Munster Rugby Academy Taking Shape

With six Munster Rugby academy players receiving development contracts for the 2010/11 season, eleven new players have been recruited to the academy.

Moving on are, Academy Player of the Year, Scott Deasy, and those recently involved in the B&I Cup final, Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Peter O’Mahony, Stephen Archer and Danny Barnes, who have all been promoted to the senior squad on development contracts.

New recruits include sub academy players Luke O’Dea, Cathal Sheridan, Simon Zebo, Sean Henry, Brian Hayes, Dave Kilcoyne, Alan Cotter, Gareth Quinn McDonogh and Ronan O’Mahony, who continue to progress making the move into the academy programme.

Rockwell outhalf and leaving cert student JJ Hanrahan also joins the academy, after impressing with his participation in the National Talent Programme throughout the year.

Ireland U19 and Exiles player Corey Hircock joins the Munster Rugby Academy from the Bedford Blues, the centre/winger was involved in Ireland U19‘s defeat against the Australia U19 Schools side last December in Cork.

Simon Zebo and Brian Hayes will join the Ireland U20s squad next week for the IRB Junior World Cup in Argentina, while remaining academy players will return to training in mid-June.

First Year Academy Players:
Alan Cotter (Young Munster) Prop
JJ Hanrahan (School Rockwell, Club TBC) Outhalf/Centre
Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution) Second Row
Sean Henry (UL Bohemians) Hooker
Corey Hircock (TBC) Centre
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians) Prop
Luke O’Dea (Shannon) Fullback
Ronan O’Mahony (Garryowen) Fullback/Winger
Gareth Quinn McDonogh (Shannon) Outhalf
Cathal Sheridan (UL Bohemians) Scrumhalf
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution) Winger