Milne And Barron Join Munster Ahead Of Schedule

Munster Rugby and the IRFU have confirmed that Michael Milne and Lee Barron have joined the province on loan from Leinster until the end of the season, ahead of their permanent moves to Munster in the summer.

Loosehead prop Milne and hooker Barron will link up with the Munster squad at the High Performance Centre in Limerick this week after Jeremy Loughman and Diarmuid Barron sustained injuries against La Rochelle and Bordeaux-Bègles respectively.

From Birr in County Offaly, powerful prop Milne came up through the ranks at Birr RFC and Cistercian College Roscrea.

He scored 12 tries in 48 appearances for Leinster since making his senior debut as an Academy player in 2019.

He played schools rugby alongside Josh Wycherley, and the front row duo won a Grand Slam with the Ireland Under-20s in 2019 alongside Craig Casey and John Hodnett.

The 26-year-old represented Emerging Ireland in 2022, and has twice been called up to train with the Ireland senior squad.

A dynamic hooker who has represented Ireland at Under-20 level, Barron has scored three tries in 23 appearances since making his Leinster debut as an Academy player against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in 2022.

The 24-year-old has spent the past five years at Leinster having come up through the ranks at Lansdowne FC and St. Michael’s College.

He scored one try in seven appearances for Leo Cullen’s men this season.