Munster Announce Squad For South Africa Trip
In-form back rower Jack O'Donoghue, who scored two tries against the Dragons, will captain Munster during their two-match stint in South Africa ©INPHO/Tom Maher
The Munster travelling party departed Ireland for South Africa on Sunday ahead of the province’s upcoming two-match tour in the United Rugby Championship.
Munster face the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria this coming Saturday at 4.05pm local time/2.05pm Irish time.
Johann van Graan’s side will then take on the Emirates Lions the following Saturday (March 19) in Johannesburg at 12pm Irish time/2pm local time.
Jack O’Donoghue will captain the 33-player travelling squad which includes six members of the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy.
Academy forwards Scott Buckley (hooker), Mark Donnelly (prop), Cian Hurley (lock), Eoin O’Connor (lock) and Alex Kendellen (back rower) travel along with scrum half Paddy Patterson.
Shannon clubman Aran Hehir, who recently joined the squad as scrum half cover, is also included in the travelling squad.
A positive step for Damian de Allende sees the Springbok centre travel with the squad to his native South Africa as he recovers from an abdomen injury.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Loughman did not travel having been called up to the Ireland senior squad for the first time, with Craig Casey and Gavin Coombes also returning to the national camp.
MUNSTER Squad – Backs (16): Liam Coombes, Neil Cronin, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly, Damian de Allende, Chris Farrell, Jake Flannery, Matt Gallagher, Dan Goggin, Mike Haley, Ben Healy, Aran Hehir, Calvin Nash, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo.
Forwards (17): Stephen Archer, Diarmuid Barron, Scott Buckley, Chris Cloete, Mark Donnelly, John Hodnett, Cian Hurley, Alex Kendellen, Jean Kleyn, Keynan Knox, Eoin O’Connor, Jack O’Donoghue (capt), Jack O’Sullivan, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Fineen Wycherley, Josh Wycherley.