Greencore Academy Update

Catching up with Elite Player Development Officer Greig Oliver on the happenings of the Greencore Munster Academy over the past month.

‘A’ Interprovincial Series: Leinster 22-17 Munster

“It’s always a great opportunity to get to play Leinster up in Donnybrook and with the young age profile of the team I thought they played really well and it was good to have a mix of senior, academy, sub-academy and club players.

“It was the literal game of two halves and we’d take that second half any day. Leinster found themselves well on top in the opening half but once our younger lads found their feet they acquitted themselves very well.

“It’s great experience in the build-up to the British & Irish Cup and with a 16 week block of games coming up for the senior side, many of our academy guys and club players will be called upon for Munster ‘A’. The standard of the Championship sides and Welsh regions in the B&I Cup will be a big step up for many of them so hopefully these interprovincial games will prepare them.”

Munster 'A' will now complete their preparations for the B&I Cup with an Interprovincial clash against Ulster 'A' at Thomond Park on Wednesday November 4th – KO 4.30pm.


Kicking class with Dave Aldred. One of the world’s leading kicking coaches, he was inaugurated into the UK Coaching Hall of Fame for his contribution to the success of the 2003 England Rugby World Cup winning squad.

“Dave Aldred has been involved in the top end of the game for many years and is still involved at that level. Any time I have worked with Dave I have always picked up a thing or two and that we can apply here and it was the same for the academy’s Rory Scannell, David Johnston and Bill Johnston who attended the session.

“Dave looked at different types of kicks and techniques, different ways to approach practice and also looked at the psychology involved in kicking. It was a worthwhile experience for the lads and we are grateful to adidas Rugby for setting that up.”


Injury Update

“John Madigan sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury in action for Dolphin and is currently pre-habbing for surgery and will remain sidelined for the coming months.

“Niall Horan is another who sustained a knee injury (playing for Shannon) and we are still assessing the full extent of that injury.

“Steven McMahon picked up a lateral knee sprain against Leinster ‘A’ but is back working on skills and should be good to go in a number of weeks.

“Gearoid Lyons (thumb) should be no more than a couple of weeks away from a return while Dan Goggin (groin) made a try scoring return with Young Munster at the weekend, with Sean McCarthy (shoulder) also featuring for Shannon.”