Reinforcements.

Nine new players will join the Munster senior squad next week with the province set to return to training in small groups at the High-Performance Centre in Limerick on Monday.

Five of the players are graduates of the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy with four newcomers joining the club.

The five academy graduates are hooker Diarmuid Barron, winger Liam Coombes, prop Keynan Knox, centre Alex McHenry and back-rower Jack O’Sullivan.

South African Rugby World Cup winners Damian de Allende and RG Snyman are two big-name arrivals over summer. Both have both already completed their respective two-week self-isolation period and are settling into life in Limerick.

Roman Salanoa joins from Leinster and moved to the province in recent weeks with Matt Gallagher, an addition from Saracens, currently completing his two-week self-isolation period. The average age of the nine new additions is less than 23.

The Munster squad underwent PCR testing yesterday ahead of their return to training. The PCR testing programme is being carried out across the four provinces by Cork-based company Advanced Medical Services.

Players, coaches and support staff will undergo a swab test which indicates the presence of the COVID19 virus.

Supporting infrastructure has been put in place at the HPC to facilitate a safe return for the players and a very limited number of coaching and support staff.