Leinster And Munster Confirm Additional Players

All eight Heineken Cup quarter-finalists, including holders Munster and their provincial rivals Leinster, have taken up the option of registering new players for the knock-out stages of the tournament.

The Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Bath have all named a maximum three players, while Leicester Tigers, Harlequins and Leinster have each named two extra players.

Reigning champions Munster have added one player to their squad, while Toulouse have re-registered utility back Nicolas Bezy.

Munster have added former Ireland Under-21 hooker Michael Essex to their squad, while their quarter-final rivals the Ospreys have added two forwards and a back.

Jonathan Spratt, who spent the early part of the season playing at centre or full-back for Taranaki, provides new options behind the scrum and Samoan international lock Filipo Levi and Bridgend Ravens hooker Scott Baldwin will do the same up front.

Harlequins have added two England Under-20 players in winger Sebastien Stegmann, who has already played seven Premiership games this season, and lock Chris York.

Their last-eight opponents, Leinster, have added two of the 2007 Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam side in prop Jamie Hagan and out-half Kyle Tonetti, who played recently for the Ireland Sevens team.

ERC (European Rugby Cup) can confirm that the following players have been nominated by their clubs as their ‘additional player(s)’ for the knock-out stages of the 2008/09 Heineken Cup.

Additional Players – 2008/09 Heineken Cup Knock-Out Stages:

LEINSTER:

JAMIE HAGAN
Date of Birth: 15/04/1987
Position: Prop
Height: 1.88m
Weight: 114kg
International record: Uncapped

KYLE TONETTI
Date of Birth: 12/05/1987
Position: Outside Half / Centre
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 102kg
International record: Uncapped

MUNSTER:

MICHAEL ESSEX
Date of Birth: 09/07/1985
Position: Hooker
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 105kg
International record: Uncapped