Munster Rugby name their team to face Glasgow Warriors in season opener
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New season.
Munster Rugby have named their team for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship opener against Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park in Limerick.
New front row signings Kieran Brookes and Marnus van Merwe are both included for their Munster debuts, as Brookes starts at tighthead with hooker van der Merwe among the replacements.
Academy half-backs Jake O’Riordan and Charlie O’Shea, both try-scorers in the pre-season clash with Leicester Tigers last week, are named in the replacements.
UCC clubman O’Shea is set for his Munster debut just over a month since joining the Academy. A former Dolphin RFC underage player, 20-year-old O’Shea captained CBC to the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title in 2025.
21-year-old scrum-half Ben O’Donovan makes his first start for the province, having impressed since joining the Academy in February. Mike Haley, Diarmuid Kilgallen and recent Academy graduate Ben O’Connor start in the back three.
Seán O’Brien and last year’s Player of the Year Alex Nankivell partner up in the centres with O’Donovan and JJ Hanrahan in the half-backs.
Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron and Brookes pack down in the front row with Evan O’Connell and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room. A back row of Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes completes the starting XV.
Van der Merwe, Josh Wycherley and Michael Ala’alatoa provide the front row back-up as Brian Gleeson and John Hodnett complete the forward cover.
O’Riordan, O’Shea and Dan Kelly are the backline replacements.
Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Ben O’Connor; JJ Hanrahan, Ben O’Donovan; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron (C), Kieran Brookes; Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Josh Wycherley, Michael Ala’alatoa, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Jake O’Riordan, Charlie O’Shea, Dan Kelly.
