Six Munster Players Sign Contract Extensions
Joey Carbery is pictured in possession during Ireland's memorable win over New Zealand during the recent Autumn Nations Series at the Aviva Stadium ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Munster Rugby and the IRFU have confirmed that Joey Carbery, Liam Coombes, Chris Farrell, Jean Kleyn, Jack O’Sullivan, and Greencore Munster Rugby Academy player Alex Kendellen, have all put pen to paper on new contracts.
The six players have signed two-year contract extensions that will see them remain with Munster until at least June 2024.
Since joining the province in 2018, Ireland international Carbery has made 30 appearances in red, scoring 264 points.
During this time, the out-half has been unlucky with injuries but has returned to show his quality on each occasion and while he is currently sidelined with an elbow injury, it is a huge boost to have a player of his calibre commit to Munster.
With four tries in 10 appearances, Coombes has shown his quality and versatility since moving up to the senior squad from the Academy in 2020.
A product of Skibbereen and CBC Cork, 24-year-old Coombes plays his Energia All-Ireland League rugby with Garryowen and has lined out on the wing and outside centre for the province.
In his second year of the academy, the 20-year-old Kendellen (pictured below) will advance to the senior ranks ahead of the 2022/23 season.
A product of PBC Cork, the UCC back rower has made four appearances to date, with his first start coming against Connacht in the United Rugby Championship last weekend.
Kendellen, who captained the Ireland Under-20s last year, was one of the stand-out performers at the U-20 Six Nations Championship held in Wales last June.
Ireland international centre Farrell has scored eight tries in 52 Munster appearances since making his debut in September 2017.
Farrell has earned 15 international caps since moving to Munster from Grenoble and has been an ever-present for the province since returning from an abdomen injury last month.
Ireland international lock Kleyn is closing in on a century of Munster appearances, having scored 12 tries in 97 games since joining from the DHL Stormers in 2016.
Kleyn has been one of the province’s most consistent performers over recent seasons and is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
Back rower O’Sullivan has scored two tries in 21 Munster appearances since making his debut in 2019.
A product of PBC Cork, the 23-year-old UCC clubman made his Champions Cup debut in January 2020 and made 10 appearances last year after graduating from the Academy.