Contract News

There is good news for Munster on the contract front today with Greencore academy players Johnny Holland and Shane Buckley moving up to development contracts.

There are also one-year development contract extensions signed by Ronan O’Mahony, Barry O’Mahony, Cian Bohane, Niall Scannell and Alan Cotter.

21-year-old flanker Buckley moves up to a development contract after three years with the academy. The Cork man played in all six of this year’s B&I Cup Pool games for Munster A. He featured in the SEAT Series against Gloucester last August but has yet to make his competitive debut for Munster.

Buckley has represented Ireland at Under-20 and Schools level and plays his club rugby with Garryowen.

Holland moves up from the academy to a development contract after a successful season with Munster A that has also seen the out-half make his senior debut against Cardiff Blues in November.

The 22-year-old featured in both SEAT Series games in pre-season and has spent two years with the academy. Holland is a product of the Munster Youths system and was awarded last season’s Ulster Bank Young Player of the Year Award for Division 1A.

Winger Ronan O’Mahony signs an extension to his development contract after scoring a hat-trick of tries in the SEAT Series win over London Irish in pre-season before scoring a late game-winning try against Scarlets in December.

Older brother Barry O’Mahony plays in the back-row and has featured three times for Munster this season. The 27-year-old has captained Munster A in two B&I Cup games this season.

Bohane plays in the centres and has made one appearance off the bench for Munster this season along with playing an integral part in Munster A’s progression to the B&I cup quarter-finals.

Hooker Scannell made his Munster debut in December against Scarlets before starting the following week in the win over Connacht.

Cotter can play both tight head and loose head prop and the 27-year-old made his senior debut against Connacht in December.