News article – Style D 1084

The final two places in the Munster squad have now been finalised with the announcement that tight head prop Mike Storey and centre Jason Jones Hughes have signed contracts with Munster.

The final two places in the Munster squad have now been finalised with the announcement that tight head prop Mike Storey and centre Jason Jones Hughes have signed contracts with the Celtic League Champions. The formalities were completed over the weekend.

Storey (27), a former Auckland Blue, before joining Saracens in January last season, is currently engaged with Northland having returned to his native New Zealand after featuring in the Zurich Premiership Wild Card Play off against Leicester Tigers (May 31st). Co-incidentally the 6ft, 18 stone prop made his debut for Saracens again against Leicester, at Welford Road when he came on as a 41st minute replacement having arrived at the London club after declining to accept a Super 12 contract with the Blues. Storey holds an Irish passport and is eligible to play for Ireland.

Australian born Jones Hughes joins Munster having spent the past number of seasons with Welsh side Newport. He hit the headlines in 1999 when he opted to use his father’s Colwyn Bay roots to declare for Wales and he won three caps during the ’99 World Cup. Jones-Hughes had earlier gone on tour with the Australian squad (Argentina 1997) and had also played for the Australian Barbarians. Following the ’99 World Cup injury curtailed any further international involvement but he was involved in the Newport side that played Munster in the 2000/2001 Heineken Cup and played in that memorable match in Rodney Parade when Munster emerged 39-24 victors.

Commenting on the signings Munster coach Alan Gaffney said, ” Well firstly I am delighted that the squad has been finalised and we can concentrate fully on getting ourselves ready for a busy season. I am really very pleased with the quality of the two players we have now added to the squad. Mike Storey was an Auckland Blue and did a stint with Saracens this season past and I think that says all that needs to said about his stature in the game. “I’ve known Jason since he was about fifteen. He was Australian A as a youngster before opting to play with Wales. The Australian selectors fought hard to keep him rightly recognising his huge talent. Jason opted to pursue his international career with Wales and won his caps during the 99 World Cup. I’m really excited about him realising his huge promise in a Munster shirt.”

It is expected that Storey will join the Munster squad after he has completed his commitments with Northland in the NPC while Jones Hughes will team up with his new team-mates immediately.