Chisholm Back In Full Training With Munster

There was positive news coming from the Munster medical department this week with no fresh injury concerns following last Friday GUINNESS PRO12 defeat to the Scarlets, while a number of players are making a full return to training.

Mark Chisholm, Sam Arnold, Robin Copeland and Rory Scannell will all take part in full training this week. Chisholm, who last played for the province against the Newport Gwent Dragons in March 2016, was forced to take an extended break from the game due to concussion.

Following ongoing medical care and observation the Australian lock has now been cleared to make a return to full training. Commenting on his involvement, Rassie Erasmus noted: “It is always great to see a player return to training, however, as player welfare continues to be our priority, it will be some time before Mark is available to play as we give him every opportunity and the appropriate time to build up the required training and match fitness after such an extended break.”

A further positive sees young centre Arnold back involved having recovered from a knee injury he sustained against Doncaster Knights in the British & Irish Cup in early January. Similarly, Copeland has completed his rehab for a thumb injury sustained in the same game to take his place in this week’s sessions.

Scannell is also back involved having overcome the recent knock to his knee, sustained in Munster’s round 15 win away to the Ospreys, while Jack O’Donoghue will continue to be rested for the ankle injury sustained in the same match.

Jean Kleyn (neck), John Madigan (ankle), James Cronin (finger), Alex Wootton (shoulder), Sean McCarthy (knee) and Mike Sherry (back) are continuing to rehab their respective injuries.

On the international front, no less than eight Munster players featured for Ireland in their 19-9 win over France. Try scorer Conor Murray joined Simon Zebo, Keith Earls, Donnacha Ryan and CJ Stander in the starting XV with Niall Scannell, John Ryan and Peter O’Mahony all appearing off the bench. Missing last season’s campaign due to injury, O’Mahony made his first Six Nations appearance since March 2015. 

The previous night saw seven Munster representatives included in the Ireland Under-20 team that also defeated France, doing so on a 27-22 scoreline at Donnybrook. The Academy’s Calvin Nash captained the side with the returning Bill Johnston scoring 12 points from the boot. Gavin Coombes featured off the bench with the remainder of the representation coming from the sub-Academy ranks.

Finally, a number of contracted players took to the field at Irish Independent Park on Sunday where Cork Constitution secured a five in-a-row of Munster Senior Cup titles, defeating Young Munster 14-0. The Academy’s Ned Hodson, Rory Burke and Vincent O’Brien all featured for Con with senior representative Cian Bohane starting for Young Munster.