Getting To Know The Munster 7s Squad

We profile the 12 players who will feature for Munster in this weekend’s Limerick World Club 7s in Thomond Park.

A mix of academy, sub-academy and club talent will represent the province in Pool 2 of the tournament against the Canadian Maples, Samurai Invitational and San Francisco in three respective 14 minute matches on Friday ahead of the play-off stages on Saturday. The action will commence at 11am each day.

Elite Player Development Officer Colm McMahon, himself a former Sevens international, will again take charge of the Munster 7s side.

Munster 7s Squad:

Captain Alex Wootton – Winger
Most recently a member of the Ireland Men’s 7s squad and the 2015 Garryowen Senior Player of the Year, the winger is currently in his third year with the Munster Greencore academy having previously attended the Northampton Saints academy.

Originally from Stockport, he made his Munster ‘A’ debut in December 2013 against Plymouth Albion at the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford and the following summer went on to represent Ireland U20s at the 2014 Junior World Championship in New Zealand.

Cian Aherne – Winger
Following four years with Lansdowne in which he helped the Dublin club to AIL Division titles in 2013 and 2015, the Ireland Club international has returned to UL Bohs for the coming season. A current member of the Ireland Men’s 7s squad, he previously represented Ireland at Sevens in the 2008 European Championships and has also won representative honours with Munster Schools, Munster U19s, Irish Universities and Leinster 'A'.

Aherne was a member of last season’s ‘13^th Combined Team’ at the Limerick World Club 7s which provided cover for the twelve competing professional teams.

Alan Bennie – Scrum half
A scrum-half and native of Stirling in Scotland, like Aherne, Bennie is a member of the Ireland Men’s 7s squad and also provided cover on last year’s ‘13^th Combined Team’. An U16 and U18 Stirling County Champion, at Irish club level he has played for Old Crescent, Shannon and Clanwilliam, and will line out for UL Bohs this season.

Frank Bradshaw Ryan – Lock
A current member of the Munster sub-academy, the Shannon second row made his British & Irish Cup debut for Munster ‘A’ against Doncaster Knights last January. While attending Ardscoil Rís he won representative honours with Munster U18 Schools before also featuring for Munster U19s and U20s, and Ireland U19s.

Jack Cullen – Scrum half
A former Exiles player, after lining out for an Ireland U18 Club side in 2013 – then coached by McMahon – the scrum half made the move from the Saracens youth programme to the Munster academy at the beginning of the 2013/14 season. In his time with the province, Cullen has played for Munster U19, U20 and Development sides, and also includes Ireland U18 Exiles, U19s and U20s amongst his representative honours, featuring in the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.

This weekend will not be Cullen’s first 7s outing, having been included in the Irish U19 7s squad for the FIRA/AER Under-19 European Championship in Lisbon last year.

Ryan Foley – Scrum half
Moving into his second year of the Munster academy, Foley spent most of last season rehabbing a knee injury sustained during club action with Cork Constitution. A former CBC Schools player and member of the Con team that won the 2014 Bateman Cup, he has represented the province at U20, ‘A’ and senior level, and has won international honours at U19 and U20 where he made his debut against France in the 2014 Junior World Championship.

Just last week he came on as a replacement against Grenoble in the opening game of the Kearys Renault Series in Thomond Park.

Niall Kenneally – Centre
A former member of the Munster academy, the Sligo native has previously played for the province at senior and ‘A’ level. Impressing in the SEAT Series win over Gloucester at Thomond Park in 2013, the following November he entered the academy ranks and spent one year in the programme.

In making his British and Irish Cup debut in October 2013 against Stirling County the 24-year-old has made 7 B&I Cup appearances for Munster A.

Murray Linn – Centre
The centre hails from Sydney, Australia where he played Schools rugby before moving to Malaysia with his family. There too he excelled and competed against both Malaysian and International schools in various national and international competitions.

In progressing through the rugby ranks Linn played for Malaysian Super League team NS Wanderers on his way to winning selection for the Malaysia National Senior 7s team. He participated in a number of IRB Asian 7’s tournaments in 2014 and achieved 10 full international caps. He is included in the Munster 7s side following a recent move to Ireland.

Ollie Lyons – Back row
A former Bedford School player, the back row represented the Exiles and also spent time with both the Northampton Saints and Wasps academies. Scoring a try on his debut for Munster ‘A’ – against the Ulster Ravens at Naas RFC in April – he has been training with the Munster academy for pre-season.

Diarmaid McCarthy – Winger
A star of the Schools game, he played for Castletroy College winning the Munster Schools Senior Cup with them in 2008. He also represented both Munster and Ireland at U18 Schools and U19 level. Taking a break from the game upon finishing school, his rugby involvement became intermittent until last season when he joined Young Munster. The winger was invited to train with the Munster senior squad and he finished out the season featuring for Munster ‘A’ against the Ulster Ravens and Connacht Eagles.

His backline exploits also placed him on the radar of the national Sevens programme and he too is a current member of the Ireland Men’s 7s squad. Last Friday’s clash with Grenoble at Thomond Park saw him make his first senior Munster appearance.

Steven McMahon – Winger
Another Munster Schools Senior Cup winner – with Rockwell in 2012 – the Waterford winger represented Munster U18 Schools, U19s and U20s before joining the academy system this season. On the international front he has worn the green jersey at Ireland U19 level and also joined Jack Cullen at last season’s FIRA/AER U19 European Championship in Lisbon.

Tomás Quinlan – Out half
Another new recruit to the Munster academy, the young fly-half completes a trio of Munster representatives at the aforementioned FIRA tournament in Lisbon last year with Quinlan the only member of this year’s squad to have represented Munster at last year’s Limerick World Club 7s.

Capped at U19 and U20 for both Muster and Ireland, this summer saw the Cork Constitution play-maker feature in four of Ireland’s five encounters of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. While there, he kicked a much-lauded last minute touchline penalty in clinching an opening round victory against Argentina.

Connacht v Munster at 7:45pm

Following the conclusion of Friday's 7s action, you're invited to remain in the stadium for Connacht's pre-season clash with Munster. After last weekend's pre-season opener against Grenoble in Limerick, another mix of senior, academy and club talent will look to impress Head Coach Anthony Foley as Munster prepare for the opening round of the 2015/16 Guinness PRO12 in just under three weeks.

Friday 2 for 1 Ticket Offer.

Two adults can enjoy both Sevens and 15-a-side action for the price of one. Click here to avail of this great offer. Please note, you must select '2 for 1 Offer Adult Ticket' once you click through. Saturday and two-day passes can also be purchased.