McGahan said: “It was always in our plans to do something like this. It was something that was discussed in pre-season.
“It not only gives us time as a senior squad together but also provides the opportunity to have an intense period with some of the younger players who are coming through the Munster Rugby system.
“The biggest thing for us is to be able to get some quality training in an environment that is conducive to allowing us to train twice a day.
“And more importantly take the remaining members of the squad away and give them an opportunity to progress and be prepared for upcoming games, beginning with Edinburgh when we get back next week.
“The recent bad weather has affected us, no question about that. There’s been several times when we’ve had to change venues because of frozen ground.
“So the next week will give everyone a bit of a lift to be in sunshine and also get some quality training in to give us proper preparation for the games coming up.”
Club La Santa is run as a modern hotel with all the necessary facilities of a combined sports, active holiday resort and conference facility.
It is located on the north west coast of Lanzarote, approximately 20 minutes from Arrecife Airport.
MUNSTER’S Training Camp Squad: Federico Pucciariello, Tony Buckley, Darragh Hurley, Mike Prendergast, John O’Sullivan, Mick O’Driscoll, Dave Foley, Donnacha Ryan, Ciaran O’Boyle, Doug Howlett, Denis Fogarty, Denis Hurley, Jeremy Manning, Timmy Ryan, Niall Ronan, Rua Tipoki, Barry Murphy, Kieran Lewis, Brian Carney, Lifeimi Mafi, Paul Warwick, James Coughlan, Billy Holland, Mike Essex, Duncan Williams, Nick Williams, Tommy O’Donnell, Tom Gleeson.