Munster's Billy Burns(Image: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)

Munster Rugby announce squad for two-game URC trip to South Africa

Munster boss Graham Rowntree welcomes back some experienced players and the squad will hook up with the Reds' Emerging Ireland contingent in Cape Town

15 Oct 2024, 18:32 by Michael Scully · Irish Mirror

Billy Burns is among a trio of experienced backs who have returned for Munster's trip to South Africa.

Burns, a summer signing from Ulster, missed out in recent weeks with a shoulder injury but is fit to return, along with Shane Daly and Rory Scannell, as the Reds look to bounce back from their loss to Leinster.

Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and John Ryan were in the wars at Croke Park but made the plane for the Stormers clash on Saturday, followed by a clash with the Sharks the following week.

Diarmuid Barron is still going through his return to play protocols from the Leinster game but has travelled with the Reds and could feature against the Sharks.

Five members of the Emerging Ireland squad - the tour skipper Alex Kendellen, plus Evan O'Connell, Ethan Coughlan, Ben O'Connor and Ronan Foxe - all stayed in South Africa and will join the squad in Cape Town.

There has been further bad news on the injury front of the province, with prop Josh Wycherley ruled out for four months after having neck surgery. Mark Donnelly will be absent for six to eight weeks following an ankle operation.

Munster squad

Forwards: Diarmuid Barron, Scott Buckley, Eoghan Clarke, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Ronan Foxe, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Kieran Ryan, Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne, Jean Kleyn, Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn.

Backs: Craig Casey, Ethan Coughlan, Conor Murray, Billy Burns, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Ben O’Connor.

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